How is ULA going to halve their launch costs?
A split from ULA? That is the nonsense I was talking about.
ULA is already a split.
The new stage is for the existing market. ULA exists to serve the us govt.
Could they manage to go from 6 launch complexes to two (east coast and west coast) with long term planning? Could their new rocket be designed to share launch facilities with wither Atlas or Delta?
Right now they have four launch complexes, one for each rocket on each coast.
No, it's a merger - hence the name (i.e. UNITED Launch Alliance). And if anything you are bolstering my point that it could be split. Not that it will, but in business EVERYTHING is possible, especially when your future is at stake.
6 Technically. They also have pads for Delta II on both coasts, although SLC-17 at CCAFS has no work . I'm not sure if its still being maintained by ULA though.
Yes, if all one does is look to the past for guidance, then yes, ULA has only existed to serve the government.However if ULA is only positioning this new launcher for the government market, then they are being shortsighted - that pie will be shrinking significantly in the future so they have to use the new launcher to re-enter the commercial marketplace. Unless you think Bruno's goal is to shrink their customer backlog while simultaneously decreasing revenue...
Quote from: rayleighscatter on 10/19/2014 11:52 pmCould they manage to go from 6 launch complexes to two (east coast and west coast) with long term planning? Could their new rocket be designed to share launch facilities with wither Atlas or Delta? The "new" rocket is replacing one or both them. It will use the same facilities.
...The "monopoly" aspect of it is no different than before. There never was competition in the US launch market, because vehicle capabilities did not overlap. Delta II did medium class, Atlas II did intermediate and Titan IV did heavy...
Quote from: Jim on 10/20/2014 01:15 am...The "monopoly" aspect of it is no different than before. There never was competition in the US launch market, because vehicle capabilities did not overlap. Delta II did medium class, Atlas II did intermediate and Titan IV did heavy......this is changing, no doubt? You have SpaceX's Falcon 9 which is competitive for small through Atlas 511 (or higher, if you're doing lower energy orbits), then Falcon Heavy for everything else. There finally DOES appear to be competition (or will be sometime in 2016).
ULA does not sell launch services on the commercial market, that is for LM Commercial Launch Services Company and Boeing Launch Services Company to do.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 10/20/2014 12:59 amRight now they have four launch complexes, one for each rocket on each coast. 6 Technically. They also have pads for Delta II on both coasts, although SLC-17 at CCAFS has no work . I'm not sure if its still being maintained by ULA though. I also have no idea what their plans are for SLC-2W at Vandy in a few years once the last Delta II launches.