Dream Chaser cargo missions will fly on the #AtlasV 552 configuration.
The cargo version of Dream Chaser will be encapsulated in a fairing.
This will be the first time #AtlasV has flown with a dual-engine Centaur, but it has flown before.
#AtlasV hasn't flown w/a dual-engine Centaur, but the #AtlasV w/ @boeingDefense's #Starliner will also launch w/dual-engine Centaur.
Will the purchase price be public? That would provide some insight into the current cost of an RL-10, since one more of these engines is the main difference between a 552 and a 551.
Quote from: LouScheffer on 07/19/2017 08:12 pmWill the purchase price be public? That would provide some insight into the current cost of an RL-10, since one more of these engines is the main difference between a 552 and a 551.I wouldn't expect it to be public. SNC is buying the launch, not NASA. Did O/ATK ever give a cost for their Atlas V purchases?
Quote from: gongora on 07/19/2017 08:18 pmQuote from: LouScheffer on 07/19/2017 08:12 pmWill the purchase price be public? That would provide some insight into the current cost of an RL-10, since one more of these engines is the main difference between a 552 and a 551.I wouldn't expect it to be public. SNC is buying the launch, not NASA. Did O/ATK ever give a cost for their Atlas V purchases?yes, only to certain Investors and financial/capital analysts but was after IR conference calls so that the info was not in public recordings and transcripts.
Insider trading is the buying or selling of a security by someone who has access to material nonpublic information about the security.
Why does the Dream Chaser flying in unmanned mode require a dual engine Centaur as I thought the dual engine was only required for manned missions to provide redundancy?
Quote from: Star One on 07/20/2017 04:21 pmWhy does the Dream Chaser flying in unmanned mode require a dual engine Centaur as I thought the dual engine was only required for manned missions to provide redundancy?Dual engine Centaur also increases the payload capability by lowering gravity losses - regular Centaur is really terrible in this department.
Quote from: Ictogan on 07/20/2017 04:26 pmQuote from: Star One on 07/20/2017 04:21 pmWhy does the Dream Chaser flying in unmanned mode require a dual engine Centaur as I thought the dual engine was only required for manned missions to provide redundancy?Dual engine Centaur also increases the payload capability by lowering gravity losses - regular Centaur is really terrible in this department.So that increase in payload capacity offsets the additional costs.
Quote from: Star One on 07/20/2017 05:32 pmQuote from: Ictogan on 07/20/2017 04:26 pmQuote from: Star One on 07/20/2017 04:21 pmWhy does the Dream Chaser flying in unmanned mode require a dual engine Centaur as I thought the dual engine was only required for manned missions to provide redundancy?Dual engine Centaur also increases the payload capability by lowering gravity losses - regular Centaur is really terrible in this department.So that increase in payload capacity offsets the additional costs.Example numbers: If dreamchasers drymass is 80% of the payload for one centaur engine, increasing the total payload by 20% due to using two centaurs essentially doubles the useful payload mass to the ISS.
Does that makes this the most capable Atlas V ever launched then.
Quote from: Star One on 07/21/2017 12:12 pmDoes that makes this the most capable Atlas V ever launched then.To LEO yes, but not to higher energy orbits. The additional mass of the extra RL-10 starts to matter more than the additional thrust.
I did wonder that. Which makes the three stage variant used to launch New Horizons still the most capable to such orbits.
Quote from: Star One on 07/21/2017 03:09 pmI did wonder that. Which makes the three stage variant used to launch New Horizons still the most capable to such orbits.There was no three stage. The payload had a solid motor
Quote from: Jim on 07/21/2017 06:24 pmQuote from: Star One on 07/21/2017 03:09 pmI did wonder that. Which makes the three stage variant used to launch New Horizons still the most capable to such orbits.There was no three stage. The payload had a solid motorI've seen that referred to online as a third stage?
552 lifts an extra 1800kg to LEO, assume ISS orbit. Source: Tory Brunohttps://twitter.com/torybruno/status/888508087165792257
Quote from: GWH on 07/21/2017 09:20 pm552 lifts an extra 1800kg to LEO, assume ISS orbit. Source: Tory Brunohttps://twitter.com/torybruno/status/888508087165792257Compared to the 551 (just to be clear).
