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.
Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 06/07/2017 12:10 amWow, 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.An open bidding process for a launch in two months? I am a fan of open bidding but it's hard to imagine anyone else could do this today. I think this is more a proof of concept for the AF of "responsive" launch capabilities.
An open bidding process for a launch in two months? I am a fan of open bidding but it's hard to imagine anyone else could do this today. I think this is more a proof of concept for the AF of "responsive" launch capabilities.
Does anyone know how this program is structured? Is the technology owned by the airforce or Boeing?As a bit of speculation, could the airforce ask Boeing to make a scaled-up version that launches directly from the Falcon 9 first stage booster? They might have enough money to lubricate such an unlikely marriage.
[SpaceNews] SpaceX will launch next secret X-37 Air Force missionQuote“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.”
“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.”
Pretty exciting news and a very bad result for ULA.Were we aware the X-37B was launcher agnostic?
There goes my pet NROL-76 theory...
...Why not in two months? Responsive launch deserves a responsive bid process.No reason they can't set up a process where they put out a request for bids and give companies two days to respond, then announce a winner two days later.Just because bidding has always taken much longer before doesn't mean that's the only way to do it. Isn't that the whole point of responsive space?And yes, probably nobody else could do it in this case with this short notice that could beat the SpaceX price. But they should still go through the process. Then, when someone comes along who can compete, the process is already in place. Nothing has to change.As others have said, we don't really know if this was awarded on short notice. I hope so, but we don't know.
Is this definitely on an F9? Remember Musk was making quips about a strange FH payload.
Quote from: mme on 06/07/2017 12:17 amQuote from: ChrisWilson68 on 06/07/2017 12:10 amWow, 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.An open bidding process for a launch in two months? I am a fan of open bidding but it's hard to imagine anyone else could do this today. I think this is more a proof of concept for the AF of "responsive" launch capabilities.ULA can do 3 months.http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-announces-rapidlaunch.aspxSent from my SM-G903W using Tapatalk