Author Topic: Poll on CCiCAP Selection Announcement (Read 43425 times)

manboy · « **Reply #100 on:** 08/03/2012 04:49 am »

Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 08/03/2012 02:32 am

Quote from: robertross on 08/03/2012 02:01 am
{snip}SpaceX has repeatedly said they will go it alone to Mars (which requires a manned vehicle), so to me they don't need a fully funded case. A partial award would no doubt be great.

If SpaceX went allow they would need the ability to dock with their Mars transfer vehicle, the ability to dock with the ISS is a luxury. So SpaceX could simply buy one of the Russian docking systems and get on with going to Mars. This would not help NASA.

What Mars transfer vehicle? And why would they want to use a ITAR controlled docking mechanism?

A_M_Swallow · « **Reply #101 on:** 08/03/2012 06:31 am »

Quote from: manboy on 08/03/2012 04:49 am

Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 08/03/2012 02:32 am
Quote from: robertross on 08/03/2012 02:01 am
{snip}SpaceX has repeatedly said they will go it alone to Mars (which requires a manned vehicle), so to me they don't need a fully funded case. A partial award would no doubt be great.

If SpaceX went allow they would need the ability to dock with their Mars transfer vehicle, the ability to dock with the ISS is a luxury. So SpaceX could simply buy one of the Russian docking systems and get on with going to Mars. This would not help NASA.
What Mars transfer vehicle? And why would they want to use a ITAR controlled docking mechanism?

A Dragon by itself would be very cramped all the way to Mars so SpaceX is very likely to produce some sort of transport vehicle.
As for the docking mechanism - if NASA is not paying then spending money building something to NASA specification when they can buy off the shelf could be a waste.

Mars is OT for CCiCap selection announcement.

Lars_J · « **Reply #102 on:** 08/03/2012 07:17 am »

Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 08/03/2012 06:31 am

Quote from: manboy on 08/03/2012 04:49 am
Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 08/03/2012 02:32 am
Quote from: robertross on 08/03/2012 02:01 am
{snip}SpaceX has repeatedly said they will go it alone to Mars (which requires a manned vehicle), so to me they don't need a fully funded case. A partial award would no doubt be great.

If SpaceX went allow they would need the ability to dock with their Mars transfer vehicle, the ability to dock with the ISS is a luxury. So SpaceX could simply buy one of the Russian docking systems and get on with going to Mars. This would not help NASA.
What Mars transfer vehicle? And why would they want to use a ITAR controlled docking mechanism?

A Dragon by itself would be very cramped all the way to Mars so SpaceX is very likely to produce some sort of transport vehicle.
As for the docking mechanism - if NASA is not paying then spending money building something to NASA specification when they can buy off the shelf could be a waste.

Mars is OT for CCiCap selection announcement.

Huh? Dragon will share the same docking system as Orion, and could in theory be adapted to serve in the same 'tag along command module' role as Orion would with a transit habitat. SpaceX is not rolling their own docking system in any near future. Why would they?

I agree on it being OT, though.

Silmfeanor · « **Reply #103 on:** 08/03/2012 01:42 pm »

Best decision imho. I am glad I voted wrong - had SpaceX and Boeing going for full, but I thought ATK would get the half award over Dream Chaser.
This makes me happy. I hope we see manned flights from all 3 in 2 years!

RP-1 launchers - hurrah!

jongoff · « **Reply #104 on:** 08/03/2012 02:07 pm »

Looks like the wisdom of crowds beat out cynicism on this one! Thanks guys for participating in this poll! Chris, how do we lock this thing, now that the announcement has been made?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #105 on:** 08/03/2012 02:20 pm »

Locked it

Robotbeat · « **Reply #106 on:** 08/03/2012 02:43 pm »

Yeah, 33% put down the correct answer... Though when I first checked it was more like 30%, so some may have voted after the leak...

It was the result most consistent with CCDev2 and the progress each company has made since then.

jongoff · « **Reply #107 on:** 08/03/2012 03:48 pm »

Hmm...apparently the thread got unlocked again.

But I agree with you Robotbeat--this was the result that made the most sense based on where the various parties were at this point in time, and the potential of their systems. Had ATK put on this strong of a show back for the CCDev-2 selection though, I think they would've got something, but it's kind of hard to catch up with the lead that Boeing, SpaceX, and SNC had by this point.

I do have to admit that I'm pleasantly surprised when I find that I've been way too cynical. :-)

~Jon

Silmfeanor · « **Reply #108 on:** 08/03/2012 05:58 pm »

Quote from: jongoff on 08/03/2012 03:48 pm

Hmm...apparently the thread got unlocked again.

I think only the poll was closed

Downix · « **Reply #109 on:** 08/03/2012 06:04 pm »

I don't feel the final selection is the most flexible, but I can understand NASA's logic.

Plus, hey, my favorite choice won the half award! Love that baby Shuttle!

Robert Thompson · « **Reply #110 on:** 08/03/2012 06:13 pm »

Quote from: jongoff on 08/03/2012 03:48 pm

I'm pleasantly surprised when I find that I've been way too cynical. :-)

I like to think that ATK can yet shine with a Liberty Cargo, no LAS. No 7.pi cheers to get a man home, but one cheer to get a bf element to LEO. Not sure how that would impact SLS.

Lars_J · « **Reply #111 on:** 08/03/2012 06:19 pm »

Quote from: Hernalt on 08/03/2012 06:13 pm

Quote from: jongoff on 08/03/2012 03:48 pm
I'm pleasantly surprised when I find that I've been way too cynical. :-)

I like to think that ATK can yet shine with a Liberty Cargo, no LAS. No 7.pi cheers to get a man home, but one cheer to get a bf element to LEO. Not sure how that would impact SLS.

I'd love to see them try... But I think 'Liberty' is dead now. At least in its current form. I don't expect ATK to proceed any further, but I would be happy to be proven wrong.