The RD-120 is an excellent engine; but Ukraine and Russia both make claims on it. Production is in the Ukraine as I understand it.
Quote from: Prober on 06/25/2013 01:09 pmThe RD-120 is an excellent engine; but Ukraine and Russia both make claims on it. Production is in the Ukraine as I understand it. There's that, I agree, but this should be easier to resolve than getting export licenses for RD-181, or at least I'm betting. Not many Ukrainians are as paranoid and obsessed about the imperial struggle with The Great Satan as old Russians (who, coincidentially, clog the government apparatus). BTW, there are proposals on the table right now in Russia to freeze the RD-180 contract. Energomash people are already peeing their pants.
Proposals to freeze *what* RD-180 contract? There is no current or near term Russian launch vehicle using the RD-180.
CRS v2 is not a rocket development contract but a cargo delivery contract. Orbital's price was already above SpaceX using cheap engines, how are they going to compete while trying to absorb all these other costs? And why shouldn't NASA throw CRS v2 open to ULA, since they have paid for SpaceX and Orbital to get up to speed already? It should be a level playing field by 2016, when the current CRS ends and this next CRS v2 would start.
Quote from: baldusi on 06/25/2013 02:20 amNo European, US, Chinese nor Japanese rocket fits the requirements. What about RD-120K? The Isp is as good as NK-33's, claimed at least. It's about half of NK-33 thrust, so 4 of those should be just right. Yes, it's a redesign, but not much worse than a switch to RD-180. The t/w is about the same, noticeably worse than NK-33 of course, but Orbital seems not to mind.
No European, US, Chinese nor Japanese rocket fits the requirements.
There's that, I agree, but this should be easier to resolve than getting export licenses for RD-181, or at least I'm betting. Not many Ukrainians are as paranoid and obsessed about the imperial struggle with The Great Satan as old Russians (who, coincidentially, clog the government apparatus). BTW, there are proposals on the table right now in Russia to freeze the RD-180 contract. Energomash people are already peeing their pants.
Quote from: zaitcev on 06/25/2013 09:46 pmThere's that, I agree, but this should be easier to resolve than getting export licenses for RD-181, or at least I'm betting. Not many Ukrainians are as paranoid and obsessed about the imperial struggle with The Great Satan as old Russians (who, coincidentially, clog the government apparatus). BTW, there are proposals on the table right now in Russia to freeze the RD-180 contract. Energomash people are already peeing their pants.I hope that it won't occur. Otherwise there will be that in Russian is called "to step to itself on balls"
If OF ratio is different 2.6 vs 2.8 for the NK-33 and it lacks gimbal capability though it probably can be added.
Quote from: Dmitry_V_home on 06/27/2013 03:10 pmQuote from: zaitcev on 06/25/2013 09:46 pmThere's that, I agree, but this should be easier to resolve than getting export licenses for RD-181, or at least I'm betting. Not many Ukrainians are as paranoid and obsessed about the imperial struggle with The Great Satan as old Russians (who, coincidentially, clog the government apparatus). BTW, there are proposals on the table right now in Russia to freeze the RD-180 contract. Energomash people are already peeing their pants.I hope that it won't occur. Otherwise there will be that in Russian is called "to step to itself on balls" Dmitry any "real" signs that NK-33 production will start again?
Quote from: Prober on 06/29/2013 11:40 amQuote from: Dmitry_V_home on 06/27/2013 03:10 pmQuote from: zaitcev on 06/25/2013 09:46 pmThere's that, I agree, but this should be easier to resolve than getting export licenses for RD-181, or at least I'm betting. Not many Ukrainians are as paranoid and obsessed about the imperial struggle with The Great Satan as old Russians (who, coincidentially, clog the government apparatus). BTW, there are proposals on the table right now in Russia to freeze the RD-180 contract. Energomash people are already peeing their pants.I hope that it won't occur. Otherwise there will be that in Russian is called "to step to itself on balls" Dmitry any "real" signs that NK-33 production will start again? Well there are some signs, don't know how much "real" they are http://www.vninform.ru/article/261232.htmlhttp://www.vkonline.ru/article/259355.html
oh very good I think
Dmitry any "real" signs that NK-33 production will start again?
Quote from: Prober on 06/29/2013 10:39 pmoh very good I think Nothing of this goes ahead unless and until Orbital signs it off and promises to bankroll. And that's not happening. Otherwise they would not try to get their hands on RD-180. I entertained hopes about it before the whitepaper and the lawsuit, but the train has left the station.
Quote from: zaitcev on 06/30/2013 12:23 amQuote from: Prober on 06/29/2013 10:39 pmoh very good I think Nothing of this goes ahead unless and until Orbital signs it off and promises to bankroll. And that's not happening. Otherwise they would not try to get their hands on RD-180. I entertained hopes about it before the whitepaper and the lawsuit, but the train has left the station. Will look more into what Orbital is doing. However believe that first Orbital must get Antares to ISS. Orbital would not spend more on engines unless they can use them. Looks like Sept 2013 is the key date with Aerojet.