Right. There was speculation that SNC would switch over to Orbitec abort motors after they acquired the company in 2014. Propane-NOx IIRC. But then they lost the crew contract, and cargo DC was spec'd without them.Orbitec are reportedly providing the thrusters for cargo DC, so it's possible they could develop large motors for abort at some point.Side note: info on the cargo DC thrusters is still surprisingly hard to find, i.e. which propellants will be used, spark ignition? Anyone heard anything of late?
I will try to post a few quotes from the article tonight. I have access to it through my phone's Twitter account for some reason. Essentially, SNC suggested this Hubble servicing mission with a crewed DC (twice) to the transition team. The transition team said that this is the kind of decision that would have to be made by the NASA Administrator but that the Trump administration is open to private-public partnerships especially if a mission can be done prior to 2020.
The old plans for HL-20 did include a 'towed package' stored in the stage adapter, so you could resurrect that idea, but it seems less useful than the DC cargo module or Dragon trunk.
The problem with the crewed version is that it has to be launched inside a payload shroud with wings folded which vastly complicates the abort system.The reason it has to be launched in a shroud is that otherwise the booster is highly unstable in pitch due to the lifting surface at the nose. Dyna-Soar tried to fix this problem with big tail fins on the boosters but wind tunnel tests revealed unpredictable interactions between the spacecraft wing and the booster fins. Also, I think NASA would be scared stiff by the wing folding joints. The landing gear doors were a lot of trouble on Shuttle but the long wing joints on the "navalized" Dream Chaser are just asking for a burn-through.
This French article from March 21st 2017 says that SNC has not yet decided on a LV for cargo DC except for its first flight (which will be on an Atlas V). In the running are the following LVs:Ariane 6 with 4 boosters Blue Origin's New Glenn ULA's Vulcan SpaceX's Falcon 9http://www.futura-sciences.com/sciences/actualites/dream-chaser-ariane-6-lancera-t-elle-mini-navette-dream-chaser-66745/
From the update thread:Quote from: yg1968 on 04/17/2017 04:09 pmThis French article from March 21st 2017 says that SNC has not yet decided on a LV for cargo DC except for its first flight (which will be on an Atlas V). In the running are the following LVs:Ariane 6 with 4 boosters Blue Origin's New Glenn ULA's Vulcan SpaceX's Falcon 9http://www.futura-sciences.com/sciences/actualites/dream-chaser-ariane-6-lancera-t-elle-mini-navette-dream-chaser-66745/I have a hard time believing Falcon 9 is really in the running. I don't think SpaceX will be launching anything other than Dragon to the ISS. I can't see how it is their interest to help out a direct competitor.
I have a hard time believing Falcon 9 is really in the running. I don't think SpaceX will be launching anything other than Dragon to the ISS. I can't see how it is their interest to help out a direct competitor.
From the update thread:Quote from: yg1968 on 04/17/2017 04:09 pmThis French article from March 21st 2017 says that SNC has not yet decided on a LV for cargo DC except for its first flight (which will be on an Atlas V). In the running are the following LVs:Ariane 6 with 4 boosters Blue Origin's New Glenn ULA's Vulcan SpaceX's Falcon 9The article says that SNC will make a decision this spring on its LV for DC. http://www.futura-sciences.com/sciences/actualites/dream-chaser-ariane-6-lancera-t-elle-mini-navette-dream-chaser-66745/I have a hard time believing Falcon 9 is really in the running. I don't think SpaceX will be launching anything other than Dragon to the ISS. I can't see how it is their interest to help out a direct competitor.
This French article from March 21st 2017 says that SNC has not yet decided on a LV for cargo DC except for its first flight (which will be on an Atlas V). In the running are the following LVs:Ariane 6 with 4 boosters Blue Origin's New Glenn ULA's Vulcan SpaceX's Falcon 9The article says that SNC will make a decision this spring on its LV for DC. http://www.futura-sciences.com/sciences/actualites/dream-chaser-ariane-6-lancera-t-elle-mini-navette-dream-chaser-66745/
Quote from: rockets4life97 on 04/18/2017 04:53 pmFrom the update thread:Quote from: yg1968 on 04/17/2017 04:09 pmThis French article from March 21st 2017 says that SNC has not yet decided on a LV for cargo DC except for its first flight (which will be on an Atlas V). In the running are the following LVs:Ariane 6 with 4 boosters Blue Origin's New Glenn ULA's Vulcan SpaceX's Falcon 9The article says that SNC will make a decision this spring on its LV for DC. http://www.futura-sciences.com/sciences/actualites/dream-chaser-ariane-6-lancera-t-elle-mini-navette-dream-chaser-66745/I have a hard time believing Falcon 9 is really in the running. I don't think SpaceX will be launching anything other than Dragon to the ISS. I can't see how it is their interest to help out a direct competitor.I have trouble believing that too. I was under the impression that the F9 fairing wasn't tall enough for cargo DC. In certain presentations, SNC has indicated that FH (presumably with a taller fairing) would be required.
Quote from: yg1968 on 04/19/2017 01:36 pmQuote from: rockets4life97 on 04/18/2017 04:53 pmFrom the update thread:Quote from: yg1968 on 04/17/2017 04:09 pmThis French article from March 21st 2017 says that SNC has not yet decided on a LV for cargo DC except for its first flight (which will be on an Atlas V). In the running are the following LVs:Ariane 6 with 4 boosters Blue Origin's New Glenn ULA's Vulcan SpaceX's Falcon 9The article says that SNC will make a decision this spring on its LV for DC. http://www.futura-sciences.com/sciences/actualites/dream-chaser-ariane-6-lancera-t-elle-mini-navette-dream-chaser-66745/I have a hard time believing Falcon 9 is really in the running. I don't think SpaceX will be launching anything other than Dragon to the ISS. I can't see how it is their interest to help out a direct competitor.I have trouble believing that too. I was under the impression that the F9 fairing wasn't tall enough for cargo DC. In certain presentations, SNC has indicated that FH (presumably with a taller fairing) would be required.If F9 and a custom fairing is still competitive, then F9 is still in the running. Sure, the custom fairing will be more expensive, but the overall cost could be lower than the competition.