Return of SpaceDev's Dream Chaser

[A_M_Swallow]

From "Space 'taxis' could cut the cost of spaceflight"
 * 27 September 2008

http://space.newscientist.com/article/mg19926756.300

"... The spacecraft can carry up to nine passengers, and with full funding it could be ready for crewed flights within three years, says Frank Taylor, manager of the company's space technology programme. ..."

[ChefPat]

From "Space 'taxis' could cut the cost of spaceflight"
 * 27 September 2008

http://space.newscientist.com/article/mg19926756.300

"... The spacecraft can carry up to nine passengers, and with full funding it could be ready for crewed flights within three years, says Frank Taylor, manager of the company's space technology programme. ..."

You have to buy a subscription to read the article.

[Jim]

Return from where?

[A_M_Swallow]

Return from where?

Limbo.

Reading between the lines Space Dev has been talking to Congress.

[Jim]

Return from where?

Limbo.

Reading between the lines Space Dev has been talking to Congress.

It was never in limbo.  It has be just quiet while they work.
There is nothing between the lines that says they have been talking to congress.

You are making something out of nothing.  Just clueless comments.

[DMeader]

Call me when they actually fly something successfully. Then I'll get excited. Until then, all these schemes are vaporware... something coming "real soon now".  Another Rotary Rocket at best.

[wannamoonbase]

I own shares in SpaceDev (Only only a few hundred and I am down $1.50 per share in the 6 or 7 years I've owned them) and I am not holding my breath. 

They should do well once Virgin Galactic starts flying but its a long long way from providing that engine to flying an orbital crew transport.  Even a cool looking one.

[Patchouli]

   Bigelow might be partly funding it since he wants assured access to his space station and has been talking with LM on using Atlas for crew transport.

This still leaves a need for a vehicle to ride Atlas and Dream Chaser would fill that need perfectly.

The delta V needs on the orbital version of DC are much less then those needed for Spaceship 2 since the Atlas V 431 provides the delta V needed to get into orbit.

DC only needs an OMS and LAS vs enough delta V to fly to a 110km altitude by it's self.

The other company that showed interest in making a manned vehicle to ride Atlas is Spacehab and their Arctus vehicle though their vehicle is more of a cargo transport like progress.

The other companies interested in building orbital vehicles as far as I know are not interested in using an EELV for crew transport.

[A_M_Swallow]

Return from where?

Limbo.

Reading between the lines Space Dev has been talking to Congress.

It was never in limbo.  It has be just quiet while they work.
There is nothing between the lines that says they have been talking to congress.

You are making something out of nothing.  Just clueless comments.

That all depends on where the extra $100 million COTS-D money is going.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/09/senate-pass-nasa-bill-for-extra-funding

[Blappy]

Well someone is going to do it sooner or later.  I don't think it's and
if", Its more like "how soon".

SpaceDev appears to be on the right track.

And I agree with Jim.  They (Like most of the commercial guy out there) have just been quite while plugging away on their designs.  I does not pay to tip your hand too soon.

[Jim]

The other company that showed interest in making a manned vehicle to ride Atlas is Spacehab and their Arctus vehicle though their vehicle is more of a cargo transport like progress.

Spacehab has stopped work on Arctus months ago

[Jim]

That all depends on where the extra $100 million COTS-D money is going.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/09/senate-pass-nasa-bill-for-extra-funding

Still does mean they have been talking to congress.  Congress isn't going to fund any specific contractor

[lewis886]

...Congress isn't going to fund any specific contractor

wasn't keeping an ATK contract part of the congressional mandate for the VSE?  at least i think i've read something like that on here.... don't know if any of the other companies were mandated as well... sorry, a little OT.


anyway... that could be very interesting.... how much work would it take for the "Atlas V 431" to be ready to launch a dreamchaser?   i would think that it would take less time to adapt the Atlas to dreamchaser than it will be to actually design/build/test the dreamchaser   i'm rooting for them though... i'd really like to see some sort of spaceplane design in the future...

[Jorge]

...Congress isn't going to fund any specific contractor

wasn't keeping an ATK contract part of the congressional mandate for the VSE?  at least i think i've read something like that on here.... don't know if any of the other companies were mandated as well... sorry, a little OT.

Not quite. The actual text of the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 reads:

"The Administrator shall, to the fullest extent possible consistent with a successful development program, use the personnel, capabilities, assets, and infrastructure of the Space Shuttle program in developing the Crew Exploration Vehicle, Crew Launch Vehicle, and a heavy-lift launch vehicle."

Now, the SRBs are part of the assets of the space shuttle program, and likewise the ATK workforce is part of the personnel, so reading between the lines one could infer a mandate to stick to the incumbent contractors as long as doing so is "consistent with a successful development program."

[DaveJes1979]

I own shares in SpaceDev (Only only a few hundred and I am down $1.50 per share in the 6 or 7 years I've owned them) and I am not holding my breath. 

