Quote from: Zed_Noir on 05/25/2015 11:14 pmIMO the only way one of the GLXP competitors can book a launch contract by the end of 2015 is if someone donate a launcher. Of course there is the freebie ride on the FH Demo flight next year. SX need a guinea pig customer. If SpaceX were willing to donate the Falcon Heavy Demo flight to one of the GLXP contenders, I think they would have just done it by now and they would have a firm launch contract signed and Google wouldn't be threatening to pull the plug.Just because the FH Demo flight is risky doesn't mean it has zero value. I'm sure there are lots of organizations that would pay for it if the discount were big enough. And SpaceX could decide to use it for its own purposes, as a PR stunt and/or to test in-space systems, such as Dragon 2.
IMO the only way one of the GLXP competitors can book a launch contract by the end of 2015 is if someone donate a launcher. Of course there is the freebie ride on the FH Demo flight next year. SX need a guinea pig customer.
Audi is taking off for the moon – along with the Part-Time Scientists. Nearly 45 years after NASA’s Apollo 17 completed the last manned mission to the moon, the cooperating partners have selected the old landing site of Apollo 17 as the new target.A group of German engineers in the Part-Time Scientists team is working within the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition to transport an unmanned rover to the moon. Audi is supporting the Part-Time Scientists with its know-how in several fields of technology – from quattro all-wheel drive and lightweight construction to electric mobility and piloted driving.“The concept of a privately financed mission to the moon is fascinating,” says Luca de Meo, Audi Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “And innovative ideas need supporters that promote them. We want to send a signal with our involvement with the Part-Time Scientists and also motivate other partners to contribute their know-how.” Luca de Meo is presenting the partnership today at the international innovation forum Cannes Innovation Days.Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Board Member for Technical Development, said: “We are pleased to support the project with our know-how in lightweight technology, electronics and robotics.”
Better to carry Dragon 2, it could survive failure of rocket. An opportunity to test in flight high altitude abort is expensive.Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 05/25/2015 11:26 pmQuote from: Zed_Noir on 05/25/2015 11:14 pmIMO the only way one of the GLXP competitors can book a launch contract by the end of 2015 is if someone donate a launcher. Of course there is the freebie ride on the FH Demo flight next year. SX need a guinea pig customer. If SpaceX were willing to donate the Falcon Heavy Demo flight to one of the GLXP contenders, I think they would have just done it by now and they would have a firm launch contract signed and Google wouldn't be threatening to pull the plug.Just because the FH Demo flight is risky doesn't mean it has zero value. I'm sure there are lots of organizations that would pay for it if the discount were big enough. And SpaceX could decide to use it for its own purposes, as a PR stunt and/or to test in-space systems, such as Dragon 2.
After the failure of the F9/Dragon launch attempt last month, Elon Musk needs to 'test' an approved F9 with a payload this year.
Well you still could piggyback the GLXP payload with a Dragon 1 or a Dragon 2 for a trip to the Moon. The GLXP payload is a featherweight.
