The CCiCAP Award (PRE- and Post-AWARD DISCUSSION) Thread

[AnalogMan]

I'm not quite sure I understand this process - if this is just a selection or if it's announcing a full contract award. 

Opening paragraph of press release (my underline):

"NASA Friday announced new agreements with three American commercial companies to design and develop the next generation of U.S. human spaceflight capabilities, enabling a launch of astronauts from U.S. soil in the next five years. Advances made by these companies under newly signed Space Act Agreements through the agency's Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative are intended to ultimately lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers."

[Chris Bergin]

Anyone fancy creating a nice three vehicle graphic around the 1300 (long) x550 (high) aspect ratio?

Great, but too small. Can you do that same one in the 1300x550?

[BrightLight]

Since both Boeing and SNC got awards for a integrated system, who pays for the pad mods at LC-41?

[kkattula]

So, now that the numbers are official, is "half" funding for DreamChaser enough to keep the dream alive?

Of course.  They would not enter into it if otherwise.

If NASA offered me $212.5M to do half the work I asked $425M for, I'd take it. 

Note, we don't actually know how much they originally asked for.  Depends on what they thought they could reallistically achieve in the time period, and how much they need to achieve that. 

How much is left for SNC to do compared to what they've already achieved? Twice as much? Three times?

[Alpha Control]

During the press conference, the Boeing CST video showed it launching on a Delta IV. Did I miss something along the way?

[BrightLight]

During the press conference, the Boeing CST video showed it launching on a Delta IV. Did I miss something along the way?

no, but i'm sure there will be a newer video showing the atlas V

[nacnud]

No it's still planned to launch on an Atlas but if you're making some CGI why not use your own vehicle

[Robotbeat]

Great, great result. Could only have been better if there had been more money (would've allowed accelerated development or three full awards or two full and two half, etc...).

SpaceX and Boeing are both incredibly strong proposals. SNC's is a good concept that has made very significant strides to actualization, and even the half award is significant enough to help them get much, much further along.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Since both Boeing and SNC got awards for a integrated system, who pays for the pad mods at LC-41?

I'm not convinced that DoD would allow LC-41 to be modified as it might interfere with the launch schedule for national security-critical payloads.  I still think it is more likely that commercial crew will have its own pad, maybe LC-37A; that way they can build as needed without having to build around DoD requirements.

I suspect that LC-39B will be the CC launch pad for NASA missions only.

[Comga]

So, now that the numbers are official, is "half" funding for DreamChaser enough to keep the dream alive?

Of course.  They would not enter into it if otherwise.

(snip)Note, we don't actually know how much they originally asked for.  Depends on what they thought they could reallistically achieve in the time period, and how much they need to achieve that.  (snip)

It could be the opposite of vt_hokie's question: Could SNC effective use >$400M in the course of CCiCap?  SpaceX has nearly 2000 people already working on Falcon and Dragon. Boeing has a near infinite number of skilled people.  How big is the DreamChaser workforce at SNC?  You can only grow a workforce so fast before it gets wasteful.  At some point more money doesn't help.

Particularly with Boeing continuing the work on manrating the Atlas V, this actually sounds like three full awards.  I am pleased with the result.

[vt_hokie]

Should Sierra Nevada be in need of live ballast for DC flight testing I'm more than willing to volunteer!

[mr. mark]

SN has stated 2017, Boeing has stated 2016, SpaceX? my guess 2014/2015.

[Rocket Science]

Get ready for Jay’s commentary and history lesson prior to asking his question… (If he shows up)

[Danderman]

Quick analysis:

SpaceX award: makes perfect sense, they are almost ready anyway.

Boeing: Give unto Cesaer what is Cesaer's.

SNC: Interesting choice, but I don't see how they get from here to there with $200 million.

[Lurker Steve]

Quick analysis:

SpaceX award: makes perfect sense, they are almost ready anyway.

Boeing: Give unto Cesaer what is Cesaer's.

SNC: Interesting choice, but I don't see how they get from here to there with $200 million.

If Boeing funds the ULA Crew Access Tower and any work related to the Dual-Engine Centaur, then SNC should be able to proceed at a decent pace with their funding.

[vt_hokie]

SNC: Interesting choice, but I don't see how they get from here to there with $200 million.

I know it was probably totally unrealistic, but I could swear I remember reading an article a couple of years back where SNC (or SpaceDev I guess at the time) claimed they could develop DC for $100 million. 

[docmordrid]

Somewhere Jim Benson has a big, wide grin

[BrightLight]

Since both Boeing and SNC got awards for a integrated system, who pays for the pad mods at LC-41?

I'm not convinced that DoD would allow LC-41 to be modified as it might interfere with the launch schedule for national security-critical payloads.  I still think it is more likely that commercial crew will have its own pad, maybe LC-37A; that way they can build as needed without having to build around DoD requirements.

I suspect that LC-39B will be the CC launch pad for NASA missions only.

From the live telecon, as reported by yg1968, post #62
"SpaceX would launch from LC-40. Boeing and SNC from LC-41. "

I understand your logic but...
will Boeing foot the SNC bill or will they share the mutual cost and each party pay for the unique requirements of the CSt-100 and the DC?

[Lurker Steve]

Elon is over-promising again.

Does anyone think they have a real chance of completing a crewed-Dragon capable of propusive landing by 2015 ??

Are these the same people who think that the crew Dragon is the same as the Dragon that just returned from the ISS with just a few seats added to the interior ??

[Orbiter]

Since both Boeing and SNC got awards for a integrated system, who pays for the pad mods at LC-41?

I'm not convinced that DoD would allow LC-41 to be modified as it might interfere with the launch schedule for national security-critical payloads.  I still think it is more likely that commercial crew will have its own pad, maybe LC-37A; that way they can build as needed without having to build around DoD requirements.

I suspect that LC-39B will be the CC launch pad for NASA missions only.

You know, that's a fair question. How are they going to accommodate other Atlas V launches if they're going to be adding things necessary for crewed launches to LC-41?