I thought this was interesting... It's a modification of the secondary payload adapter to act as a solar-electric third stage for putting secondary payloads in different orbits or to escape or what-have-you. Really interesting, it'd allow very small interplanetary payloads to hitch a ride on another launch.
This screenshot above is from a ULA presentation at the 2011 NewSpace Conference:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26179.0
Anyone have more info?
I saw the same. It would be perfect for things like the Lunar XPrize.
Yes...
And interestingly, ULA
appears to be offering other versions of the ESPA for small launch vehicles, specifically listing Minotaur 4, Falcon 1e, and Taurus. I wonder if this could be offered to other launch providers?
How does this fit in with ULA's legal ability (or inability) to be a spacecraft provider? I suppose they are marketing this as a third-stage, so maybe they can get away with it (which is good, IMO!).
(And Antares, if you're reading this, what is this reference to 2012 being a good year when something changes for ULA all about?)
Possible uses for this SEP.
When the stage and the payload have arrived at say GSO can the solar arrays be used to power the satellite? By acting as a bus this reuse will remove (or reduce) the mass of solar arrays the payload has to supply.
What mass of payload can the SEP stage on a Falcon 1e deliver to GSO?
Any good for station-keeping?
what is this reference to 2012 being a good year when something changes for ULA all about?
AIUI, the consent decree(s) cause(s) the parent companies to have less influence on ULA on 1 October.
what is this reference to 2012 being a good year when something changes for ULA all about?
AIUI, the consent decree(s) cause(s) the parent companies to have less influence on ULA on 1 October.
Does this have any bearing on whether ULA can make spacecraft?
There's something about that too, but I can't remember when that kicks in. It's a separate stipulation; I don't think it's tied to the separation from the parents.
I've just seen this as well. Another excellent idea from ULA.
what is this reference to 2012 being a good year when something changes for ULA all about?
AIUI, the consent decree(s) cause(s) the parent companies to have less influence on ULA on 1 October.
Well that's great news. Maybe they'll stop handicapping ULA's ability to compete in the marketplace. How much less influence will they have? Is that information publicly available anywhere?
~Jon
It may be a good idea to start small. Lavochkin (the builders of Fregat, the upper stage that flies commercial missions on Soyuz) proposed building an electric upper stage, fueled with 300 kg of Xenon. It would increase the performance of Soyuz to GTO 2 times over Fregat. They could not find the money. But this may actually fly yet.
