Is this still the most cost effective way to achieve its aim?
The Cygnus on Atlas 401 typically requires the extra extended 4m fairing on the Atlas. The cost increase is $8-12M to go to 5m depending on length required.The additional SRBs cost $20-21M.Even at $31M I don't think a dedicated launch vehicle would be available at that price.
Quote from: Star One on 08/15/2017 07:33 amIs this still the most cost effective way to achieve its aim?Quote from: GWH on 08/15/2017 03:25 pmThe Cygnus on Atlas 401 typically requires the extra extended 4m fairing on the Atlas. The cost increase is $8-12M to go to 5m depending on length required.The additional SRBs cost $20-21M.Even at $31M I don't think a dedicated launch vehicle would be available at that price.Going through this some more: if this is a CRS2 mission the Cygnus may already require a 5m fairing + a single SRB (Atlas V 511) if it is for a longer 4 segment Cygnus. I've written out the reasons why in this thread: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42815.0So in that case the additional hardware to co-manifest peregrine is just 2 SRB's and maybe a longer fairing.Cost of additional fairing length is $2-4 Million, additional 2 SRB's is $10 Million.So the total cost of hardware for Peregrine is $12-14 Million which is a lot more reasonable given the pricing posted on Astrobotic's website.
Quote from: GWH on 08/22/2017 10:33 pmQuote from: Star One on 08/15/2017 07:33 amIs this still the most cost effective way to achieve its aim?Quote from: GWH on 08/15/2017 03:25 pmThe Cygnus on Atlas 401 typically requires the extra extended 4m fairing on the Atlas. The cost increase is $8-12M to go to 5m depending on length required.The additional SRBs cost $20-21M.Even at $31M I don't think a dedicated launch vehicle would be available at that price.Going through this some more: if this is a CRS2 mission the Cygnus may already require a 5m fairing + a single SRB (Atlas V 511) if it is for a longer 4 segment Cygnus. I've written out the reasons why in this thread: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42815.0So in that case the additional hardware to co-manifest peregrine is just 2 SRB's and maybe a longer fairing.Cost of additional fairing length is $2-4 Million, additional 2 SRB's is $10 Million.So the total cost of hardware for Peregrine is $12-14 Million which is a lot more reasonable given the pricing posted on Astrobotic's website.You are forgetting the SYLDA style payload adapter. Which I have no idea of the cost to manufactured and qualified of such an adapter. Will ULA use the Dual Satellite System for this dual manifest payloads?
You are forgetting the SYLDA style payload adapter. Which I have no idea of the cost to manufactured and qualified of such an adapter. Will ULA use the Dual Satellite System for this dual manifest payloads?
A modified version of Atlas DSS-5 is being used.
https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1100165131101720579QuoteJust finished a nice interview with @torybruno. The first flight hardware for Vulcan is now being produced at ULA’s factory in Alabama. First launch remains set for Spring 2021.https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1100167165578235905QuoteCritical design review for Vulcan should be completed soon, says @torybruno. Waiting on some final data from BE-4 engine tests. He says Blue Origin has completed dozens of hotfire tests to date on the BE-4, the most powerful methane rocket engine ever built.Presumably waiting to get higher than 70% power?
Just finished a nice interview with @torybruno. The first flight hardware for Vulcan is now being produced at ULA’s factory in Alabama. First launch remains set for Spring 2021.
Critical design review for Vulcan should be completed soon, says @torybruno. Waiting on some final data from BE-4 engine tests. He says Blue Origin has completed dozens of hotfire tests to date on the BE-4, the most powerful methane rocket engine ever built.
https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1111459987509796865QuoteThe age of Vulcan has begun... The first flight panel is being bump formed.
The age of Vulcan has begun... The first flight panel is being bump formed.
https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1111469496873566208https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1111605737996713984
ASTROBOTIC SELECTS UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE VULCAN CENTAUR ROCKET TO LAUNCH ITS FIRST MISSION TO THE MOONAUGUST 19, 2019Pittsburgh, Penn., and Centennial, Colo., Aug. 19, 2019 – Astrobotic announced today that it selected United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket in a competitive commercial procurement to launch its Peregrine lunar lander to the Moon in 2021.“We are so excited to sign with ULA and fly Peregrine on Vulcan Centaur. This contract with ULA was the result of a highly competitive commercial process, and we are grateful to everyone involved in helping us make low-cost lunar transportation possible. When we launch the first lunar lander from American soil since Apollo, onboard the first Vulcan Centaur rocket, it will be a historic day for the country and commercial enterprise,” said Astrobotic CEO, John Thornton.Astrobotic, the world leader in commercial delivery to the Moon, was selected by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to deliver up to 14 NASA payloads to the Moon on its Peregrine lunar lander in 2021. With this $79.5 million CLPS award, Astrobotic has now signed 16 customers for lunar delivery on its first mission.“Our rockets have carried exploration missions to the Moon, the sun, and every planet in the solar system so it is only fitting that Vulcan Centaur’s inaugural flight will lead the return of Americans to the lunar surface,” said Tory Bruno, ULA’s president and CEO. “We could not be more excited to fly this mission for Astrobotic.”Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander will launch on a Vulcan Centaur rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch of this mission will serve as the first of two certification flights required for ULA’s U.S. Air Force certification process.“This partnership represents a true ‘whole-of-government’ approach to how our nation is leading the world in space: NASA contracted with a commercial company to land on the Moon, who then went on to contract with a commercial company for a rocket built to serve the national security space market,” said Bruno. “This highlights the power of our American system of partnership between government and industry to solve the toughest problems and the greatest of our human aspirations.”About AstroboticAstrobotic Technology, Inc. is a space robotics company that seeks to make space accessible to the world. The company’s lunar lander, Peregrine, delivers payloads to the Moon for companies, governments, universities, non-profits, and individuals for $1.2 million per kilogram. Astrobotic was selected by NASA in May 2019 for a $79.5 million contract to deliver payloads to the Moon in 2021. The company also has more than 30 prior and ongoing NASA and commercial technology contracts, a commercial partnership with Airbus DS, and a corporate sponsorship with DHL. The company is also an official partner with NASA through the Lunar CATALYST Program. Astrobotic was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.About ULAWith more than a century of combined heritage, ULA is the world’s most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 130 satellites to orbit that provide Earth observation capabilities, enable global communications, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, and support life-saving technology. For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch.
