Given that the ninth and final vehicle (pressurized cargo module) under the current order (CRS-1) is now in full assembly and slated for delivery in 2015, production line elements will begin to shut down this year.
It sounds like that 2 year CRS contract extension will come just at the right time.Now Thales can keep the PCM assembly line busy for another year or two, so they don't need to shutdown before the follow-on contract comes up. Since there won't be an ATV, I assume the larger capacity Cygnus would be preferred over the Dragon for most of these flights.
“There has been talk of a follow-on order for two to four modules, but with NASA having decided to extend the station’s life to 2024, there are eight years of operations beyond our last delivery, and it is eight years that, unlike the past years, will not have ATV deliveries,” Quaglino said. “So we would expect an order at least as large as the original CRS.”
Quote from: Lurker Steve on 04/01/2014 10:29 pmIt sounds like that 2 year CRS contract extension will come just at the right time.Now Thales can keep the PCM assembly line busy for another year or two, so they don't need to shutdown before the follow-on contract comes up. Since there won't be an ATV, I assume the larger capacity Cygnus would be preferred over the Dragon for most of these flights.That's an interesting assumption (but not a surprising one from you, Steve)...
...the anyone but SpaceX in me says...
Quote from: Lurker Steve on 04/02/2014 01:27 pm...the anyone but SpaceX in me says...Ah-HA! I knew it, I KNEW it!
Quote from: Robotbeat on 04/02/2014 03:55 pmQuote from: Lurker Steve on 04/02/2014 01:27 pm...the anyone but SpaceX in me says...Ah-HA! I knew it, I KNEW it! Yep, ever since you went to the dark side
I am wondering if NASA could do Bi-contract CRS with Orbital and SpaceX. Where Orbital could do a MPLM with Service Module that Shuttles sent up and SpaceX could provide the rocket.
Is there a diagram or data comparing the current Cygnus to the upgrade? I've just heard it's "bigger" but nothing saying how much bigger. 50%?
During the CRS-2 press conference, it was mentionned that Orbital/ATK has the option of bringing up a spacecraft with unpressurized cargo only. What might that look like? Like half a Cygnus with one end missing?