-
New potential fellow CEV worker....
by
nav66
on 04 Aug, 2006 03:05
-
Well, folks, I have just submitted my final paperwork accepting a job with the Lockheed Martin team if they get the contract.
I have waited since I was 6 years old for this. Apollo 17 was the event that I always point to as the start of my odyssey through the aerospace world. Just about everything I have done professionally since 1972 is tied to watching Gene-o, Jack and Ron on TV during that December mission.
For the past ten years, I have worked for Lockheed Martin. Immediately after the Columbia disaster, in a fit of militance, I wrote to my executives at LM Space Systems in Denver suggesting we should entertain adapting the Atlas V as a launcher for Soyuz spacecraft. No response, of course, but it set me on a journey that ends, potentially, in the next three weeks.
Within the first few weeks after Columbia, I had sought Dr. Heinz-Hermann Koelle over the internet. I had a book he edited back in 1961, forwarded by Dr. Wernher von Braun, called "Handbook of Astronautical Engineering". It is still one of my most prized posessions. I asked him to co-write a paper with me for the 2003 International Lunar Conference in Hawaii. While we never physically met, we were able to collaborate on a paper. I am sure he never completely approved of the final product, but I am just your average guy, not one of von Braun's team.
I delivered the paper in Hawaii in November, 2003. Dr. Koelle was not present, but in the audience were both Capt. John Young and Dr. Harrison Schmitt. Two of my childhood heroes, and I got to speak in front of them. At the beginning, I mentioned that I was at that conference because I was sparked to action by the final Apollo flight. Jack Schmitt gestured with a spirited upward pumping motion of his arm when I said that. Damned cool experience.
Since then, I have been watching with excitement and apprehension all these CEV/CLV developments. I got to see last year's shuttle launch firsthand (just happened to be working at Cape Canaveral that week). I also had the grim satisfaction of hiring 14 people into my organization at Lockheed who previously were supporting NASA space science programs at Ames Research Center until NASA cut their funding in lieu of Exploration. I was happy to save them, but equally sad that we had to get to that point in the first place.
Early this year, I applied for a "blue sky req" that Lockheed put out for CEV. I didn't expect to get called, but I did - and I couldn't be happier about it.
In two or three weeks, we will all find out the result. Lockheed Martin, or NG/Boeing. I just wanted all you folks on this forum to know that some of us are lining up right now to contribute in what small way we can. I'll tell you this: if I am fortunate enough to get a job on this program, I will give it my all, and I will try to help build the best goddamn spaceship the world has ever seen.
- Steve in Sunnyvale
-
#1
by
lmike
on 04 Aug, 2006 03:10
-
Admirable attitude! I wish you luck.
-
#2
by
Wolverine
on 04 Aug, 2006 03:11
-
Wow! Congratulations!
-
#3
by
kraisee
on 04 Aug, 2006 04:09
-
Well done Steve. It's inspiring to hear a tale like yours.
Ross.
-
#4
by
zinfab
on 04 Aug, 2006 04:46
-
Thanks for that, steve. keep us apprised.
-
#5
by
Austin
on 04 Aug, 2006 05:02
-
Steve, your passion and commitment are readily apparent. People like you make space-obssessed folks like us proud!
Congratualtions to you!!!
Austin
-
#6
by
MATTBLAK
on 04 Aug, 2006 07:07
-
I salute you, Steve, for you will be able to do what I cannot. Apollo 17 splashed down on the morning of my 7th birthday. Down here in New Zealand I was allowed to get up real early on my birthday to watch it live on TV. Those Astronauts were 'my guys' and I've never forgotten that morning.
Incidentally, I've rooted all along for Lockheed-Martin to win the CEV contract!!
-
#7
by
Jester
on 04 Aug, 2006 12:03
-
seeing it's your first post, Welcome on board Steve, good luck and make us proud !
-
#8
by
vt_hokie
on 04 Aug, 2006 12:11
-
Best of luck to you!
-
#9
by
Chris Bergin
on 04 Aug, 2006 12:39
-
Nice one Steve...we've got a LOT of LM people here, so I'm sure they wish you well, as do I.
-
#10
by
James (Lockheed)
on 04 Aug, 2006 12:46
-
MATTBLAK - 4/8/2006 1:54 AM
Incidentally, I've rooted all along for Lockheed-Martin to win the CEV contract!!
