NASA CRS2 Contract Award Announcement - Jan 14, 2016

[abaddon]

...and that's it.

[Star One]

Going to show my ignorance now but what is the technical definition marking berthing from docking?

Berthing is a process where the ISS arm grabs the spacecraft and attaches it to a larger port. (allows bulkier cargo)

Docking is the typical process where the spacecraft docks the normal way, but the port is smaller.

EDIT: I added an image showing the difference is hatch/port sizes:

Thanks for the explanation.

[Chris Bergin]

I'm surprised the biggest news of this all wasn't mentioned at the presser!...........














...............Dream Chaser just bagged herself her own NSF Forum Section! I'll set that up this week.

[AncientU]

CRS2 Officially: SpaceX and Dragon - WINS. Orbital ATK and Cygnus - WINS....and...SNC and Dream Chaser WINS!

Wonderful outcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to each of the teams and NASA.
THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Price was a factor, but not a driving factor.  Six-seven factors for consideration regarding who will be chosen for a task order when looking at a flight.

Then he goes on to day that price was very important in selecting the three providers.  So, a bit of mixed signals here.

I think you are conflating two things. He said price was very important in deciding which companies are CRS2 winners. He also said it's not so important in deciding which winner gets which resupply flights. There are lots of variables in flight selection of which price is one.

[BrightLight]

I'm surprised the biggest news of this all wasn't mentioned at the presser!...........














...............Dream Chaser just bagged herself her own NSF Forum Section! I'll set that up this week.

Its Oban tonight Chris and Rendezvous in Space with Danny Thomas!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendezvous_in_Space

it was 1964 - and i have dreamed ever since!

[Lars-J]

Anyone got an over/under on how many SLS plugs we're going to need to sit through before the award announcements?

It ended up not being so bad. One or two mentions of Orion, but I don't recall SLS being mentioned.

Of course, we did see some talk about a "journey to Mars"... 

[Star One]

I'm surprised the biggest news of this all wasn't mentioned at the presser!...........














...............Dream Chaser just bagged herself her own NSF Forum Section! I'll set that up this week.

Thanks for that Chris. Space X may have its fans but I am also a sucker for a winged space vehicle.

Proud to be selected as the next commercial resupply service provider for @NASA

https://mobile.twitter.com/SNCspacesystems/status/687745991131271168

[simonbp]

Of course, we did see some talk about a "journey to Mars"... 

"via cislunar"

[robert_d]

Congratulations to all three.
Second major question: Will SpaceX be allowed to reuse Dragons?
Speculation: Yes, because how do you allow SNC to reuse Dreamchaser, but not SpaceX? This may only apply to land landing Dragon V2. 

[GalacticIntruder]

I am not a DreamChaser fan.

Big win for ULA Atlas. They got 1/3, and maybe even 2/3 if Orbital decides.

[Star One]

There seems to be a lot on positive chatter on Twitter about the DC selection.

[ugordan]

Big win for ULA Atlas. They got 1/3, and maybe even 2/3 if Orbitals decides.

It will be a NASA decision based on the amount of upmass they require.

[Hauerg]

The evaluation must have been a nightmare. With all those different capabilities and configurations that must have been very hard to squeeze into their xls.
So the Boeing offer must have been really weak.

And Atlas V saved OAs ass.

[simonbp]

Congratulations to all three.
Second major question: Will SpaceX be allowed to reuse Dragons?
Speculation: Yes, because how do you allow SNC to reuse Dreamchaser, but not SpaceX? This may only apply to land landing Dragon V2. 

That would make sense, as it sounds like NASA has effectively two SpaceX contract options: the current Cargo Dragon, and an uncrewed Crew Dragon. The later could even be reflights of previously-crewed Dragons, I suppose.

[rcoppola]

3 Cargo and two Crew vehicles. We could literally begin LEO and Cis-Lunar colonization procedures.

My goodness, does this all open up a world of possibilities. Looks like Bigelow won't have to wait too much longer for the all the infrastructure he needs to be in place.

[Space Pete]

Woo-Hoooooo, Dream Chaser is headed to space!

It's been a very long road, going all the way back to BOR-4, but at long last, SNC got over the finish line.

Huge congrats, I can't wait to once again be able to watch spaceplane landings on NASA TV!

[abaddon]

I am not a DreamChaser fan.

Big win for ULA Atlas. They got 1/3, and maybe even 2/3 if Orbital decides.

That's assuming the split is 1/3 for each provider.  If SpaceX were to secure more orders over the minimum in comparison to other providers, it will be a smaller percentage.

[simonbp]

So the Boeing offer must have been really weak.

Or expensive. If it was just Starliner with the seats removed, it must have been dramatically more expensive than the others.

[gommtu]

I am not a DreamChaser fan.

Big win for ULA Atlas. They got 1/3, and maybe even 2/3 if Orbital decides.

People may call me cynical, but I think all of the effusive affection for Dream Chaser is misplaced adoration for the shuttle. Personally, I loathed the shuttle, so I kind of loathe Dream Chaser.