ULA and Boeing Unveil the Atlas V Configuration for the CST-100 Starliner

[woods170]

EDS has been present on all Atlas launches for a while now.

Incorrect.  I suspect you may be confusing this with the Fault Termination System (FTS) that destructs the stack if a problem.  EDS is not complete and will fly on OFT for the first time, but disabled.

It will fly on OFT enabled, but without command authority to activate the escape system.

[erioladastra]

EDS has been present on all Atlas launches for a while now.

Incorrect.  I suspect you may be confusing this with the Fault Termination System (FTS) that destructs the stack if a problem.  EDS is not complete and will fly on OFT for the first time, but disabled.

It will fly on OFT enabled, but without command authority to activate the escape system.

yeah I could have phrased that better.  EDS will be running but the launch abort system (LAS) will be disabled.

[TJL]

Will the Boeing Starliner ultimately be launched on the Vulcan Centaur?
Thank you.

[Nomadd]

Will the Boeing Starliner ultimately be launched on the Vulcan Centaur?
Thank you.

Not planned, but eventually somebody is going to make a fuss about bragging about being an American ride when it's still getting there with a Russian engine.

[Ike17055]

the Russian engine issue was only relevant to national security launches for obvious reasons.  Otherwise, you don't hear anyone saying anything bad about the RD-180. It's record is incredibly good.

[Nomadd]

the Russian engine issue was only relevant to national security launches for obvious reasons.  Otherwise, you don't hear anyone saying anything bad about the RD-180. It's record is incredibly good.

That's only because it's an incredibly good engine designed and built by incredibly good people.
 I'm just talking about politics. Personally, I appreciate the fact that the Russians have routinely kept parts of our space program going more than one time while we screwed around for a decade, trying to find a path. But making a big deal about American manned access to space while using a Russian powered vehicle to get there just seems a little off to me.

[hoku]

Will the Boeing Starliner ultimately be launched on the Vulcan Centaur?
Thank you.

If the Starliner program lasts long enough, it will have to fly on something besides Atlas 5 because there won't be an Atlas 5 in a few more years.  I think the RD-180s will run out in four or five years at current launch rates.  [...] Atlas 5 could end its service with an occasional Starliner launch until that program ends. 

 - Ed Kyle

ULA and NASA are in no rush to human rate Vulcan/Centaur for Starliner. According to Tory Bruno, Starliner might fly on Atlas V for another 7 years:

Boeing hasn’t been certifying the Starliner capsule to fly on Vulcan, meaning the Atlas V will remain Starliner’s ride to the ISS for the foreseeable future. ULA will have the RD-180s to handle the expected pace of Starliner launches into 2028, if needed, Bruno said.
https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2020/08/20/united-launch-alliance-space-force-spacex-contract.html

Long-term plan is to human rate Vulcan/ACES:
https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/770579558726668288

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post re: Atlas V/Starliner

the Russian engine issue was only relevant to national security launches for obvious reasons.  Otherwise, you don't hear anyone saying anything bad about the RD-180. It's record is incredibly good.

That's only because it's an incredibly good engine designed and built by incredibly good people.
 I'm just talking about politics. Personally, I appreciate the fact that the Russians have routinely kept parts of our space program going more than one time while we screwed around for a decade, trying to find a path. But making a big deal about American manned access to space while using a Russian powered vehicle to get there just seems a little off to me.

Makes sense IF one chooses the point of view considering NPO Energomash as just another subcontractor?

[king1999]

Cross-post re: Atlas V/Starliner

the Russian engine issue was only relevant to national security launches for obvious reasons.  Otherwise, you don't hear anyone saying anything bad about the RD-180. It's record is incredibly good.

That's only because it's an incredibly good engine designed and built by incredibly good people.
 I'm just talking about politics. Personally, I appreciate the fact that the Russians have routinely kept parts of our space program going more than one time while we screwed around for a decade, trying to find a path. But making a big deal about American manned access to space while using a Russian powered vehicle to get there just seems a little off to me.

Makes sense IF one chooses the point of view considering NPO Energomash as just another subcontractor?

I would agree and at least they are a great subcontractor, not a Cost+ leech.

[ThatOldJanxSpirit]

Will the Boeing Starliner ultimately be launched on the Vulcan Centaur?
Thank you.

If the Starliner program lasts long enough, it will have to fly on something besides Atlas 5 because there won't be an Atlas 5 in a few more years.  I think the RD-180s will run out in four or five years at current launch rates.  [...] Atlas 5 could end its service with an occasional Starliner launch until that program ends. 