Not going to happen.
Lockheed will get the Upper stage.
-
#11
by
James (Lockheed)
on 04 Aug, 2006 12:48
-
Chris Bergin - 4/8/2006 7:26 AM
Nice one Steve...we've got a LOT of LM people here, so I'm sure they wish you well, as do I.
There's hundreds of Lockheed here as NASASpaceflight is forever linked on the internal news service (they really like this site). All the best to you Steve.
-
#12
by
Propforce
on 04 Aug, 2006 20:55
-
James (Lockheed) - 4/8/2006 5:33 AM
MATTBLAK - 4/8/2006 1:54 AM
Incidentally, I've rooted all along for Lockheed-Martin to win the CEV contract!!
Not going to happen.
Lockheed will get the Upper stage.
What is the basis of your prediction?
-
#13
by
astrobrian
on 04 Aug, 2006 21:08
-
Best of luck to you
-
#14
by
Generic Username
on 05 Aug, 2006 04:09
-
Propforce - 4/8/2006 3:42 PM
James (Lockheed) - 4/8/2006 5:33 AM
MATTBLAK - 4/8/2006 1:54 AM
Incidentally, I've rooted all along for Lockheed-Martin to win the CEV contract!!
Not going to happen.
Lockheed will get the Upper stage.
What is the basis of your prediction?
Lockheed is more or less the obvious choice for the second stage, having Michoud and all. If they get the second stage, politics will virtually dictate that some else gets the CEV.
What would be nice is if Lockheed would sic the Skunk Works on the second stage. Not only get the weight down, but make it recoverable... do like SASSTO and work on making it into a complete launch vehicle in it's own right.... drooooollll.........
-
#15
by
vt_hokie
on 05 Aug, 2006 05:01
-
I'm still hoping that Lockheed Martin really does having something like "Blackstar" up its sleeve that could make CEV irrelevant for crew transport to/from Low Earth Orbit! I have to believe that such an air launched system, if it exists, would cost less per flight and require far less preparation and manpower than a traditional launch system.
Lockheed has a long list of launch vehicle concepts and spacecraft concepts that it has produced over the years, and I'd love to see what it could make into reality if given more leeway than NASA is giving with the CEV program.
-
#16
by
Jim
on 05 Aug, 2006 14:20
-
Generic Username - 4/8/2006 11:56 PM
Propforce - 4/8/2006 3:42 PM
James (Lockheed) - 4/8/2006 5:33 AM
MATTBLAK - 4/8/2006 1:54 AM
Incidentally, I've rooted all along for Lockheed-Martin to win the CEV contract!!
Not going to happen.
Lockheed will get the Upper stage.
What is the basis of your prediction?
Lockheed is more or less the obvious choice for the second stage, having Michoud and all. If they get the second stage, politics will virtually dictate that some else gets the CEV.
What would be nice is if Lockheed would sic the Skunk Works on the second stage. Not only get the weight down, but make it recoverable... do like SASSTO and work on making it into a complete launch vehicle in it's own right.... drooooollll.........
MAF is just a facility that NASA owns and LM currently occupies to build ET's. There is nothing special about that. Another contractor can come in and do the same thing. There is no advantage.
-
#17
by
Jim
on 05 Aug, 2006 14:21
-
vt_hokie - 5/8/2006 12:48 AM
Lockheed has a long list of launch vehicle concepts and spacecraft concepts that it has produced over the years, and I'd love to see what it could make into reality if given more leeway than NASA is giving with the CEV program.
CEV is not for LEO. It is to go to the moon and Mars. Air breathing engines won't help there.
-
#18
by
vt_hokie
on 05 Aug, 2006 22:09
-
Jim - 5/8/2006 10:08 AM
CEV is not for LEO. It is to go to the moon and Mars. Air breathing engines won't help there.
If we already have a LEO crew transportation system, and especially if it costs less to operate than CEV will, making it available to NASA would free the agency to put its money into ARES V and a lunar vehicle, instead of pouring billions into ARES I and the LEO CEV capsule.
-
#19
by
Jim
on 06 Aug, 2006 08:12
-
No, the CEV is still required for the lunar missions.
