Next generation EELV launchers.
There are already launchers booked past 2020.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 08/29/2016 01:42 amNext generation EELV launchers.What about nuclear certification?
Quote from: stoker5432 on 08/29/2016 01:54 amQuote from: russianhalo117 on 08/29/2016 01:42 amNext generation EELV launchers.What about nuclear certification?nuclear certification is both a DoD and NASA requirement for various DoD and DoC payloads. Certification is takes place very quickly in the flight life of the launcher .
Just that the article clearly says the RTG was installed through a single panel on one side of the fairing, not both.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 08/29/2016 01:42 amThere are already launchers booked past 2020.We're talking about NASA here. What other countries will do is irrelevant.
Quote from: stoker5432 on 08/29/2016 02:00 amQuote from: russianhalo117 on 08/29/2016 01:42 amThere are already launchers booked past 2020.We're talking about NASA here. What other countries will do is irrelevant.yes of course we are: The next generation of NASA Mars orbiters are in the planning stages as some current spacecraft are past or nearing the end of their useful life in the next yew years. Up to 3 are currently being planned between 2020 and 2030 at this time. These Mars Orbiters do not yet have a name and are in the science definition and RFP phase for instruments.
The article doesn't cover everything. There is a door 180 degrees from the RTG for HRS servicing.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 08/29/2016 02:14 amQuote from: stoker5432 on 08/29/2016 02:00 amQuote from: russianhalo117 on 08/29/2016 01:42 amThere are already launchers booked past 2020.We're talking about NASA here. What other countries will do is irrelevant.yes of course we are: The next generation of NASA Mars orbiters are in the planning stages as some current spacecraft are past or nearing the end of their useful life in the next yew years. Up to 3 are currently being planned between 2020 and 2030 at this time. These Mars Orbiters do not yet have a name and are in the science definition and RFP phase for instruments.So what launchers are booked for these missions?
Quote from: Jim on 08/29/2016 02:11 amThe article doesn't cover everything. There is a door 180 degrees from the RTG for HRS servicing.What is HRS? I couldn't find it in a search.
So provided there is access into the fairing, is there any reason an RTG couldn't be loaded with the vehicle horizontal on the pad (a bit like late load to CRS missions)? Lowering and raising the F9 is unusually straightforward.
With Jim's info. It seems that SpaceX could have bid for the Mars 2020 Rover mission. If they have something like a service gantry tower available. Since they can in theory use Astrotech to encapsulated the spacecraft with a RUAG payload fairing and attracted the vehicle stack to the F9 with a PLF adapter. Payload vertically integrated with a large crane at the pad. However no gantry tower means not able to support the GSE for the payload.Therefore SpaceX was not qualified to bid.
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 08/29/2016 11:18 pmWith Jim's info. It seems that SpaceX could have bid for the Mars 2020 Rover mission. If they have something like a service gantry tower available. Since they can in theory use Astrotech to encapsulated the spacecraft with a RUAG payload fairing and attracted the vehicle stack to the F9 with a PLF adapter. Payload vertically integrated with a large crane at the pad. However no gantry tower means not able to support the GSE for the payload.Therefore SpaceX was not qualified to bid.RTG and Astrotech is a no go. It has to remain on the spaceport.Spacex doesn't have a contract with RUAG.
Quote from: Jim on 08/30/2016 12:05 amQuote from: Zed_Noir on 08/29/2016 11:18 pmWith Jim's info. It seems that SpaceX could have bid for the Mars 2020 Rover mission. If they have something like a service gantry tower available. Since they can in theory use Astrotech to encapsulated the spacecraft with a RUAG payload fairing and attracted the vehicle stack to the F9 with a PLF adapter. Payload vertically integrated with a large crane at the pad. However no gantry tower means not able to support the GSE for the payload.Therefore SpaceX was not qualified to bid.RTG and Astrotech is a no go. It has to remain on the spaceport.Spacex doesn't have a contract with RUAG.Presume Astrotech does not do anything with the RTG. Which in theory will be installed at the pad with the help of the non-existence gantry tower.Surely SpaceX can acquire the services of RAUG if they needed the RAUG PLF?
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 08/30/2016 12:32 amQuote from: Jim on 08/30/2016 12:05 amQuote from: Zed_Noir on 08/29/2016 11:18 pm...Surely SpaceX can acquire the services of RAUG if they needed the RAUG PLF? That would require another round of certification do to change of PLF and RUAG would have to develop a new custom PLF to be compatible with F9 Stage 2. These are schedule risk items associated with the new entrant thus NASA would go with lowest risk, which would be ULA
Quote from: Jim on 08/30/2016 12:05 amQuote from: Zed_Noir on 08/29/2016 11:18 pm...Surely SpaceX can acquire the services of RAUG if they needed the RAUG PLF?
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 08/29/2016 11:18 pm