Limitation on use of funds for Delta IV launch vehicle (sec.1604)The committee recommends a provision that would prohibit theAir Force from obligating funds to maintain infrastructure, systemengineering, critical skills, base and range support, depreciation, orsustainment commodities for the Delta IV launch vehicle unlessthe Secretary of the Air Force certifies to the congressional defensecommittees that the Air Force plans to launch a satellite procuredby the Air Force on a Delta IV launch vehicle within 3 years of thatcertification.The committee understands that while the Air Force no longerhas plans to utilize the Delta IV launch vehicle, the National ReconnaissanceOffice (NRO) will rely on the Delta IV to meet itsheavy lift requirements for the foreseeable future. While the committeeadvocated for the Delta IV launch vehicle to eliminate itsreliance on the Atlas V, the Air Force has insisted that it no longerintends to utilize the Delta IV. Given that the Air Force no longerrequires the Delta IV, the committee believes that the Air Forceshould not be responsible for the significant costs associated withmaintaining the capability for the NRO.The committee is concerned that with the decision to phase outthe Delta IV, the Air Force and the NRO have both underestimatedthe cost and technical risk in replacing the unique heavy lift capabilityrequired to meet NRO requirements.
Not sure this does anything. The NRO already pays for its missions.
Quote from: Rummy on 07/12/2017 03:22 pmNot sure this does anything. The NRO already pays for its missions.The D-IVH missions for the NRO would have to pay the full cost of maintaining the D-IV fixed costs. As the launch rate goes down for D-IV (And ELC goes away) you have fewer launches to spread those fixed costs out. Previously those fixed costs have been shared with the USAF, and now the NRO will be responsible for paying those fixed costs.
...the Air Force should not be responsible for the significant costs associated withmaintaining the capability for the NRO.
I suspect items such as "Common Avionics", a pair of launch complexes (East and West ranges), and whatever other 'incidentals' that added to the $1B per Delta Heavy flight mentioned by CEO Bruno will be too much for NRO to stomach. The bargain the FH presents -- with the requisite set of upgrades like a larger fairing and vertical integration -- will be quite worth funding as a single FH flight replacing DH will more than pay for these modifications.
Quote from: AncientU on 07/12/2017 11:13 pmI suspect items such as "Common Avionics", a pair of launch complexes (East and West ranges), and whatever other 'incidentals' that added to the $1B per Delta Heavy flight mentioned by CEO Bruno will be too much for NRO to stomach. The bargain the FH presents -- with the requisite set of upgrades like a larger fairing and vertical integration -- will be quite worth funding as a single FH flight replacing DH will more than pay for these modifications.Yep, nothing matters but cost. To heck with it everything else, we can save money!!!
I suspect items such as "Common Avionics", a pair of launch complexes (East and West ranges), and whatever other 'incidentals' that added to the $1B per Delta Heavy flight mentioned by CEO Bruno will be too much for NRO to stomach. The bargain the FH presents --
Quote from: Brovane on 07/12/2017 08:07 pmQuote from: Rummy on 07/12/2017 03:22 pmNot sure this does anything. The NRO already pays for its missions.The D-IVH missions for the NRO would have to pay the full cost of maintaining the D-IV fixed costs. As the launch rate goes down for D-IV (And ELC goes away) you have fewer launches to spread those fixed costs out. Previously those fixed costs have been shared with the USAF, and now the NRO will be responsible for paying those fixed costs. Above it was quoted:Quote...the Air Force should not be responsible for the significant costs associated withmaintaining the capability for the NRO.I suspect items such as "Common Avionics", a pair of launch complexes (East and West ranges), and whatever other 'incidentals' that added to the $1B per Delta Heavy flight mentioned by CEO Bruno will be too much for NRO to stomach. The bargain the FH presents -- with the requisite set of upgrades like a larger fairing and vertical integration -- will be quite worth funding as a single FH flight replacing DH will more than pay for these modifications.
Quote from: AncientU on 07/12/2017 11:13 pmI suspect items such as "Common Avionics", a pair of launch complexes (East and West ranges), and whatever other 'incidentals' that added to the $1B per Delta Heavy flight mentioned by CEO Bruno will be too much for NRO to stomach. The bargain the FH presents -- Wrong on both accounts.
Quote from: Jim on 07/13/2017 11:14 amQuote from: AncientU on 07/12/2017 11:13 pmI suspect items such as "Common Avionics", a pair of launch complexes (East and West ranges), and whatever other 'incidentals' that added to the $1B per Delta Heavy flight mentioned by CEO Bruno will be too much for NRO to stomach. The bargain the FH presents -- Wrong on both accounts. You are being a bit premature with that judgement about FH Jim. In fact, both you and AncientU are wrong about FH. Given that it hasn't flown yet, let alone with any NRO payload, there is no telling just how "expensive" or "cheap" it will be compared to Delta IV Heavy.
