Author Topic: ATK: Methane based CEV propulsion contract (Read 4123 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 05/08/2006 07:23 pm »

http://www.atk.com/NewsReleases2006/2006-05-08-LOx.asp#TopOfPage

Tap-Sa · « **Reply #1 on:** 05/08/2006 08:08 pm »

*cough*pork*cough*

$10M for pressurefed battleship version when C&Space is already testfiring their pumpfed engine. And why ATK as middleman, their experience with liquid engines is what, nil?

Carl G · « **Reply #2 on:** 05/08/2006 08:54 pm »

That surprised me too, as they are all about solids with Shuttle dervived.

simonbp · « **Reply #3 on:** 05/09/2006 01:25 am »

Quote

Tap-Sa - 8/5/2006 3:08 PM

*cough*pork*cough*

$10M for pressurefed battleship version when C&Space is already testfiring their pumpfed engine. And why ATK as middleman, their experience with liquid engines is what, nil?

Because it's either them or P&W, and I somehow doubt P&W would be any cheaper. Also, Politics (and pride, frankly) wouldn't allow them to buy an engine from an overseas company, let alone one in South Korea.

What interesting to me is that XCOR is stepping up into the big leagues with this contract, probably with an eye to building the final engine...

Simon

Bill White · « **Reply #4 on:** 05/09/2006 01:38 am »

Quote

simonbp - 8/5/2006 8:25 PM

Quote
Tap-Sa - 8/5/2006 3:08 PM

*cough*pork*cough*

$10M for pressurefed battleship version when C&Space is already testfiring their pumpfed engine. And why ATK as middleman, their experience with liquid engines is what, nil?

Because it's either them or P&W, and I somehow doubt P&W would be any cheaper. Also, Politics (and pride, frankly) wouldn't allow them to buy an engine from an overseas company, let alone one in South Korea.

What interesting to me is that XCOR is stepping up into the big leagues with this contract, probably with an eye to building the final engine...

Simon

On this, XCOR may lack the back office administrative experience to do this deal and ATK may well lack the liquid engine engineers. XCOR may need ATK (or someone else) for the necessary lawyers and MBA-types to actually land the final deal.

kraisee · « **Reply #5 on:** 05/09/2006 04:31 am »

Quote

Carl G - 8/5/2006 4:54 PM

That surprised me too, as they are all about solids with Shuttle dervived.

It would be a very smart move of theirs to get into liquids too. They have a lot of experience with all sorts of rockets today, and they have had *some* experience with liquids in the past (nowhere near as much as P&W of course). Adding a Methane liquid engine to their repertoir is probably a very clever move by them.

Ross.

kraisee · « **Reply #6 on:** 05/09/2006 04:37 am »

Quote

Bill White - 8/5/2006 9:38 PM

On this, XCOR may lack the back office administrative experience to do this deal and ATK may well lack the liquid engine engineers. XCOR may need ATK (or someone else) for the necessary lawyers and MBA-types to actually land the final deal.

Also, XCOR still has yet to make a single engine which has been selected for use in any government project anywhere. ATK have an established history of producing hundreds of different operational systems for NASA and the military already.

When an established company says it can do something, they're probably right. XCOR will require a lot more experience and will have to complete a lot more proven projects before they can command a similar degree of confidence in their abilities. Give them time, I'm confident they will, but they're going to have to work hard in order to create the reputation they will want.

Ross.

Space Spy · « **Reply #7 on:** 05/16/2006 02:11 pm »

Now that ATK will for sure develop a prototype LOX/LCH4 engine, is NASA willing to use it on its CEV/LSAM ?

In my opinion, the use of LOX/LCH4 engines gives a greater sense to the VSE, at least if NASA seriously considers lunar oxygen extraction.