IMO the main relevant features will be system mass, payload capability (internal/external), and eventual cost per launch. The last one represents a superset of the differences in landing/recovery.Relative to a NASA-designed crew capsule, these are all incredibly cheap. Keeping all three until we have a better grasp of their utility, and the overlap with Orion's utility, and how they might interact with commercial manned space stations, seems wise.
Quote from: Burninate on 06/16/2014 05:17 amIMO the main relevant features will be system mass, payload capability (internal/external), and eventual cost per launch. The last one represents a superset of the differences in landing/recovery.Relative to a NASA-designed crew capsule, these are all incredibly cheap. Keeping all three until we have a better grasp of their utility, and the overlap with Orion's utility, and how they might interact with commercial manned space stations, seems wise.cheap on what basis? all are still 4 years away from any operational status.
all are still 4 years away from any operational status.
Why is CST-100 boring?Because it's a capsule, so is dragon?Because it uses parachutes, so does Dragon to date.Because it lands on land with airbags? Dragon to date lands at sea.Because it's made by Boeing? You may see boring, others may see (perhaps mistakenly, reliability.)Or just because it is not Space-X of Sierra Nevada?Actually, to me, CST-100 is an Apollo shaped Big Gemini.
But the biggest disadvanatge of the CST-100 is the fact that it is another capsule and SpaceX already has a similar spacecraft. If NASA decids that it wants dissimilar spacecrafts, this could be a disadvantage for the CST-100.
Sure, it's an "issue." Since the entire future of the Atlas V is an "issue", given the current situation with the Russian government having announced it won't honor the former RD-180 engine contracts it had formerly signed.
Quote from: Llian Rhydderch on 06/15/2014 01:41 pmSure, it's an "issue." Since the entire future of the Atlas V is an "issue", given the current situation with the Russian government having announced it won't honor the former RD-180 engine contracts it had formerly signed.Wrong, Where is the proof that they won't honor the contracts?
Quote from: Jim on 06/16/2014 02:59 pmQuote from: Llian Rhydderch on 06/15/2014 01:41 pmSure, it's an "issue." Since the entire future of the Atlas V is an "issue", given the current situation with the Russian government having announced it won't honor the former RD-180 engine contracts it had formerly signed.Wrong, Where is the proof that they won't honor the contracts?Where's the.proof they will? Given their recent statements and behavior a good dose of doubt is a healthy thing.
Quote from: Hauerg on 06/15/2014 08:06 amBoth DC and CST100 have the Atlas V issue to cope with.Not an issue for commercial and NASA missions
Both DC and CST100 have the Atlas V issue to cope with.
Dragon V2 will have two launch vehicles. F9 and FH. Having the extra lift of FH will offer an operational advantage.
Quote from: oiorionsbelt on 06/16/2014 05:16 pmDragon V2 will have two launch vehicles. F9 and FH. Having the extra lift of FH will offer an operational advantage.What do you propose to do with the extra performance?Don't need FH to get 4 people to ISS.
Quote from: arachnitect on 06/16/2014 05:54 pmQuote from: oiorionsbelt on 06/16/2014 05:16 pmDragon V2 will have two launch vehicles. F9 and FH. Having the extra lift of FH will offer an operational advantage.What do you propose to do with the extra performance?Don't need FH to get 4 people to ISS.I think he has flights beyond LEO in mind...
Quote from: arachnitect on 06/16/2014 05:54 pmQuote from: oiorionsbelt on 06/16/2014 05:16 pmDragon V2 will have two launch vehicles. F9 and FH. Having the extra lift of FH will offer an operational advantage.What do you propose to do with the extra performance?Don't need FH to get 4 people to ISS.No but you could get a lot of junk in the trunk with all that extra performance. Speaking of trunks, how do CST100 and DC stack up against Dragon with respect to cargo in addition to crew?