Hardly a mystery here. Block 4/5 changes not related to rapid reuse were made to satisfy USAF/NASA. US Govt is conservative with respect to risk profiles. X-37B is presumably a precious payload compared to "tang and toilet paper" and even NASA hasn't signed off yet for the most risk-tolerant launch category. Need I go on?
They are rather risk averse, especially as the X-37B is a rather unique and probably expensive payload. On the other hand, reuse will have been proven at least 2 or 3 times by then... perhaps that's enough??I doubt any new Block 3 vehicles will be available in August, so if they go new it likely will be on Block 4
A new block 4 seems riskier than a reused block 3 to me...
"SpaceX will be sending the next Air Force payload up into space in August," Wilson said during webcast testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. She later specified that the payload would be one of the Air Force’s two X-37B spaceplanes.
Quote from: Lar on 06/06/2017 10:06 pmA new block 4 seems riskier than a reused block 3 to me...No way. Remember they've already flown four Block revisions of v1.2 and not only did the public not notice, none of the customers seemed to care either.Block upgrades aren't as big of changes as people make them out to be. The last one, maybe, considering all the reuse stuff and NASA requirements. But the first four went almost completely under our radar.
Quote from: old_sellsword on 06/06/2017 10:12 pmQuote from: Lar on 06/06/2017 10:06 pmA new block 4 seems riskier than a reused block 3 to me...No way. Remember they've already flown four Block revisions of v1.2 and not only did the public not notice, none of the customers seemed to care either.Block upgrades aren't as big of changes as people make them out to be. The last one, maybe, considering all the reuse stuff and NASA requirements. But the first four went almost completely under our radar.We'll find out, and not too far in the future either... what if it was Block 5, would that change your estimate of the risk estimation by USAF?
In regards to the primary source...http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/r-update-1-spacex-wins-launch-of-us-air-force-x-37b-space-plane-2017-6-1002072207Says this:Quote"SpaceX will be sending the next Air Force payload up into space in August," Wilson said during webcast testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. She later specified that the payload would be one of the Air Force’s two X-37B spaceplanes.Hmm... that seems kinda disconnected. I do hope it's not a misunderstanding. Either way, great news for SpaceX.Here's the webcast:https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/17-06-06-posture-of-the-department-of-the-air-forceLooking for a youtube link.
The SpaceX/X-37B mention happens right near the end of the hearing at about 2hrs 51mins into the webcast.
Well that's pretty big news for SpaceX on the confidence levels. The video link isn't working for me, so as QG notes - a youtube link or something would be cool.
this is the model of the x37 which will be going up again, it's a reusable vehicle and it will be going up again on top of a SpaceX launcher in August
Sec. Wilson:Quotethis is the model of the x37 which will be going up again, it's a reusable vehicle and it will be going up again on top of a SpaceX launcher in August
I also just want to take my last few seconds here and say I think there's the next generation of launch companies that are looking at small payloads, whether Virgin Galactic or Vulcan Aerospace or OATK. I really encourage you to look at some of those ideas too. I think the more distributed, the more responsive, the more flexible and the quicker we can field some of these things, the quicker we'll be able to meet some of the gaps we have with our adversaries
LOL - we all have it wrong - SpaceX will be launching the model of the X-37B that is sitting there on her desk.I'll see myself out now.
“The ability to launch the Orbital Test Vehicle on multiple platforms will ensure a robust launch capability for our experiment designers,” Randy Walden, director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, said in a press release. “We are excited about this new partnership on creating flexible and responsive launch options and are confident in SpaceX’s ability to provide safe and assured access to space for the X-37B program.”
Wow, that's unexpected, and wonderful to hear.Anyone know why there wasn't a public request for bids put out on this launch? As much as I like the idea of SpaceX winning this launch, it would bother me if they didn't win it in an open bidding process. Letting all launch providers bid in a public process is really the most important thing.