Astrotech or Spacex facilities
Quote from: Jim on 10/09/2015 12:52 pmAstrotech or Spacex facilitiesSo they are going full commercial or is it just that the use of commercial GEO bus enables standard processing?
##/74 Rb# III-1 Scheduled launch: 2017
Will the Falcon 9 upper stage inject the satellites into their final orbit? Last I remember, the upper stage didn't have the capability to coast for that long (if I am remembering this correctly the constraint was batteries on the upper stage). Has SpaceX improved the upper stage so that it can perform a direct injection or will a transfer orbit be used relying on the spacecraft to make the final burn?
"This GPS III Launch Services contract award achieves a balance between mission success, meeting operational needs, lowering launch costs, and reintroducing competition for National Security Space missions," said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space and SMC commander.
Quote"This GPS III Launch Services contract award achieves a balance between mission success, meeting operational needs, lowering launch costs, and reintroducing competition for National Security Space missions," said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space and SMC commander.Hm, I wonder which of these USAF is sacrificing for the other three? None of SpaceX's other customers feel it necessary to insult them for perceived failure risk. Especially rude given that certification was completed.
Quote from: mhlas7 on 04/27/2016 10:06 pmWill the Falcon 9 upper stage inject the satellites into their final orbit? Last I remember, the upper stage didn't have the capability to coast for that long (if I am remembering this correctly the constraint was batteries on the upper stage). Has SpaceX improved the upper stage so that it can perform a direct injection or will a transfer orbit be used relying on the spacecraft to make the final burn?The spacecraft will be doing the perigee raising.
Quote from: enzo on 04/27/2016 11:12 pmQuote"This GPS III Launch Services contract award achieves a balance between mission success, meeting operational needs, lowering launch costs, and reintroducing competition for National Security Space missions," said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space and SMC commander.Hm, I wonder which of these USAF is sacrificing for the other three? None of SpaceX's other customers feel it necessary to insult them for perceived failure risk. Especially rude given that certification was completed.It's not an insult, it's an implicit acknowledgment of the fact that Atlas V has more flown successfully more than twice as many times as Falcon 9 to date.
Thanks! Any particular reason why? Doesn't the Centaur inject GPS sats into their final orbit for Atlas V missions? What about Delta IV?
Quote from: enzo on 04/27/2016 11:12 pmQuote"This GPS III Launch Services contract award achieves a balance between mission success, meeting operational needs, lowering launch costs, and reintroducing competition for National Security Space missions," said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space and SMC commander.Hm, I wonder which of these USAF is sacrificing for the other three? None of SpaceX's other customers feel it necessary to insult them for perceived failure risk. Especially rude given that certification was completed.It's not an insult, it's an implicit acknowledgment of the fact that Atlas V has more flown successfully more than twice as many times as Falcon 9 to date.And I doubt Elon or Gwynne are feeling insulted. They just won their first National Security mission. The champagne is flowing somewhere...though there wasn't any doubt about the win since ULA no-bid.
Quote from: Kabloona on 04/27/2016 11:17 pmQuote from: enzo on 04/27/2016 11:12 pmQuote"This GPS III Launch Services contract award achieves a balance between mission success, meeting operational needs, lowering launch costs, and reintroducing competition for National Security Space missions," said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space and SMC commander.Hm, I wonder which of these USAF is sacrificing for the other three? None of SpaceX's other customers feel it necessary to insult them for perceived failure risk. Especially rude given that certification was completed.It's not an insult, it's an implicit acknowledgment of the fact that Atlas V has more flown successfully more than twice as many times as Falcon 9 to date.And I doubt Elon or Gwynne are feeling insulted. They just won their first National Security mission. The champagne is flowing somewhere...though there wasn't any doubt about the win since ULA no-bid.It is just GPS