Quote from: woods170 on 07/13/2017 05:38 pmQuote from: Jim on 07/13/2017 11:14 amQuote from: AncientU on 07/12/2017 11:13 pmI suspect items such as "Common Avionics", a pair of launch complexes (East and West ranges), and whatever other 'incidentals' that added to the $1B per Delta Heavy flight mentioned by CEO Bruno will be too much for NRO to stomach. The bargain the FH presents -- Wrong on both accounts. You are being a bit premature with that judgement about FH Jim. In fact, both you and AncientU are wrong about FH. Given that it hasn't flown yet, let alone with any NRO payload, there is no telling just how "expensive" or "cheap" it will be compared to Delta IV Heavy.I'm not so sure after what I heard Elon say at the ISS conference. He plainly said that Falcon Heavy was much harder than they ever thought it would be, and talked about all of the mods that were required (such as beefing up the core) beyond just "strapping three cores together." Put that with the fact that SpaceX has never argued against the NRO booking those out-year missions on Delta IV. They've never waived their arms around saying they should be able to compete for them with Falcon Heavy (at least not that I've ever seen). With so much money on the line why not? The only reason I can think of is that SpaceX doesn't actually want to fly those missions with Falcon Heavy, or maybe they can't and it isn't practical to mod Falcon Heavy to do so. It seems to me at least one likely outcome of that language is getting the NRO to think really, really hard about the requirements their missions are placing on launch vehicles that drive so much capability beyond what is needed for nearly all other commercial and gov't missions, and figure out if they have to cover the full cost of those requirements whether they should rethink their approach.
JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OFCONFERENCE Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle modernization and sustainmentof assured access to space (sec. 1605) The House bill contained a provision (sec. 1615) thatwould prohibit the Secretary of Defense from obligating orexpending funds authorized by this Act or otherwise madeavailable for fiscal year 2018 for research, development, test,and evaluation, Air Force, for the Evolved Expendable LaunchVehicle (EELV) program for any use other than the activitiesspecified by this Act. This provision would not affect orprohibit the Secretary from procuring launch services of EELVlaunch systems. The Senate amendment contained no similar provision. The Senate recedes with an amendment that would limit theobligation or expenditure of funds for carrying out the EELVprogram to: (a) the development of a domestic rocket propulsionsystem to replace non-allied space launch engines; (b) thedevelopment of the necessary interfaces to, or the integrationof, such domestic rocket propulsion system with an existing orplanned launch vehicle; or (c) the development of capabilitiesnecessary to enable existing or planned commercially availablespace launch vehicles or infrastructure that are primarily fornational security space missions to meet assured access to spacerequirements. The amendment would terminate the authority todevelop a domestic rocket propulsion system and to develop thenecessary interfaces of a domestic rocket propulsion system oncethe Secretary of the Air Force certifies to the congressionaldefense committees that a successful full-scale test of adomestic rocket engine has occurred. Launch support and infrastructure modernization (sec. 1609) The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1606)that would direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out aprogram to modernize space launch infrastructure and improvespace launch activities, to include processing and launch ofnational security space vehicles, in the Eastern and WesternTest and Launch Ranges. The House amendment contained no similar provision. The House recedes with a technical amendment. Limitation on use of funds for Delta IV launch vehicle (sec.1611) The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1604)that would prohibit the Air Force from obligating funds tomaintain infrastructure, system engineering, critical skills,base and range support, depreciation, or sustainment commoditiesfor the Delta IV launch vehicle unless the Secretary of the AirForce certifies to the congressional defense committees that theAir Force plans to launch a satellite procured by the Air Forceon a Delta IV launch vehicle within 3 years of thatcertification. The House bill contained no similar provision. The House recedes with a technical amendment.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACTFOR FISCAL YEAR 2018CONFERENCE REPORTTO ACCOMPANYH.R. 2810 1125 SEC. 1605. EVOLVED EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE MOD-2 ERNIZATION AND SUSTAINMENT OF ASSURED3 ACCESS TO SPACE.4 (a) DEVELOPMENT.—5 (1) EVOLVED EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHI-6 CLE.—Using funds described in paragraph (3), the7 Secretary of Defense may only obligate or expend8 funds to carry out the evolved expendable launch ve-9 hicle program to—10 (A) develop a domestic rocket propulsion11 system to replace non-allied space launch en-12 gines;13 (B) develop the necessary interfaces to, or14 integration of, such domestic rocket propulsion15 system with an existing or planned launch vehi-16 cle; and17 (C) develop capabilities necessary to enable18 existing or planned commercially available space19 launch vehicles or infrastructure that are pri-20 marily for national security space missions to21 meet the assured access to space requirements22 pursuant to section 2273 of title 10, United23 States Code.24 (2) PROHIBITION.—Except as provided in this25 section, none of the funds described in paragraph11261 (3) shall be obligated or expended for the evolved ex-2 pendable launch vehicle program.3 (3) FUNDS DESCRIBED.