Manoeuvres before lunar injection greatly depend on the Keplerian elements of the initial orbit. The launching inclination should ideally be within the moon inclination interval. If it isthe case, a transfer is almost manoeuvre-free, or has a small mid-course manoeuvre,if the spacecraft is launched with optimal conditions of:•argument of perigee and right ascension of ascending node, for GTO transfers•right ascension of ascending node only for LEO transfersSome rare GTO Ariane 5 launches provides such conditions.None-optimal conditions would require expensive manoeuvring which may doublethe trajectory total Δv cost
Delivery of a Rideshare P/L to GSOA. Atlas V 551 can deliver 19,620 lbs (8,900 kg) to a GTO orbit.A 5M fairing is required for a GSO type missionB. To deliver a rideshare P/L to GSO: requires an extended-mission-kit, a 5M fairing, a long coast, an additional burn to achieve GSO orbit.C. To enable a 2,200 lbs (1000 kg) Rideshare mission, the Primary would be restricted to 10,700 lbs
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 06/14/2015 12:03 pmWell you still could piggyback the GLXP payload with a Dragon 1 or a Dragon 2 for a trip to the Moon. The GLXP payload is a featherweight.Actually no, you cannot. Finding a favorable launch opportunity for ride-share for an actual lunar lander is almost next to impossible.Here is one masters thesis on the subject:http://upcommons.upc.edu/bitstream/handle/2099.1/9666/memoria.pdf?sequence=1QuoteManoeuvres before lunar injection greatly depend on the Keplerian elements of the initial orbit. The launching inclination should ideally be within the moon inclination interval. If it isthe case, a transfer is almost manoeuvre-free, or has a small mid-course manoeuvre,if the spacecraft is launched with optimal conditions of:•argument of perigee and right ascension of ascending node, for GTO transfers•right ascension of ascending node only for LEO transfersSome rare GTO Ariane 5 launches provides such conditions.None-optimal conditions would require expensive manoeuvring which may doublethe trajectory total Δv costEDIT: And here is some information on rideshare capabilities that ULA provides for example. All options are pretty much tiny, for a lunar landerhttps://icubesat.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/icubesat-org_2013-a-2-1-mule_szatkowski_201305281629l.pdfQuoteDelivery of a Rideshare P/L to GSOA. Atlas V 551 can deliver 19,620 lbs (8,900 kg) to a GTO orbit.A 5M fairing is required for a GSO type missionB. To deliver a rideshare P/L to GSO: requires an extended-mission-kit, a 5M fairing, a long coast, an additional burn to achieve GSO orbit.C. To enable a 2,200 lbs (1000 kg) Rideshare mission, the Primary would be restricted to 10,700 lbs Good luck finding that opportunity
We have been waiting for this moment for five years! We are proud and honored to announce, that we signed a launch agreement. In the end of 2017, Our spacecraft will be launched on SpaceX's Falcon 9 outside the atmosphere, and start it's journey to the Moon. SpaceIL is the first and only GLXP team to reach this major milestone, which gives us a real ticket to the Moon
SpaceIL signed a launch agreement with SpaceX for a Falcon 9, as per their FB page (other details are scarce):QuoteWe have been waiting for this moment for five years! We are proud and honored to announce, that we signed a launch agreement. In the end of 2017, Our spacecraft will be launched on SpaceX's Falcon 9 outside the atmosphere, and start it's journey to the Moon. SpaceIL is the first and only GLXP team to reach this major milestone, which gives us a real ticket to the Moonhttps://www.facebook.com/SpaceILEDIT: They seem to be answering questions pretty openly on their FB page, so you can ask any questions there (or ask here and I'll translate it and ask on the page).
Fortunately for Moon Express and the other contestants, they all now have until the end of 2016 to produce a verified launch contract, thanks to SpaceIL.
Quote from: ChrisWilson68 on 10/07/2015 06:23 pmFortunately for Moon Express and the other contestants, they all now have until the end of 2016 to produce a verified launch contract, thanks to SpaceIL.I wonder if any other GXLP contenders will share that specific ride. I think the Astrobotic/Hakuto mission would be too massive, as that would more than triple the payload going beyond SSLEO when the Falcon upper stage re-lights after the SSO satellites are deployed, but maybe one of the smaller ones could go.
Astrobotic has just announced that Team AngelicvM has booked a spot on the lander. That means at least 3 rovers (Carnegie Mellon, Hakuto, and the Chilean team) have money down. edit: removed info by request
Looks like Moon Express are in the press.. http://www.americaspace.com/?p=89409 Not sure how booking a flight on a rocket that hasn't flown yet validates their project though ... Just seems odd to me..any one else think so? GLXP looked like a good idea at the start..with GLXP validating this contract to me isn't a good idea. I would have told MoonEx to book a rocket already has flown..jb
Money is money. Sounds like they feel confident enough in their entry to book a flight, but with the Israelis now having a flight booked..
While the announcement said that Terra Bella will be a “co-lead” on the SSO-A mission, Blake said that the company will be the only customer with that designation on the mission, giving it more control over the launch schedule. SpaceIL, an Israeli group competing in the Google Lunar X Prize competition, had previously been named a primary payload for the flight, but Blake said their lunar lander will fly on another, unnamed launch.
