CCDev to CCiCAP to CCtCAP Discussion Thread

[yg1968]

It's a fixed firm price contract. If Boeing is over budget, it's their problem.

While that was true of CCiCAP, I thought CCtCAP was going to be a FAR contract?  Aren't the rules a little different in that case?

It's FAR part 15 but it's still a firm fixed contract.

At what point in the process does development cease and 'competition' kick in? If the final cost of one option is significantly less expensive than another, as everyone suspects, at what point does this provide NASA leverage in negotiations?

It's not clear if NASA will proceed to a further downselection under the CTS contract. My guess is that they will not. But that would be a good question to ask at the press conference.

[edkyle99]

How much whining is there going to be if SpaceX isn't #1?

It's already begun and no announcement has yet been made!

 - Ed kyle

[Star One]

How much whining is there going to be if SpaceX isn't #1?

It's already begun and no announcement has yet been made!

 - Ed kyle

There isn't going to be a number one as such though.

[clongton]

How much whining is there going to be if SpaceX isn't #1?

It's already begun and no announcement has yet been made!

 - Ed kyle

There isn't going to be a number one as such though.

Correct. Winners will be awarded what they bid after negotiations. It's a FAR Part 15 FFP contract. Award amount has no bearing on preference among multiple winners.

[mr. mark]

More CNN reporting coming in... http://money.cnn.com/2014/09/16/news/companies/nasa-boeing-space-x-duplicate-2/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

[Rifleman]

If SpaceX really is able to deliver the lower costs that they claim, I would expect their award (if they win) to be the lowest. In my opinion, a low award that is still a full award for spacex is great news for the price of access to space in the future.

[newpylong]

We should he happy two are being awarded money. Can't have your cake and eat it too.

[HailColumbia]

if Boeing has to win can they at least rename their spacecraft?  "CST-100" sounds like the model number of an AV receiver or something.

[clongton]

if Boeing has to win can they at least rename their spacecraft?  "CST-100" sounds like the model number of an AV receiver or something.

The "100" is to indicate that it crosses the 100 kilometer line that marks the entry into space.
Thus Commercial Space Transport - 100.

[mr. mark]

CNN now has Dragon V2 animation up and running on it's main webpage also main headline.

[HailColumbia]

if Boeing has to win can they at least rename their spacecraft?  "CST-100" sounds like the model number of an AV receiver or something.

The "100" is to indicate that it crosses the 100 kilometer line that marks the entry into space.
Thus Commercial Space Transport - 100.

Well just because there's a logic to the name doesn't make it good. It lacks a certain poetry.  Sounds like a robot named it.

[abaddon]

The "100" is to indicate that it crosses the 100 kilometer line that marks the entry into space.
Thus Commercial Space Transport - 100.

We can all hope that what they are actually aiming for is a bit higher...

[sghill]

Well just because there's a logic to the name doesn't make it good. It lacks a certain poetry. 

Like Boeing 707 ?

[SWGlassPit]

Well just because there's a logic to the name doesn't make it good. It lacks a certain poetry.  Sounds like a robot named it.

Then it might shock you to know that the folks who work on ISS call the modules Node 1, Node 2, Node 3, US Lab, FGB, Service Module, DC 1, MRM 1, MRM 2, etc, instead of the names PAO uses.  I'm sure by the time the first launch rolls around, they'll have a nice PAO-friendly name for the flight vehicle.

[Helodriver]

This is going to be an interesting, as it will be the first time the US has had two manned space vehicle models in operation simultaneously. Thats quite different and will present unique training challenges.

[SWGlassPit]

This is going to be an interesting, as it will be the first time the US has had two manned space vehicle models in operation simultaneously. Thats quite different and will present unique training challenges.

Not counting, of course, the combination of Shuttle and ISS

[Rifleman]

This is going to be an interesting, as it will be the first time the US has had two manned space vehicle models in operation simultaneously. Thats quite different and will present unique training challenges.

Not counting, of course, the combination of Shuttle and ISS

Or the CSM and LEM

[Kim Keller]

But also, why can't anyone in the major media do proper science writing?  Yes a capsule may shuttle astronauts to orbit.  But it is NOT a "space shuttle".

It most certainly is. It isn't the shuttle we all remember, but the term describes its role precisely - to shuttle crew to the station and back.

[SWGlassPit]

or Gemini 6 and Gemini 7...

[Targeteer]

Sen Nelson was just on CNN talking about "2 capsules on top of rockets" and presumably he has a heads up on what will be announced...