@torybruno Congratulations on the contract win. Will this be a dedicated launch for Astrobotic on Vulcan Centaur’s debut flight, or a rideshare? astrobotic.com/
We’ll see
Astrobotic, the world leader in commercial delivery to the moon, was selected by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to deliver up to 14 NASA payloads to the Moon on its Peregrine lunar lander in 2021. With this $79.5 million CLPS award, Astrobotic has now signed 16 customers for lunar delivery on its first mission.
This configuration of Peregrine is set to fly M1; it stands 1.9 m tall and 2.5 m in diameter.The lander launches as a co-manifested payload onboard a ULA’s Vulcan launch vehicle,enabling a low-cost mission to the Moon.
M 1 M I S S I O N P R O F I L EPayload Integration with Peregrine -> PRE-LAUNCH PHASE - Includes preparation activities ->Launch Vehicle Lift-Off -> LAUNCH PHASE - Includes transit from Earth’s surface to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) ->Peregrine Separation from Launch Vehicle -> CRUISE PHASE - Includes all Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) maneuvers from LEO to LOI1 ->Peregrine Insertion into Lunar Orbit -> LUNAR ORBIT PHASE - Includes all LOI maneuvers, orbital payload deployments, and descent to the lunar surface ->Peregrine Touchdown on the Lunar Surface -> SURFACE PHASE - Includes surface activities such as surface payload deployments ->Onset of Lunar Night
This is the M1 configuration and specifications of the Peregrine Lunar Lander.Lander Height: 1.9 mLander Diameter: 2.5 mLander Wet Mass: 1,313 kgThis is the total mass of the lander including propellant and payloads.
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 02/25/2019 10:00 pmhttps://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1100165131101720579QuoteJust finished a nice interview with @torybruno. The first flight hardware for Vulcan is now being produced at ULA’s factory in Alabama. First launch remains set for Spring 2021.
https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1100165131101720579QuoteJust finished a nice interview with @torybruno. The first flight hardware for Vulcan is now being produced at ULA’s factory in Alabama. First launch remains set for Spring 2021.
Astrobotics would've got cheap price given its demo flight. I'd say ULA will have rights to sell all spare capacity to secondary payloads.
Isn't Peregrine a Falcon?
It's good to see ULA being able to announce customers for Vulcan.
So from this we get that the Vulcan inaugural flight will be a rideshare launch to LEO, with a payload greater than 1300kg.
M1 TRAJECTORYLaunch to LEO aboard the VulcanEarth-departure burn from the Centaur boosterSeparation from the launch vehiclePerigee raise maneuverTLI maneuverCruise through cislunar spaceLOI maneuverLunar orbit holdAutonomous descent operationsLanding at Lacus MortisSurface operations
Quote from: soltasto on 08/19/2019 07:40 pmSo from this we get that the Vulcan inaugural flight will be a rideshare launch to LEO, with a payload greater than 1300kg.No this isn't correct, that is an abbreviated version of the mission profile.See page 30 where the mission profile is written out in more detail.QuoteM1 TRAJECTORYLaunch to LEO aboard the VulcanEarth-departure burn from the Centaur boosterSeparation from the launch vehiclePerigee raise maneuverTLI maneuverCruise through cislunar spaceLOI maneuverLunar orbit holdAutonomous descent operationsLanding at Lacus MortisSurface operationsPage 29 also has this:QuoteThis configuration of Peregrine is set to fly M1; it stands 1.9 m tall and 2.5 m in diameter.The lander launches as a co-manifested payload onboard a ULA’s Vulcan launch vehicle,enabling a low-cost mission to the Moon.Interesting in that Vulcan will fly a minimum of 2 SRBs for this.https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1163591935946366977
@Astrobotic replied on my question on Twitter confirming Peregrine 1 will be a secondary payload, however they have since deleted their tweet.https://twitter.com/_starbase_/status/1163545169419001856