—The funds described4 in this paragraph are the funds authorized to be ap-5 propriated by this Act or otherwise made available6 for fiscal year 2018 for research, development, test,7 and evaluation, Air Force, for the evolved expend-8 able launch vehicle program.9 (4) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out10 subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) shall11 terminate on the date on which the Secretary of the12 Air Force certifies to the congressional defense com-13 mittees that a successful full-scale test of a domestic14 rocket engine has occurred.15 (b) OTHER AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this section16 shall affect or prohibit the Secretary from procuring17 launch services of evolved expendable launch vehicle18 launch systems, including with respect to any associated19 operation and maintenance of capabilities and infrastruc-20 ture relating to such systems.21 (c) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 days before22 any date on which the Secretary publishes a draft or final23 request for proposals, or obligates funds, for the develop-24 ment under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall notify25 the congressional defense committees of such proposed11271 draft or final request for proposals or proposed obligation,2 as the case may be. If such proposed draft or final request3 for proposals or proposed obligation relates to intelligence4 requirements, the Secretary shall also notify the Perma-5 nent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of6 Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence7 of the Senate.8 (d) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 120 days after the9 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordi-10 nation with the Director of Cost Assessment and Program11 Evaluation, shall submit to the congressional defense com-12 mittees, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence13 of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee14 on Intelligence of the Senate a report containing an as-15 sessment of the most cost-effective method to meet the as-16 sured access to space requirements pursuant to section17 2273 of title 10, United States Code, with respect to each18 of the following periods:19 (1) The five-year period beginning on the date20 of the report.21 (2) The 10-year period beginning on the date of22 the report.23 (3) The period consisting of the full lifecycle of24 the evolved expendable launch vehicle program.11281 (e) ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEM DEFINED.—In2 this section, the term ‘‘rocket propulsion system’’ means,3 with respect to the development authorized by subsection4 (a)(1), a main booster, first-stage rocket engine (including5 such an engine using kerosene or methane-based or other6 propellant) or motor. The term does not include a launch7 vehicle, an upper stage, a strap-on motor, or related infra-8 structure. 11351 SEC. 1609. LAUNCH SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE MOD-2 ERNIZATION.3 (a) IN GENERAL.—In support of the policy specified4 in section 2273 of title 10, United States Code, the Sec-5 retary of Defense shall carry out a program to modernize6 infrastructure and improve support activities for the proc-7 essing and launch of United States national security space8 vehicles launching from Federal ranges.9 (b) ELEMENTS.—The program under subsection (a)10 shall include—11 (1) investments in infrastructure to improve op-12 erations at the Eastern and Western Ranges that13 may benefit all users, to enhance the overall capa-14 bilities of ranges, to improve safety, and to reduce15 the long-term cost of operations and maintenance;16 (2) measures to normalize processes, systems,17 and products across the Eastern and Western18 ranges to minimize the burden on launch providers;19 and20 (3) improvements in transparency, flexibility,21 and, responsiveness for launch scheduling.22 (c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the program23 under subsection (a), the Secretary may consult with cur-24 rent and anticipated users of the Eastern and Western25 Ranges.11361 (d) COOPERATION.—In carrying out the program2 under subsection (a), the Secretary may consider partner-3 ships authorized under section 2276 of title 10, United4 States Code.5 (e) REPORT.—6 (1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 1207 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the8 Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense9 committees a report on the plan for the implementa-10 tion of the program under subsection (a).11 (2) ELEMENTS.—The report under paragraph12 (1) shall include—13 (A) a description of plans and the re-14 sources needed to improve launch support infra-15 structure, utilities, support equipment, and16 range operations;17 (B) a description of plans to streamline18 and normalize processes, systems, and products19 at the Eastern and Western ranges, to ensure20 consistency for range users; and21 (C) recommendations for improving trans-22 parency, flexibility, and responsiveness in23 launch scheduling. 11381 SEC. 1611. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR DELTA IV2 LAUNCH VEHICLE.3 None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by4 this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 20185 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Air Force may be obli-6 gated or expended to maintain infrastructure, system en-7 gineering, critical skills, base and range support, deprecia-8 tion, or sustainment commodities for the Delta IV launch9 vehicle until the date on which the Secretary of the Air10 Force submits to the congressional defense committees a11 certification that the Air Force plans to launch a satellite12 procured by the Air Force on a Delta IV launch vehicle13 during the three-year period beginning on the date of the14 certification
I have a hard time reading these gobbledgooky things but "recedes" in this context means to go along with the other house.So if I am reading this right, the follwoing happend- Aerojet won on the engines
- Infrastructure modernization pork survives- Delta IV pork only survives if the AF says yes, we are going to launch a Delta IV again within 3 years.
The amendment would terminate the authority todevelop a domestic rocket propulsion system and to develop thenecessary interfaces of a domestic rocket propulsion system oncethe Secretary of the Air Force certifies to the congressionaldefense committees that a successful full-scale test of adomestic rocket engine has occurred.