No, nothing.Even ULA's official paper on distributed launch (years old now) only list capabilities of a dual launch Vulcan with only 4 boosters which is less than the performance needed. A 6 booster Vulcan could do it but that capability isn't shown anywhere.
Quote from: GWH on 12/05/2022 04:12 amNo, nothing.Even ULA's official paper on distributed launch (years old now) only list capabilities of a dual launch Vulcan with only 4 boosters which is less than the performance needed. A 6 booster Vulcan could do it but that capability isn't shown anywhere.Er, aren't the OneWeb launches going to be on 6 booster Vulcan? That would retire some risk for that path...
Quote from: Asteroza on 12/05/2022 04:16 amQuote from: GWH on 12/05/2022 04:12 amNo, nothing.Even ULA's official paper on distributed launch (years old now) only list capabilities of a dual launch Vulcan with only 4 boosters which is less than the performance needed. A 6 booster Vulcan could do it but that capability isn't shown anywhere.Er, aren't the OneWeb launches going to be on 6 booster Vulcan? That would retire some risk for that path...I didn't mean 6 booster Vulcan performance has never been published, it has, but not in the context of distributed lift. The distributed lift paper shows two 4 booster Vulcan's being able to deliver a 24 tonne payload to escape velocity. Orion is roughly 27 tonnes.Why they don't state what two 6 booster Vulcan's could do (27 tonnes to LEO each) seems like an odd omission .
Probably because it's gated by the upper stage performance and propellant capacity, not the booster (that's rather the point of distributed launch). If you're already at the maximum volumetric propellant capacity that can be lifted by using only 4 SRBs, adding an extra 2 does not gain you anything (tanks are already full, they can't get full-er) other than a lighter wallet.
Have there been any studies done as of late on using the Vulcan rocket as an alternative to the SLS Core Booster to launch the Orion capsule in a distributed launch profile?
@ulalaunch has submitted permits for upgrading the SMARF (Solid Motor Assembly and Readiness/Receiving Facility) to the Kuiper SPOC (Spaceflight Processing Operations Center), including the addition of an ECS Shelter. @torybruno
Yes, there will be 2 VIFs
Quote@ulalaunch has submitted permits for upgrading the SMARF (Solid Motor Assembly and Readiness/Receiving Facility) to the Kuiper SPOC (Spaceflight Processing Operations Center), including the addition of an ECS Shelter. @torybrunoQuoteYes, there will be 2 VIFs
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 02/02/2023 05:10 pmQuote@ulalaunch has submitted permits for upgrading the SMARF (Solid Motor Assembly and Readiness/Receiving Facility) to the Kuiper SPOC (Spaceflight Processing Operations Center), including the addition of an ECS Shelter. @torybrunoQuoteYes, there will be 2 VIFsFor those of us that have never been to the site and are having difficulty following this, is this the existing Atlas VIF plus a new Vulcan VIF, or is this the existing Atlas VIF plus two Vulcan VIFs?Will the Atlas VIF also accomodate Vulcan? Currently, or in the future, or never? The last Atlas flight is probably going to be Starliner 6, probably in 2029. (Assumptions: all six Starliners flights fly, one per year starting in 2024, no shift to Vulcan).
Quote from: DanClemmensen on 02/02/2023 05:21 pmQuote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 02/02/2023 05:10 pmQuote@ulalaunch has submitted permits for upgrading the SMARF (Solid Motor Assembly and Readiness/Receiving Facility) to the Kuiper SPOC (Spaceflight Processing Operations Center), including the addition of an ECS Shelter. @torybrunoQuoteYes, there will be 2 VIFsFor those of us that have never been to the site and are having difficulty following this, is this the existing Atlas VIF plus a new Vulcan VIF, or is this the existing Atlas VIF plus two Vulcan VIFs?Will the Atlas VIF also accomodate Vulcan? Currently, or in the future, or never? The last Atlas flight is probably going to be Starliner 6, probably in 2029. (Assumptions: all six Starliners flights fly, one per year starting in 2024, no shift to Vulcan).There may be some confusion due to use of the name SMARF in the original tweet. The SMARF (Solid Motor Assembly Receiving / Readiness Facility) was renamed to SPOC (Spaceflight Processing Operations Center) in 2019. My understanding is that the SPOC is being - or already has been - modified into the Vulcan VIF. Presumably, the Atlas VIF will remain in use until it is retired, then the Atlas VIF will be made into a 2nd Vulcan VIF. Picture attached, where I've circled is the SMARF / SPOC / Vulcan VIF.
I am just now understanding that the SPOC is currently not tall enough to fully integrate a Vulcan Centaur rocket. It was used to build the Vulcan MLP and later to integrate the Vulcan Pathfinder with the Vulcan MLP, but as it currently is it cannot do much more than that. I had to read through this CollectSpace thread (with multiple helpful pictures of the Vulcan Pathfinder rollout) to really understand that. http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum35/HTML/000715.htmlMost helpful picture of the SPOC and Vulcan Pathfinder attached.
I asked Tory Bruno on Twitter, he replied"Yes, the SPOC (formerly known as the SMARF) will become VIF2. The current Atlas VIF has been modified to accommodate both Atlas and Vulcan and will be renamed VIF1. I’m only planning on 2 VIFs right now."https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1621268076405587969
Quote from: whitelancer64 on 02/03/2023 05:26 amI asked Tory Bruno on Twitter, he replied"Yes, the SPOC (formerly known as the SMARF) will become VIF2. The current Atlas VIF has been modified to accommodate both Atlas and Vulcan and will be renamed VIF1. I’m only planning on 2 VIFs right now."https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1621268076405587969That contradicts earlier official information regarding SPOC getting a second highbay just after the AWS Kuiper launch contract award period. VIF1 still has to be used for payloads which extend taller than the height of the LUT mounted onboard the Vulcan MLP (VLP-#). However plans can change.
Presumably, the Atlas VIF will remain in use until it is retired, then the Atlas VIF will be made into a 2nd Vulcan VIF.
The plans have changed since the Kuiper announcement. The current SPOC will undergo substantial modifications, to become a full VIF with identical capabilities as VIF 1 (the current Atlas V/Vulcan VIF). Meaning, amongst others, that the roof will go up substantially, to accomodate the full height of a full Vulcan stack (including payload fairing).
Quote from: woods170 on 02/03/2023 08:31 amThe plans have changed since the Kuiper announcement. The current SPOC will undergo substantial modifications, to become a full VIF with identical capabilities as VIF 1 (the current Atlas V/Vulcan VIF). Meaning, amongst others, that the roof will go up substantially, to accomodate the full height of a full Vulcan stack (including payload fairing).No mention of "raising the roof" in the permits upthread. Maybe those don't cover this work? - Ed Kyle