Lockheed Martin Announces Cubesat payload integrators for Athena.http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2013/august/0814-ss-athena.html - Ed Kyle
In addition, Athena RideShare missions planned for 2015 and 2016 from Kodiak Launch Complex can accommodate 24 P-PODs or a mix of 3U, 6U and 12U CubeSat containerized payloads, vastly expanding launch opportunities for these very small satellites to sun synchronous orbits.
Everyone here are the updated 2013 PDFs for the Athena Modular Family:Athena Rideshare (http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/space/documents/athena/Athena%20RideShare.pdf)Athena Fact Sheet (http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/space/documents/athena/Athena%20Fact%20Sheet%20Review%20vers%204.pdf)Athena User Guide (Coming Soon)Athena Modular Family (http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/space/documents/athena/Athena_Modular_Family_2013_WBG.pdf)
First official look at Athena III. But also Athena IIcS with strap on motors. Orion 50SXLG strap on motors no less. Surprise! - Ed Kyle
Athena IIcS is just the reincarnation of the original Athena-3 with the Castor-IVA boosters replaced with Pegasus-heritage Orion-50SXLGs.
Unless you do ISS, LEO means SSO. And 3 tonnes covers everything commercial, NASA and a good fraction of DoD. It's right sized as is. I simply don't see the III market. Should be awfully expensive for the limited extra performance.
Quote from: baldusi on 10/27/2013 02:02 pmUnless you do ISS, LEO means SSO. And 3 tonnes covers everything commercial, NASA and a good fraction of DoD. It's right sized as is. I simply don't see the III market. Should be awfully expensive for the limited extra performance.With the revelation about Athena 2cS, I agree about Athena 3. Unless the Athena 3 so far revealed is only an initial stepping stone to something more capable.I also found very interesting the little note about a new "Castor 120XL" option. - Ed Kyle
Athena IIcS6 is interesting. In the middle Delta II range. I bet it'd be significantly cheaper than Athena III at low launch rates since the component masses would be much lighter.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 10/28/2013 03:03 pmAthena IIcS6 is interesting. In the middle Delta II range. I bet it'd be significantly cheaper than Athena III at low launch rates since the component masses would be much lighter.And far cheaper to develop. All of the Athena 2cS motors already exist while the Athena 3 first stage would have to be developed. Presumably Athena 2cS would fly from existing pads, while Athena 3 would need new pads. And so on. - Ed Kyle
That "Castor 900" stage - would that be the same diameter as a shuttle SRB?
Quote from: Lars_J on 10/28/2013 07:48 pmThat "Castor 900" stage - would that be the same diameter as a shuttle SRB?Yes design requirements for Castor 900 are taken from RSRMV programme. The Castor 900 Designation is new and is designation for three segment version of RSRMV. RSRM Specific info is listed in the latest ATK SRM Catalog
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 10/28/2013 08:41 pmQuote from: Lars_J on 10/28/2013 07:48 pmThat "Castor 900" stage - would that be the same diameter as a shuttle SRB?Yes design requirements for Castor 900 are taken from RSRMV programme. The Castor 900 Designation is new and is designation for three segment version of RSRMV. RSRM Specific info is listed in the latest ATK SRM CatalogI thought it was 2.5 segments for Athena 3. - Ed Kyle
Will all vehicles have an option to fly with a star engine on top of the orbital adjust module?
Quote from: fatjohn1408 on 01/29/2014 01:29 pmWill all vehicles have an option to fly with a star engine on top of the orbital adjust module?The user's guide described use of a Star 37FM fifth stage on Athena 2c for GTO and escape missions, but did not mention it for Athena 1c. The smaller rocket would likely only be used for LEO missions. Star 37FM weighs more than the mass that Athena 1c can lift to LEO. - Ed Kyle