So is Michael Holguin a new spokesperson for ULA? Or has he made presentations like this one previously?
He was replacing someone else that couldn't make it.
Autonomous engine recovery and reuse:Looks like they have two side boosters (which look like squat little first stage) on a core stage which doesn't look like it has engines itself. So, feeding propellant to the side boosters which then stage off and probably do some sort of boost-back and landing....which sort of seems like they're bending over backwards to not validate VTVL first stage reuse.
What I find surprising about Holguin's presentation is that ACES isn't planned to fly until 2023 and the reusability plans only come in after that. 7 years is a long-time for a NET date. The market and the competition could have changed significantly by then.
Quote from: rockets4life97 on 12/30/2016 04:05 pmWhat I find surprising about Holguin's presentation is that ACES isn't planned to fly until 2023 and the reusability plans only come in after that. 7 years is a long-time for a NET date. The market and the competition could have changed significantly by then.ULA only have limited financial resources, new booster is most critical thing at this stage.
Vulcan IOC end of 2019.
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 12/29/2016 04:32 amVulcan IOC end of 2019.I've always liked the ACES lunar lander that is depicted in slide #10. In fact all the ACES derivatives appeal to my sense of efficiency and utility.I just wish there was a funding stream/mission to support building and flying them...
Is it just me or does it seem like ULA has less money for R&D than SpaceX? Maybe that is because Commercial Crew and Cargo are development oriented. On the other hand, maybe SpaceX is plowing its profit into R&D while ULA's parent companies are taking a good chunk of the profit. Seems to me that somebody at ULA should figure out how to get the money to do ACES and Vulcan development simultaneously.