I agree that the stability of Block 5 is needed for USAF certification. 2018 should see many fly, and refly, so certification is soon to follow.
Quote from: AncientU on 12/26/2017 12:08 pmMaybe 20% by numbers and falling rapidly. They are only a big percentage (50-ish%) of the cost of satellites.Hasn't the USG already flown on a flight-proven booster(CRS-13)?http://www.sia.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/SIA-SSIR-2017.pdf[notAviewIagreeWith] Doesn't count, it's just t-shirts and Tang. [/notAviewIagreeWith]
Maybe 20% by numbers and falling rapidly. They are only a big percentage (50-ish%) of the cost of satellites.Hasn't the USG already flown on a flight-proven booster(CRS-13)?http://www.sia.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/SIA-SSIR-2017.pdf
What is controversial about ISS program (and C3PO?) having a higher tolerance for risk in supply missions than LSP generally does? They had very explicitly defined CRS missions as all Category D payloads, though some trunk payloads may have bumped this up on specific flights. But, I actually thought that was one of the more interesting tidbits during the recent CRS-13 prelaunch briefing. The ISS program deputy (can't remember his name), talked about their process to determine what data they wanted to see from SpaceX before moving ahead with the preflown booster's use. He specifically stated that LSP had been included in discussions/evaluations/decisions (?).
Quote from: AncientU on 12/27/2017 01:53 pmI agree that the stability of Block 5 is needed for USAF certification. 2018 should see many fly, and refly, so certification is soon to follow.By 2019 (or perhaps even late next year), F9B5 could be flying more launches in a hot/busy month than Atlas V or Ariane 5 fly in a year.
When asked if recycled rockets could be used for launches as soon as EELV Phase 1A, Raymond was unwilling to commit to a timetable, but said, “I’m open to it.” SMC’s Leon expressed similar optimism with a bit more caution. “We don’t have a schedule for it yet” at EELV, she said. She thinks the Air Force is more likely to use recycled boosters first in “experimental-class programs” that can take advantage of rapid acquisition authorities. “You’re not going to see it in phase 1A as far as I can tell,” Leon said.
By late next year F9 is not going to be flying 7+ times a month. That's more than double the flight rate SpaceX is aiming for next year.
Quote from: ZachF on 12/27/2017 02:23 pmQuote from: AncientU on 12/27/2017 01:53 pmI agree that the stability of Block 5 is needed for USAF certification. 2018 should see many fly, and refly, so certification is soon to follow.By 2019 (or perhaps even late next year), F9B5 could be flying more launches in a hot/busy month than Atlas V or Ariane 5 fly in a year.By late next year F9 is not going to be flying 7+ times a month. That's more than double the flight rate SpaceX is aiming for next year.Here is an excerpt from an Air Force Magazine article on EELV:QuoteWhen asked if recycled rockets could be used for launches as soon as EELV Phase 1A, Raymond was unwilling to commit to a timetable, but said, “I’m open to it.” SMC’s Leon expressed similar optimism with a bit more caution. “We don’t have a schedule for it yet” at EELV, she said. She thinks the Air Force is more likely to use recycled boosters first in “experimental-class programs” that can take advantage of rapid acquisition authorities. “You’re not going to see it in phase 1A as far as I can tell,” Leon said.
For the first part of the Pentagon’s competitive space launch contracts — dubbed Phase 1A — the Air Force has decided not to allow previously flown boosters for any missions.Leon said that approving reusable-rocket technology would require an entirely new certification process, at a time when the military wants to focus certifying things like the Falcon Heavy or new entrants like Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.However, the service is open to eventually accepting reusable technology as part of a company’s bid.“We are trying to reduce the cost of launch, and if this is the offering from commercial providers we need to get on board,” Leon said. “It’s just going to take us a little bit of time, but it is something we are starting to study first. Longer term my hope is any company that’s offering flight proven hardware demonstrates or develops a track record that helps us build confidence.”
Quote from: SpaceFlightNowSES is considering launching its next satellite — SES 16 developed in partnership with the government of Luxembourg — with a reused Falcon 9 booster in January.Article LinkSES 16 slips to January and on a re-used booster (as I think can be expected for most SES flights from here on out).
SES is considering launching its next satellite — SES 16 developed in partnership with the government of Luxembourg — with a reused Falcon 9 booster in January.Article Link
I love the table in the first post but I wonder if there is some way to distinguish among announcments, planned launches, and actual launches in a visual manner that isn't dependent on color.
I’m sorry, I completely missed the last couple of posts, my apologies.I’ve tried doing the re-use dates in bold in the first post. I haven’t put the names in bold as well due to the extra width it would use. Not sure if I’m happy with the result or not, but at least I think the re-use entries stand out more!
Russia’s Proton rocket falls on hard times
After 53 years in service, the main Russian launcher is running out of customers.
The Proton rocket, Russia’s primary commercial launch vehicle, faces a life-and-death struggle to remain a competitive player on the international launch market, industry sources say. The veteran Soviet space rocket has spent nearly a quarter of a century as the vehicle of choice for operators of communications satellites all over the world. But it has fallen to near-irrelevance in just a matter of two years. After reaching a peak of 12 launches in 2010, the Proton is now staring at a real possibility of flying just a couple of missions this year and not delivering a single commercial payload.
All these technical, political, and financial problems combined to leave GKNPTs Khrunichev deeply in debt and triggered the exodus of customers last year—as many as five deals were reportedly lost in the second half of 2017.
Maybe highlighting 1st reuse, 2nd reuse, etc. in 'Event' column would not mess with formatting but still raise visibility.
Availability of Block 5, customer early acceptance, and Khrunichev's quality problems have created the perfect storm:https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/01/russias-proton-rocket-falls-on-hard-times/Maybe this prediction (below) wasn't so much fantasy as many here pooh-pooh'd.
Looks like half of all flights in 2018 will be used boosters: