Quote from: yg1968 on 12/13/2010 03:57 pmProposals for CDev-2 are due today. I imagine that we will hear more about certain of the proposals (by the companies themselves) in the next few weeks. For example, I am curious to find out who Virgin Galactic has teamed up with. here is your answer..Orbitalhttp://www.spacenews.com/civil/101213-orbital-virgin-ccdev2-bid.html
Proposals for CDev-2 are due today. I imagine that we will hear more about certain of the proposals (by the companies themselves) in the next few weeks. For example, I am curious to find out who Virgin Galactic has teamed up with.
This may be a game changer. Spacex may have to start selling Dragon as not only an LEO but also BEO vehicle to hedge their bets. The field is getting crowded and not everyone will be a winner. Companies with capsules (Spacex, Boeing, LM) would do best to show BEO capabilty. How this also affects Dreamchaser marketing is interesting. Is there a need for 2 lifting, winged vehicles?
This will also require a new (or imported) liquid upper stage for the Taurus II, one assumes.
I have no direct insight into Orbital's thinking with respect to business case but CCDev is not soley about eventual transport to ISS. If that is all the companies are thinking about - and not working with others such as Bigelow, Virgin, have their own plans, etc - I would think they will not be likely candidates to actually get money from NASA. In doing these proposals, it may make practical sense to diversify their own business capabilities - but build on experience with certain systems - to meet the partners expectations. It also may make financial sense to not have to provide every element themselves (and instead can be a customer with, for example, the launch vehicle) allowing them to focus limited resources and deliver to market that much quicker.Remember this is supposed to be partially about building an industry that can exist seperately and in parallel to NASA initiatives.
Quote from: OV-106 on 12/14/2010 01:07 amI have no direct insight into Orbital's thinking with respect to business case but CCDev is not soley about eventual transport to ISS. If that is all the companies are thinking about - and not working with others such as Bigelow, Virgin, have their own plans, etc - I would think they will not be likely candidates to actually get money from NASA. In doing these proposals, it may make practical sense to diversify their own business capabilities - but build on experience with certain systems - to meet the partners expectations. It also may make financial sense to not have to provide every element themselves (and instead can be a customer with, for example, the launch vehicle) allowing them to focus limited resources and deliver to market that much quicker.Remember this is supposed to be partially about building an industry that can exist seperately and in parallel to NASA initiatives. Well put OV.~Jon
Very interesting. I wonder what kind of lifting body they are planning - and if it is based on any previous work. It is HL-20-ish, or like the LM lifting body CEV concept, or something more minimal like the Russian Kliper concept?
Quote from: Lars_J on 12/14/2010 12:18 amVery interesting. I wonder what kind of lifting body they are planning - and if it is based on any previous work. It is HL-20-ish, or like the LM lifting body CEV concept, or something more minimal like the Russian Kliper concept? It will be interesting to see. Recall that Orbital had a conceptual design for a lifting body craft back in the OSP days, though I don't know far along into the design process they were. It reminded me of the canceled European Hermes spaceplane. Here it is shown with the Delta IV heavy: http://www.spacetoday.org/images/SpcShtls/SpacePlane/OrbitalSpacePlaneLaunch600x450.jpg
Quote from: vt_hokie on 12/14/2010 02:10 amQuote from: Lars_J on 12/14/2010 12:18 amVery interesting. I wonder what kind of lifting body they are planning - and if it is based on any previous work. It is HL-20-ish, or like the LM lifting body CEV concept, or something more minimal like the Russian Kliper concept? It will be interesting to see. Recall that Orbital had a conceptual design for a lifting body craft back in the OSP days, though I don't know far along into the design process they were. It reminded me of the canceled European Hermes spaceplane. Here it is shown with the Delta IV heavy: http://www.spacetoday.org/images/SpcShtls/SpacePlane/OrbitalSpacePlaneLaunch600x450.jpgHere is the rest of the (2003?) article that goes with the image:http://www.spacetoday.org/SpcShtls/SpacePlane.html
Development cost is the key issue. ... Orbital has stated a range of $2.5B and $3B in public remarks in 2009, but presumably that for for a capsule-type spacecraft.
Interesting, yes now that you pointed to that image, I remember seeing it.This will be very interesting to see develop. And the situation for DreamChaser just got very interesting as well - Both concepts are lifting bodies launched by Atlas V. I'm guessing there's only room for one of them to succeed. (if any of them will indeed succeed) But it is very exciting now to have 4 serious players in the commercial crew market!