Dream Chaser cargo missions will fly on the #AtlasV 552 configuration.
The cargo version of Dream Chaser will be encapsulated in a fairing.
This will be the first time #AtlasV has flown with a dual-engine Centaur, but it has flown before.
#AtlasV hasn't flown w/a dual-engine Centaur, but the #AtlasV w/ @boeingDefense's #Starliner will also launch w/dual-engine Centaur.
Will the purchase price be public? That would provide some insight into the current cost of an RL-10, since one more of these engines is the main difference between a 552 and a 551.
Quote from: LouScheffer on 07/19/2017 08:12 pmWill the purchase price be public? That would provide some insight into the current cost of an RL-10, since one more of these engines is the main difference between a 552 and a 551.I wouldn't expect it to be public. SNC is buying the launch, not NASA. Did O/ATK ever give a cost for their Atlas V purchases?
Quote from: gongora on 07/19/2017 08:18 pmQuote from: LouScheffer on 07/19/2017 08:12 pmWill the purchase price be public? That would provide some insight into the current cost of an RL-10, since one more of these engines is the main difference between a 552 and a 551.I wouldn't expect it to be public. SNC is buying the launch, not NASA. Did O/ATK ever give a cost for their Atlas V purchases?yes, only to certain Investors and financial/capital analysts but was after IR conference calls so that the info was not in public recordings and transcripts.
Insider trading is the buying or selling of a security by someone who has access to material nonpublic information about the security.
Why does the Dream Chaser flying in unmanned mode require a dual engine Centaur as I thought the dual engine was only required for manned missions to provide redundancy?
Quote from: Star One on 07/20/2017 04:21 pmWhy does the Dream Chaser flying in unmanned mode require a dual engine Centaur as I thought the dual engine was only required for manned missions to provide redundancy?Dual engine Centaur also increases the payload capability by lowering gravity losses - regular Centaur is really terrible in this department.
Quote from: Ictogan on 07/20/2017 04:26 pmQuote from: Star One on 07/20/2017 04:21 pmWhy does the Dream Chaser flying in unmanned mode require a dual engine Centaur as I thought the dual engine was only required for manned missions to provide redundancy?Dual engine Centaur also increases the payload capability by lowering gravity losses - regular Centaur is really terrible in this department.So that increase in payload capacity offsets the additional costs.
Quote from: Star One on 07/20/2017 05:32 pmQuote from: Ictogan on 07/20/2017 04:26 pmQuote from: Star One on 07/20/2017 04:21 pmWhy does the Dream Chaser flying in unmanned mode require a dual engine Centaur as I thought the dual engine was only required for manned missions to provide redundancy?Dual engine Centaur also increases the payload capability by lowering gravity losses - regular Centaur is really terrible in this department.So that increase in payload capacity offsets the additional costs.Example numbers: If dreamchasers drymass is 80% of the payload for one centaur engine, increasing the total payload by 20% due to using two centaurs essentially doubles the useful payload mass to the ISS.
Does that makes this the most capable Atlas V ever launched then.
Quote from: Star One on 07/21/2017 12:12 pmDoes that makes this the most capable Atlas V ever launched then.To LEO yes, but not to higher energy orbits. The additional mass of the extra RL-10 starts to matter more than the additional thrust.
I did wonder that. Which makes the three stage variant used to launch New Horizons still the most capable to such orbits.
Quote from: Star One on 07/21/2017 03:09 pmI did wonder that. Which makes the three stage variant used to launch New Horizons still the most capable to such orbits.There was no three stage. The payload had a solid motor
Quote from: Jim on 07/21/2017 06:24 pmQuote from: Star One on 07/21/2017 03:09 pmI did wonder that. Which makes the three stage variant used to launch New Horizons still the most capable to such orbits.There was no three stage. The payload had a solid motorI've seen that referred to online as a third stage?
552 lifts an extra 1800kg to LEO, assume ISS orbit. Source: Tory Brunohttps://twitter.com/torybruno/status/888508087165792257
Quote from: GWH on 07/21/2017 09:20 pm552 lifts an extra 1800kg to LEO, assume ISS orbit. Source: Tory Brunohttps://twitter.com/torybruno/status/888508087165792257Compared to the 551 (just to be clear).
Will the DreamChaser wings have much clearance inside the fairing, I've seen this issue raised as a concern with the X-37B & the F9?
Quote from: Star One on 07/22/2017 06:28 pmWill the DreamChaser wings have much clearance inside the fairing, I've seen this issue raised as a concern with the X-37B & the F9?X-37B's are fixed position like shuttle, whereas DC Cargo Version Folds up where the wings meet the fuselage thus there is DC Cargo is within acceptable fairing parameters and limits.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 07/22/2017 06:32 pmQuote from: Star One on 07/22/2017 06:28 pmWill the DreamChaser wings have much clearance inside the fairing, I've seen this issue raised as a concern with the X-37B & the F9?X-37B's are fixed position like shuttle, whereas DC Cargo Version Folds up where the wings meet the fuselage thus there is DC Cargo is within acceptable fairing parameters and limits.That's a neat solution.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 07/19/2017 10:14 pmQuote from: gongora on 07/19/2017 08:18 pmQuote from: LouScheffer on 07/19/2017 08:12 pmWill the purchase price be public? That would provide some insight into the current cost of an RL-10, since one more of these engines is the main difference between a 552 and a 551.I wouldn't expect it to be public. SNC is buying the launch, not NASA. Did O/ATK ever give a cost for their Atlas V purchases?yes, only to certain Investors and financial/capital analysts but was after IR conference calls so that the info was not in public recordings and transcripts.Interesting. This sounds like it would be the definition of illegal insider trading if the investors or analysts act on this knowledge.QuoteInsider trading is the buying or selling of a security by someone who has access to material nonpublic information about the security.The cost of the rocket is surely material to any analysis of profitability of that contract, and the contract is certainly very material to Orbital.
