Stratolaunch and Orbital - The Height of Air Launch

[Chris Bergin]

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/stratolaunch-orbital-air-launch/

New article based on L2 content that includes a great full mission video and a lot of additional information. Used part of content in the article.

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Previous Stratolaunch Article (the announcement):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/12/stratolaunch-rutan-designed-air-launched-system-falcon-rockets/

Air Launch Feature:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/07/commercial-shows-reignited-interest-air-launch-system/

L2 Members: Stratolaunch and "Pegasus II" Master Thread (Video and Additional Information):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31801.0

[David AF]

Great work converting all of that into an article. Beautiful system, really hope to see it fly!

[tigerade]

Yay!  Nice article.  It's such a cool system.  I really hope it works out.

[Rocket Science]

Nice piece Chris!  New aerospace projects are always high on the cool factor scale... 

[yg1968]

Excellent article with lots of details! I love these kind of articles!

[robertross]

Super article Chris!

I would love to see this baby fly one day. I wouldn't even mind being a passenger!

Having Orbital on board is a great strategic move.

[mrmandias]

Great info, thanks. 

[arachnitect]

Thanks Chris; I've been waiting for this since the teaser images started showing up on the site.

I wasn't expecting an LH2 upper stage, especially one with two RL-10s.

I still don't understand the business case here.

[ClaytonBirchenough]

Thanks Chris; I've been waiting for this since the teaser images started showing up on the site.

I wasn't expecting an LH2 upper stage, especially one with two RL-10s.

I still don't understand the business case here.

Same here. With Spacex already having modestly low prices and work being done on a reusable launch vehicle, I think Stratolaunch is a dead end. Only advantage I see going for them is more launch windows because of an air launch.

[Jim]

With Spacex already having modestly low prices and work being done on a reusable launch vehicle, I think Stratolaunch is a dead end. Only advantage I see going for them is more launch windows because of an air launch.

Because Falcon 9 V1.1 or F9R are not givens.

[ClaytonBirchenough]

With Spacex already having modestly low prices and work being done on a reusable launch vehicle, I think Stratolaunch is a dead end. Only advantage I see going for them is more launch windows because of an air launch.

Because Falcon 9 V1.1 or F9R are not givens.

As a potential investor, I would be scared off. Profits do not outweigh the risks, IMO.

[Jim]

As a potential investor, I would be scared off. Profits do not outweigh the risks, IMO.

There are no outside investors.

Same would apply to Spacex

[Lee Jay]

With Spacex already having modestly low prices and work being done on a reusable launch vehicle, I think Stratolaunch is a dead end. Only advantage I see going for them is more launch windows because of an air launch.

Because Falcon 9 V1.1 or F9R are not givens.

As a potential investor, I would be scared off. Profits do not outweigh the risks, IMO.

Have a look at the article just before this one:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/mev-rescue-hope-for-crippled-satellites/

I wonder if this one and that one would go well together.  A quick-response to any orbit could possibly mean a quick rescue before an uncontrolled deorbit.

[simonbp]

With Spacex already having modestly low prices and work being done on a reusable launch vehicle, I think Stratolaunch is a dead end. Only advantage I see going for them is more launch windows because of an air launch.

Because Falcon 9 V1.1 or F9R are not givens.

Well, v1.1 physically exists and F9R is at least as far along in development as Pegasus II, so that's not it.

IMHO they have two plausible customers:

1) A customer who doesn't really care about per-launch cost, but does want to control every little aspect of the launch, i.e. USAF and/or NRO (also, what's the singular 5-m faring EELV-class LEO payload?)

2) A manned spacecraft that is not a Dragon, i.e. DreamChaser & CST-100

So, this vehicle is really competing against Atlas V, not Falcon. Looking at from that perspective, it seems like a much safer bet (and makes Atlas V look a lot more shaky).

[Jim]

Because Falcon 9 V1.1 or F9R are not givens.

Well, v1.1 physically exists and F9R is at least as far along in development as Pegasus II, so that's not it.

Falcon 9 V1.1 or F9R viability is not givens

[Chris Bergin]

Thanks for the nice words chaps. Had a LOT of help with that one!

[Jim]

1) A customer who doesn't really care about per-launch cost, but does want to control every little aspect of the launch, i.e. USAF and/or NRO

2) A manned spacecraft that is not a Dragon, i.e. DreamChaser

So, this vehicle is really competing against Atlas V, not Falcon. Looking at from that perspective, it seems like a much safer bet (and makes Atlas V look a lot more shaky).

1.  control every little aspect of the launch is not feasible with this vehicle.

Atlas is not shaky at all.  It is firmest of all US vehicles.  Also, it has more performance than Pegasus II.

[Rocket Science]

With Spacex already having modestly low prices and work being done on a reusable launch vehicle, I think Stratolaunch is a dead end. Only advantage I see going for them is more launch windows because of an air launch.

Because Falcon 9 V1.1 or F9R are not givens.

Well, v1.1 physically exists and F9R is at least as far along in development as Pegasus II, so that's not it.

IMHO they have two plausible customers:

1) A customer who doesn't really care about per-launch cost, but does want to control every little aspect of the launch, i.e. USAF and/or NRO (also, what's the singular 5-m faring EELV-class LEO payload?)

2) A manned spacecraft that is not a Dragon, i.e. DreamChaser & CST-100

So, this vehicle is really competing against Atlas V, not Falcon. Looking at from that perspective, it seems like a much safer bet (and makes Atlas V look a lot more shaky).

Heh, you were thinking Dream Chaser as well... 

[Lee Jay]

Heh, you were thinking Dream Chaser as well... 

Atlas 412 (the planned LV for Dream Chaser) seems to have about twice the LEO payload capacity of this vehicle, so I don't see how this one could get DC to orbit.

[ClaytonBirchenough]

Have a look at the article just before this one:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/mev-rescue-hope-for-crippled-satellites/

I wonder if this one and that one would go well together.  A quick-response to any orbit could possibly mean a quick rescue before an uncontrolled deorbit.

I had read the article. Maybe. I'm still having trouble justifying the development of a new air-launched LV and its enormous carrier plane. Your saying existing LVs couldn't provide an MEV? Also, don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for Stratolaunch I just don't see the business case.