Author Topic: Boeing Selects Atlas V Launch Vehicle for CST-100 - August 4, 2011  (Read 128169 times)

Offline edkyle99

  • Expert
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15391
    • Space Launch Report
  • Liked: 8566
  • Likes Given: 1356
Here's the fourth contestant.

Many seem to hate Ares I/Liberty based merely on its looks. 

I submit that Atlas V/CST-100 looks good on paper, but is butt-ugly in appearance - one of the ugliest rocket/payload combinations yet seen!  A repulsive stump!  Liberty is a graceful beauty by comparison.  ;)

Then again, they all look good when flying.

 - Ed Kyle
« Last Edit: 08/04/2011 03:42 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline simonbp

  • Science Guy
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7138
  • Liked: 314
  • Likes Given: 183
(Bump as it's 9:00 PDT)

Offline Jason1701

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2232
  • Liked: 70
  • Likes Given: 152
And the winner is... Atlas!

Quote
Boeing Selects Atlas V Rocket for Initial Commercial Crew Launches
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1869
« Last Edit: 08/04/2011 04:01 pm by Jason1701 »

Offline simonbp

  • Science Guy
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7138
  • Liked: 314
  • Likes Given: 183
Quote
If NASA selects Boeing for a development contract with sufficient funding, ULA will provide launch services for an autonomous orbital flight, a transonic autonomous abort test launch, and a crewed launch, all in 2015.

Whoa, they're actually going to do an in-flight abort test? That'll be interesting...

Offline Alpha Control

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1236
  • Washington, DC
  • Liked: 164
  • Likes Given: 102
Indeed. I also like how the CST-100 capsule is a "capsule-shaped spacecraft". :)
Space launches attended:
Antares/Cygnus ORB-D1 Wallops Island, VA Sept 2013 | STS-123 KSC, FL March 2008 | SpaceShipOne Mojave, CA June 2004

Offline Namechange User

  • Elite Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7301
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
"If NASA selects Boeing for a development contract with sufficient funding....".

Ah yes, commercial space flight is here.  :)
Enjoying viewing the forum a little better now by filtering certain users.

Offline Herb Schaltegger

Quote
If NASA selects Boeing for a development contract with sufficient funding, ULA will provide launch services for an autonomous orbital flight, a transonic autonomous abort test launch, and a crewed launch, all in 2015.

Whoa, they're actually going to do an in-flight abort test? That'll be interesting...

Well, there's the rub.
Ad astra per aspirin ...

Offline Chris Bergin

And the winner is... Atlas!

Quote
Boeing Selects Atlas V Rocket for Initial Commercial Crew Launches
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1869

"Initial" - hmmm!
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Jason1701

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2232
  • Liked: 70
  • Likes Given: 152
Quote
George Sowers: CST-100 will use the Atlas 5 412 configuration (one solid strap-on, dual-engine Centaur).
(Jeff Foust)
« Last Edit: 08/04/2011 04:09 pm by Jason1701 »

Offline Namechange User

  • Elite Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7301
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
"Initial" - hmmm!

That's the point of being "launch vehicle agnostic".  If they can get better rates with various vendors they'll jump to wherever.  No surprise that they went with Atlas first though. 
Enjoying viewing the forum a little better now by filtering certain users.

Offline Lee Jay

  • Elite Veteran
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8566
  • Liked: 3603
  • Likes Given: 327
Quote
If NASA selects Boeing for a development contract with sufficient funding, ULA will provide launch services for an autonomous orbital flight, a transonic autonomous abort test launch, and a crewed launch, all in 2015.

Whoa, they're actually going to do an in-flight abort test? That'll be interesting...

Couldn't it be this same approach?

http://www.orbital.com/HumanSpaceExplorationSystems/HumanSpaceSystems/OrionATB/

Offline Space Pete

Atlas V is fast becoming my favourite unmanned rocket. That is all. :)
NASASpaceflight ISS Editor

Offline Dappa

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1867
  • the Netherlands
  • Liked: 62
  • Likes Given: 76
Atlas V is fast becoming my favourite unmanned rocket. That is all. :)
Atlas V is fast becoming my favourite manned rocket! ;) (post-shuttle)

Offline simonbp

  • Science Guy
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7138
  • Liked: 314
  • Likes Given: 183
The Orion ATB is like Little Joe I and Little Joe II before it in that it's a specifically-designed booster that is nearly exhausted when the abort test takes place. What Boeing is doing is launching a full-up orbital Atlas with the intent to have range-safety blow it up mid-flight. That's ballsy.

Offline Alpha Control

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1236
  • Washington, DC
  • Liked: 164
  • Likes Given: 102
So what does the future hold for the Delta IV? Looks like it's the loser in all the CCDEV choices. Is there enough other business for it to remain viable?
Space launches attended:
Antares/Cygnus ORB-D1 Wallops Island, VA Sept 2013 | STS-123 KSC, FL March 2008 | SpaceShipOne Mojave, CA June 2004

Offline Rocket Science

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10586
  • NASA Educator Astronaut Candidate Applicant 2002
  • Liked: 4548
  • Likes Given: 13523
Well that was predictable... ::)
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline Lee Jay

  • Elite Veteran
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8566
  • Liked: 3603
  • Likes Given: 327
The Orion ATB is like Little Joe I and Little Joe II before it in that it's a specifically-designed booster that is nearly exhausted when the abort test takes place. What Boeing is doing is launching a full-up orbital Atlas with the intent to have range-safety blow it up mid-flight. That's ballsy.

Does it say that somewhere?  I didn't see that in the release but maybe it's well-known from elsewhere.

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37441
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21451
  • Likes Given: 428
So what does the future hold for the Delta IV? Looks like it's the loser in all the CCDEV choices. Is there enough other business for it to remain viable?

Its existence is not contingent on commercial crew.

CCDev is not the proper term.  It is only a development project

Offline Rocket Science

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10586
  • NASA Educator Astronaut Candidate Applicant 2002
  • Liked: 4548
  • Likes Given: 13523
The Orion ATB is like Little Joe I and Little Joe II before it in that it's a specifically-designed booster that is nearly exhausted when the abort test takes place. What Boeing is doing is launching a full-up orbital Atlas with the intent to have range-safety blow it up mid-flight. That's ballsy.
Can I push the button? :)
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline TimL

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 129
  • Sailor Tim
  • Tidal mudflats of Virginia
  • Liked: 33
  • Likes Given: 139
Been mine since being there in attendance for the very first flight. She's just plain ol' sexy in the copper skin and can't beat that leap off the pad in the 551 configuration! :D
"Well if we get lost, we'll just pull in someplace and ask for directions"

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1