 - Ed Kyle

ULA and NASA are in no rush to human rate Vulcan/Centaur for Starliner. According to Tory Bruno, Starliner might fly on Atlas V for another 7 years:

Boeing hasn’t been certifying the Starliner capsule to fly on Vulcan, meaning the Atlas V will remain Starliner’s ride to the ISS for the foreseeable future. ULA will have the RD-180s to handle the expected pace of Starliner launches into 2028, if needed, Bruno said.
https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2020/08/20/united-launch-alliance-space-force-spacex-contract.html

Long-term plan is to human rate Vulcan/ACES:
https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/770579558726668288

Odd: 10 days after Tory tweets that the plan is to human rate Vulcan/ACES Jeff Foust is reporting that ACES is no longer in development.

[edzieba]

Will the Boeing Starliner ultimately be launched on the Vulcan Centaur?
Thank you.

If the Starliner program lasts long enough, it will have to fly on something besides Atlas 5 because there won't be an Atlas 5 in a few more years.  I think the RD-180s will run out in four or five years at current launch rates.  [...] Atlas 5 could end its service with an occasional Starliner launch until that program ends. 

 - Ed Kyle

ULA and NASA are in no rush to human rate Vulcan/Centaur for Starliner. According to Tory Bruno, Starliner might fly on Atlas V for another 7 years:

Boeing hasn’t been certifying the Starliner capsule to fly on Vulcan, meaning the Atlas V will remain Starliner’s ride to the ISS for the foreseeable future. ULA will have the RD-180s to handle the expected pace of Starliner launches into 2028, if needed, Bruno said.
https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2020/08/20/united-launch-alliance-space-force-spacex-contract.html

Long-term plan is to human rate Vulcan/ACES:
https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/770579558726668288

Odd: 10 days after Tory tweets that the plan is to human rate Vulcan/ACES Jeff Foust is reporting that ACES is no longer in development.

Tory wants to pursue ACES for distributed lift, SMART for engine re-use, and the Cisluner Economy concept in general. Tory also doesn't hold ULA's pursestrings, so doesn't get to decide what actually gets funded just on his own.

[Lars-J]

Long-term plan is to human rate Vulcan/ACES:
https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/770579558726668288

Odd: 10 days after Tory tweets that the plan is to human rate Vulcan/ACES Jeff Foust is reporting that ACES is no longer in development.

Pay attention to the date on Tory's tweet: 2016. Plans change.

[AnnK]

the Russian engine issue was only relevant to national security launches for obvious reasons.  Otherwise, you don't hear anyone saying anything bad about the RD-180. It's record is incredibly good.

That's only because it's an incredibly good engine designed and built by incredibly good people.
 I'm just talking about politics. Personally, I appreciate the fact that the Russians have routinely kept parts of our space program going more than one time while we screwed around for a decade, trying to find a path. But making a big deal about American manned access to space while using a Russian powered vehicle to get there just seems a little off to me.

Lets see, SpaceX has returned the USA to crewed flight, "manned" is an obsolete and rather sexist word. The Starliner has not even made it to the IS, even without a crew. The Falcon is built entirely within the USA. A triumph of American technology!

[Josh_from_Canada]

the Russian engine issue was only relevant to national security launches for obvious reasons.  Otherwise, you don't hear anyone saying anything bad about the RD-180. It's record is incredibly good.

That's only because it's an incredibly good engine designed and built by incredibly good people.
 I'm just talking about politics. Personally, I appreciate the fact that the Russians have routinely kept parts of our space program going more than one time while we screwed around for a decade, trying to find a path. But making a big deal about American manned access to space while using a Russian powered vehicle to get there just seems a little off to me.

The cooperation between NASA and Roscosmos holds so much importance, it's the reason why we even have an International Space Station today. This is why I feel saddened by the political environment that makes people in both countries question if it was worth it. I believe it was and thus it should continue, NASA helped Roscosmos keep Mir going when they needed help financially and Roscosmos helped NASA when the Space Shuttle was grounded. The whole political thing about the RD-180 comes really down to supply chain reassurance for DoD payloads. This doesn't excuse the fact that Atlas 5 is an amazing rocket that has launched some of the most incredible space missions. Atlas 5 can continue to receive contracts for commercial and NASA launches thus why it won't be phased out for crew missions when Vulcan comes online. I do find it quite fitting that even though this is an American spacecraft launching from the United States, going forward we will see Russian cosmonauts launching with while being powered by a Russian supplied rocket engine.