Total Members Voted: 504
Quote from: mnelson on 10/20/2017 05:49 amQuote from: hkultala on 10/20/2017 05:20 amQuote from: Space Ghost 1962 on 10/20/2017 04:43 amThey're both at about the same thrust currently, though this will change as duration and power level increases with next steps. Are you seriously claiming that BE-4 is only running at about 40% thrust currently?Eric Berger's article at ARSTechnica says the test was at 50% thrust: https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/10/blue-origin-has-successfully-tested-its-powerful-be-4-rocket-engine/Still... there is a big difference between a fullscale engine being tested at a lower thrust level and a subscale development engine.
Quote from: hkultala on 10/20/2017 05:20 amQuote from: Space Ghost 1962 on 10/20/2017 04:43 amThey're both at about the same thrust currently, though this will change as duration and power level increases with next steps. Are you seriously claiming that BE-4 is only running at about 40% thrust currently?Eric Berger's article at ARSTechnica says the test was at 50% thrust: https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/10/blue-origin-has-successfully-tested-its-powerful-be-4-rocket-engine/
Quote from: Space Ghost 1962 on 10/20/2017 04:43 amThey're both at about the same thrust currently, though this will change as duration and power level increases with next steps. Are you seriously claiming that BE-4 is only running at about 40% thrust currently?
They're both at about the same thrust currently, though this will change as duration and power level increases with next steps.
Quote from: Rabidpanda on 10/20/2017 06:06 amStill... there is a big difference between a fullscale engine being tested at a lower thrust level and a subscale development engine.Yes, there is a big difference. Running subscale at 3000 psi is way harder than full scale at 1000 psi.
Still... there is a big difference between a fullscale engine being tested at a lower thrust level and a subscale development engine.
SpaceX gets another $40.8 million in Pentagon funding for Raptor engine
Does any one have more on this tweet earlier today:QuoteSpaceX gets another $40.8 million in Pentagon funding for Raptor enginehttps://twitter.com/R_Wall/status/921257396797870080The tweet doesn't appear to be a reply to anything else, sounds like new money?Edit: forgot to say that Robert Wall is aerospace reporter for WSJ
ULA has agreed to initially add $40.8 million under the terms of the government award.
I really hope this 40 million doesn't reignite Raptor upper stage fever.
Related to this? https://www.dodbuzz.com/2017/10/06/air-force-seeks-next-gen-launch-vehicles-for-space-missions/
Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. (SpaceX), Hawthorne, California, has been awarded a $33,660,254 other transaction agreement for the development of the Raptor rocket propulsion system prototype for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. This agreement implements Section 1604 of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires the development of a next-generation rocket propulsion system that will transition away from the use of the Russian-supplied RD-180 engine to a domestic alternative for National Security Space launches. An other transaction agreement was used in lieu of a standard procurement contract in order to leverage on-going investment by industry in rocket propulsion systems. This other transaction agreement requires shared cost investment with SpaceX for the development of a prototype of the Raptor engine for the upper stage of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. The locations of performance are NASA Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Hawthorne, California; and Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. The work is expected to be completed no later than Dec. 31, 2018. Air Force fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $33,660,254 are being obligated at the time of award. SpaceX is contributing $67,320,506 at the time of award. The total potential government investment, including all options, is $61,392,710. The total potential investment by SpaceX, including all options, is $122,785,419. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition with multiple offers received. The Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is the contracting activity (FA8811-16-9-0001).
...QuoteAir Force fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $33,660,254 are being obligated at the time of award. SpaceX is contributing $67,320,506 at the time of award The total potential government investment, including all options, is $61,392,710. ..
Air Force fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $33,660,254 are being obligated at the time of award. SpaceX is contributing $67,320,506 at the time of award The total potential government investment, including all options, is $61,392,710. .
Quote from: envy887 on 10/20/2017 02:20 pmQuote from: Rabidpanda on 10/20/2017 06:06 amStill... there is a big difference between a fullscale engine being tested at a lower thrust level and a subscale development engine.Yes, there is a big difference. Running subscale at 3000 psi is way harder than full scale at 1000 psi.This. They have not even reached the chamber pressures that M1D runs at, much less Raptor or RD-180. Also livingjw's calculations show that it's not a very big scale-up that SpaceX needs, only 15%.
$61M-$33M does not equal $40M. I have not looked if more money has been allocated.
Air Force adds more than $40 million to SpaceX engine contractby Jeff Foust — October 21, 2017
This is proof that Raptor is way behind even ULA's AR-1 engine. They have to start power-pack tests again for the full scale engine at Stennis. Full Raptor development is going to take at least 2 years.What I find typical is that: 33.6mln + 67.3 mln = 100.9mln development cost for 1MN raptor. ?what was the prometheus engine going to cost?