Quote from: Coastal Ron on 08/19/2014 05:22 pmQuote from: Scylla on 08/19/2014 04:57 pmIf a NASA long term goal is to maximize competition to create a variety of capabilities and across the board cost reduction, wouldn't SpaceX be the obvious one to drop if NASA can't take all three forward?Not sure I understand your logic.Scylla's point was that if SpX is the most willing to continue without funding, then NASA could get that bit of competition for "free" if it funds the other two companies instead.
Quote from: Scylla on 08/19/2014 04:57 pmIf a NASA long term goal is to maximize competition to create a variety of capabilities and across the board cost reduction, wouldn't SpaceX be the obvious one to drop if NASA can't take all three forward?Not sure I understand your logic.
If a NASA long term goal is to maximize competition to create a variety of capabilities and across the board cost reduction, wouldn't SpaceX be the obvious one to drop if NASA can't take all three forward?
Quote from: dcporter on 08/19/2014 05:32 pmQuote from: Coastal Ron on 08/19/2014 05:22 pmQuote from: Scylla on 08/19/2014 04:57 pmIf a NASA long term goal is to maximize competition to create a variety of capabilities and across the board cost reduction, wouldn't SpaceX be the obvious one to drop if NASA can't take all three forward?Not sure I understand your logic.Scylla's point was that if SpX is the most willing to continue without funding, then NASA could get that bit of competition for "free" if it funds the other two companies instead.That would encourage companies not to put any skin in the game. For CCtCap, NASA has specifically stated that putting skin in the game would be considered a positive.
Actually, Boeing has essentially said recently that it would continue its program at least until CRS2 is awarded:http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32438.msg1244429#msg1244429
Quote from: yg1968 on 08/19/2014 05:32 pmActually, Boeing has essentially said recently that it would continue its program at least until CRS2 is awarded:http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32438.msg1244429#msg1244429A few points.Hinted rather than said outright I think from that article.It pre-dates the AWST article saying the business case would be difficult.
Will the launch vehicle(s) be specified in the awards?
I see it this way:A. Dream Chaser + Dragon = 2 different launch vehicles and 2 different spacecraft types with unique advantagesB. Dragon + CST-100 = 2 different launch vehicles but both vehicles are capsules that don't provide cross-range and low g-force advantages of the Dream ChaserC. Dream Chaser + CST-100 = 1 launch vehicle and 2 different spacecraft types with unique advantagesSo for the most redundancy in launch vehicles "A & B" would be the choices, and for the most diversity in generic vehicle abilities "A & C" would be the choices. The best combination of the two would be "A", which is Dream Chaser and Dragon.No doubt other factors play into the ultimate decision, but I think this highlights some of the important ones.
Likelier to put _cautious_ bet on SNC in CCtCap than whether SpaceX or Boeing wins other contract. Dream Chaser a 'fan favorite' at NASA/ULA
CCtCap: Boeing CST-100 called 'simpler' - but a "powerpoint tiger?:" SpaceX way ahead on design and test of real hardware for Dragon V2.
Conflicting reports tonight - CCtCap announcement on 22 August or slip to September for Congress notification requirements./I ask:or other?
Forgive a non-US person for not knowing what the process is. Assume for a moment that the NASA public announcement is the end of this week.Is the NASA public announcement the first time anyone outside of NASA (and the hill) gets to hear who has been selected, or would the relevant companies already have confidential/embargoed briefings?
CCtCap announcement: Contractors will get 2 day warning of the event tho not of the results. So should hear if in Aug by end of Weds.
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/26/2014 11:57 amForgive a non-US person for not knowing what the process is. Assume for a moment that the NASA public announcement is the end of this week.Is the NASA public announcement the first time anyone outside of NASA (and the hill) gets to hear who has been selected, or would the relevant companies already have confidential/embargoed briefings?Not a US person either, but somewhere else on this forum somebody mentioned that the relevant companies find out during the public announcement. Apparently part of the application process involves compiling all the necessary paperwork so that only NASA signatures are needed to finalize the contract. That's the way I understood it anyway.No idea if Congress or the White House are in the loop. They might unofficially know, but there's probably some impartiality/separation of powers required that keeps them away. Just shooting from the hip here, to see if I can provoke a better-informed reply.
Unless very tightly controlled, notifying Congress and the WH will leak this info. It won't go public, but whispers will get out. If sufficiently plugged-in, the contractors will know prior to the formal announcement.