They should do well once Virgin Galactic starts flying but its a long long way from providing that engine to flying an orbital crew transport.  Even a cool looking one.

Actually, Scaled Composites dumped SpaceDev.  For SS2, they are trying to make the hybrid rocket themselves.

As everyone knows, they had a little setback.  SpaceDev was already out of the picture during the cold-fire test that killed 3.

[Jim]

I own shares in SpaceDev (Only only a few hundred and I am down $1.50 per share in the 6 or 7 years I've owned them) and I am not holding my breath. 

They should do well once Virgin Galactic starts flying but its a long long way from providing that engine to flying an orbital crew transport.  Even a cool looking one.

Actually, Scaled Composites dumped SpaceDev.  For SS2, they are trying to make the hybrid rocket themselves.

As everyone knows, they had a little setback.  SpaceDev was already out of the picture during the cold-fire test that killed 3.

Actually, Spacedev is back on the SS2 team

[lewis886]

I own shares in SpaceDev (Only only a few hundred and I am down $1.50 per share in the 6 or 7 years I've owned them) and I am not holding my breath. 

They should do well once Virgin Galactic starts flying but its a long long way from providing that engine to flying an orbital crew transport.  Even a cool looking one.

Actually, Scaled Composites dumped SpaceDev.  For SS2, they are trying to make the hybrid rocket themselves.

As everyone knows, they had a little setback.  SpaceDev was already out of the picture during the cold-fire test that killed 3.

Actually, Spacedev is back on the SS2 team

interesting... when and how did that happen, jim? 

[marsavian]

I own shares in SpaceDev (Only only a few hundred and I am down $1.50 per share in the 6 or 7 years I've owned them) and I am not holding my breath. 

They should do well once Virgin Galactic starts flying but its a long long way from providing that engine to flying an orbital crew transport.  Even a cool looking one.

Actually, Scaled Composites dumped SpaceDev.  For SS2, they are trying to make the hybrid rocket themselves.

As everyone knows, they had a little setback.  SpaceDev was already out of the picture during the cold-fire test that killed 3.

Actually, Spacedev is back on the SS2 team

interesting... when and how did that happen, jim? 

http://www.spacedev.com/press_more_info.php?id=282

SpaceDev Joins SpaceShipTwo Team
SpaceDev signs rocket motor development contract with Scaled Composites

POWAY, CA – August 18, 2008 – SpaceDev, Inc. (OTCBB: SPDV) announced today that it has signed a multi-year contract with Scaled Composites to assist Scaled in the development of a production rocket motor for the first commercial space vehicle designed for space tourism called SpaceShipTwo.  The vehicle is being designed by Scaled for Virgin Galactic and is part of a complete space system that also includes the recently unveiled WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft.  The WhiteKnightTwo aircraft will ferry SpaceShipTwo and thousands of private astronauts, science packages and payloads as the first stage of Virgin Galactic’s sub-orbital space experience.

 “We are thrilled to once again be part of the Scaled Composites/Virgin Galactic team and to be able to assist the team on this historic aviation and space endeavor,” said Mark N. Sirangelo, Chairman and CEO of SpaceDev.  “Burt Rutan, Doug Shane and the Scaled team have yet again created an outstanding design that will be the first commercial venture to open space to large numbers of the public.”

Under the contract, SpaceDev will be the lead rocket motor team member for SpaceShipTwo and will collaborate with Scaled’s internal design team to develop a production ready hybrid rocket motor.  The SpaceDev teaming will be similar to that done from 2001 through 2004 on the SpaceShipOne program, in that SpaceDev will be providing engineering services to refine the design of the hybrid rocket motor being developed by Scaled Composites, as well as providing the development, manufacture and integration of key rocket motor system components.  Also, SpaceDev will again be conducting ground tests on those motor components and will be working to assist Scaled in the full-scale rocket test program both on the ground and during SpaceShipTwo flight tests.  The contract, which runs through 2012, has an initial value of approximately $15 million for work to be primarily completed over the next two years. 

“Scaled and SpaceDev have worked together successfully in the past and we are very pleased to welcome them back onto the team,” commented Doug Shane, President of Scaled Composites. “We look forward to a long relationship that will result in the successful initiation of commercial human space travel.”

[lewis886]

anyway... that could be very interesting.... how much work would it take for the "Atlas V 431" to be ready to launch a dreamchaser?   i would think that it would take less time to adapt the Atlas to dreamchaser than it will be to actually design/build/test the dreamchaser

anybody have any guesses or info on those questions?


and thanks marsavian, for posting that article

[Jim]

anyway... that could be very interesting.... how much work would it take for the "Atlas V 431" to be ready to launch a dreamchaser?   i would think that it would take less time to adapt the Atlas to dreamchaser than it will be to actually design/build/test the dreamchaser

anybody have any guesses or info on those questions?


and thanks marsavian, for posting that article

Define "adapt"?