The total cost for NASA to launch Mars 2020 is approximately $243 million, which includes: the launch service; spacecraft and spacecraft power source processing; planetary protection processing; launch vehicle integration; and tracking, data and telemetry support.
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 08/25/2016 10:48 pmThe total cost for NASA to launch Mars 2020 is approximately $243 million, which includes: the launch service; spacecraft and spacecraft power source processing; planetary protection processing; launch vehicle integration; and tracking, data and telemetry support.$243M holy my goodness. You can certainly see how a $90M Falcon Heavy would save NASA Planetary Science Division a fortune! We could save $150M/yr easy this way, which would effectively amount to a 10% increase in the budget that we can allocate to missions and science instead!
August 25, 2016 RELEASE 16-089NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Mars 2020 Rover Mission<snip>The total cost for NASA to launch Mars 2020 is approximately $243 million, which includes: the launch service; spacecraft and spacecraft power source processing; planetary protection processing; launch vehicle integration; and tracking, data and telemetry support.<snip>
1. Is there a detailed breakdown or line items of the total cost?2. Are there any other (dis)qualifying or selective factors against the choice of a Falcon launcher?3. I assume Delta IV was not considered due to excessive cost compared to Atlas V?
Falcon doesnt have the capability to have an RTG installed vertically
Quote from: Jim on 08/26/2016 02:04 amFalcon doesnt have the capability to have an RTG installed verticallyWhat is it about RTGs that makes this a requirement?From a quick Google of how they work (thanks Wikipedia) it's not obvious.
Quote from: shooter6947 on 08/25/2016 11:30 pmQuote from: Chris Bergin on 08/25/2016 10:48 pmThe total cost for NASA to launch Mars 2020 is approximately $243 million, which includes: the launch service; spacecraft and spacecraft power source processing; planetary protection processing; launch vehicle integration; and tracking, data and telemetry support.$243M holy my goodness. You can certainly see how a $90M Falcon Heavy would save NASA Planetary Science Division a fortune! We could save $150M/yr easy this way, which would effectively amount to a 10% increase in the budget that we can allocate to missions and science instead! Falcon doesnt have the capability to have an RTG installed vertically
Quote from: Arb on 08/26/2016 10:04 pmQuote from: Jim on 08/26/2016 02:04 amFalcon doesnt have the capability to have an RTG installed verticallyWhat is it about RTGs that makes this a requirement?From a quick Google of how they work (thanks Wikipedia) it's not obvious.Based on some of the reservations NASA has about SpaceX crew entry before fueling operations (apparently they would prefer adding crew after fueling), my guess would be that the RTG is not loaded until the vehicle has been fully fueled. Or at least they don't want to install it until as late into the pre-launch operations as possible.
Quote from: Coastal Ron on 08/26/2016 10:18 pmQuote from: Arb on 08/26/2016 10:04 pmQuote from: Jim on 08/26/2016 02:04 amFalcon doesnt have the capability to have an RTG installed verticallyWhat is it about RTGs that makes this a requirement?From a quick Google of how they work (thanks Wikipedia) it's not obvious.Based on some of the reservations NASA has about SpaceX crew entry before fueling operations (apparently they would prefer adding crew after fueling), my guess would be that the RTG is not loaded until the vehicle has been fully fueled. Or at least they don't want to install it until as late into the pre-launch operations as possible.No. Curiosity's RTG was not installed on the pad.
No. Curiosity's RTG was not installed on the pad. It was installed at least 9 days prior to launch at the Vertical Integration Facility.
Both sides of the spacecraft need to be accessed in a clean room.
STATUS REPORT: ELV-111811EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORTSpacecraft: Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity)Launch Vehicle: Atlas V-541 (AV-028)Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 41Launch Date: Nov. 25, 2011Launch Time: 10:25 a.m. EST<snip>At Space Launch Complex 41, the multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) was installed on the Curiosity rover within the Atlas fairing on Nov. 17.
The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator, or MMRTG, moved from a preparation building to the Atlas 5 rocket's Vertical Integration Facility early Thursday. The 99-pound device was lifted inside the building and inserted through an access door on the rocket's bulbous white payload fairing. Technicians placed the power source on Curiosity through an opening on the spacecraft's backshell, which encloses the rover and its landing system during the journey from Earth to Mars.<snip>The MMRTG is the final piece to go on the spacecraft because of the hazards with the radioactive power system.
Quote from: Jim on 08/27/2016 12:02 amBoth sides of the spacecraft need to be accessed in a clean room. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av028/111117mmrtg/
Quote from: stoker5432 on 08/27/2016 12:15 amQuote from: Jim on 08/27/2016 12:02 amBoth sides of the spacecraft need to be accessed in a clean room. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av028/111117mmrtg/And your point is?
Quote from: Jim on 08/27/2016 03:39 amQuote from: stoker5432 on 08/27/2016 12:15 amQuote from: Jim on 08/27/2016 12:02 amBoth sides of the spacecraft need to be accessed in a clean room. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av028/111117mmrtg/And your point is?Just that the article clearly says the RTG was installed through a single panel on one side of the fairing, not both. Really doesn't matter anyway. If SpaceX's plans come to pass, the only LV sending spacecraft to Mars after 2020 will be BFR. On another note what's NASA plan once ULA retires Atlas V?