NASA CRS2 Contract Award Announcement - Jan 14, 2016

[rayleighscatter]

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.

I still suspect SpaceX themselves put in their proposal that they would use a new craft on each mission for CRS1. At the time the field was much more crowded with many many proposals all of which required development and by not proposing reuse SpaceX retired what would have been much greater design risk at the time in the eyes of NASA. The field is much smaller and the design risk much less that they could now easily propose it.

[Star One]

I wonder when we'll finally see DC's first flight test firmed up.

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.

I think you're kind of downplaying the capabilities that DC brings to the table for ISS cargo, especially in the rapid return of science.

[tobi453]

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.

Bigelows only option is Dragon. Just look at the price tag of Cygnus. DC is launching on Atlas, it won't be cheap.

[Brovane]

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.

The current contract doesn't say that SpaceX cannot re-use Dragons.  SpaceX is already planning to re-use Dragons for CRS-1 contracted missions. 

[Brovane]

I wonder when we'll finally see DC's first flight test firmed up.

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.

I think you're kind of downplaying the capabilities that DC brings to the table for ISS cargo, especially in the rapid return of science.

How is it more rapid than a Dragon capsule landing on land? 

[Chris Bergin]

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.

I wouldn't welcome a post that simply says "Boooo!"

But Boooooooo!

[rayleighscatter]

I wonder when we'll finally see DC's first flight test firmed up.

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.

I think you're kind of downplaying the capabilities that DC brings to the table for ISS cargo, especially in the rapid return of science.

What are the other capabilities that other spacecraft can't provide?

Fewer flights to the ISS, a stated goal in the RFP.

[Rocket Science]

I wonder when we'll finally see DC's first flight test firmed up.

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.

I think you're kind of downplaying the capabilities that DC brings to the table for ISS cargo, especially in the rapid return of science.

How is it more rapid than a Dragon capsule landing on land?

Hypergolic hazard...

[BrightLight]

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.

I wouldn't welcome a post that simply says "Boooo!"

But Boooooooo!

Now now Chris - descent is important in a viable forum - even when they are wrong

[Rocket Science]

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!

It goes way back before that Pete to my "Yellowbird" thread...

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27178.0

[abaddon]

I think you're kind of downplaying the capabilities that DC brings to the table for ISS cargo, especially in the rapid return of science.

SpaceX bid 3 hour return (Dragon V2 propulsive landing) and 6 hour return (water landing), so this does not seem to be a unique capability.

As an aside, I guess we can't call it "Cargo Dragon" and "Crew Dragon" any more, if the "Crew Dragon" will also be used to deliver cargo .

[abaddon]

Now now Chris - descent is important in a viable forum - even when they are wrong

Descent is even more important for a reusable spacecraft!

[rayleighscatter]

I'd just like to point out the ridiculous amount of dissimilarity in CRS2 as well.

We have a larger volume disposable spacecraft, a reusable capsule, and a combination reusable spaceplane/disposable container.

We have three different launch vehicles. Antares, Atlas V, and Falcon 9.

We have at least two separate Florida launch sites and one Virginia launch site.

[Darkseraph]

I was still rooting for the Jupiter-Exoliner till the end because reusing the in space hardware is as important as the boosters. But I suppose it was complex and potentially risky proposal.


It is interesting that Atlas V is now a permanent part of Orbital's cargo delivery plans. Not relying on any one launcher to deliver cargo has proved to be a wise decision.

[WHAP]

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.

I thought early on they said it was 6 flights for each provider?

[AncientU]

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.

I thought early on they said it was 6 flights for each provider?

Minimum of...

[Craftyatom]

SpaceX bid 3 hour return (Dragon V2 propulsive landing) and 6 hour return (water landing), so this does not seem to be a unique capability.

Oh yeah, about that - how exactly is SpaceX planning to move specific cargo from a Pacific splashdown point to wherever it needs to be in 6 hours?  Speedboat?  Heli?  Boatplane?  I have no idea how far the journey would be, or how fast commercially available boats are.  I guess it kind of depends how close to land you're allowed to splash down...

[ChefPat]

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.

Bigelows only option is Dragon. Just look at the price tag of Cygnus. DC is launching on Atlas, it won't be cheap.

If SpaceX get reusability down & Atlas can't compete, there may be no Atlas by the time CRS2 starts flying.

[robert_d]

Second major question: Will SpaceX be allowed to reuse Dragons?

The current contract doesn't say that SpaceX cannot re-use Dragons.  SpaceX is already planning to re-use Dragons for CRS-1 contracted missions.

Has SpaceX said when that might happen?

[Dante80]

How much does an Atlas 552 go for? (for the Dreamchaser).

Also, any idea how NASA managed to bring the contract max (with options) up to $14Bn? I assume, that is for flights up to 2028 (instead of the 2019-2024 period)?

A $14Bn 2019-2024 budget for 5 missions per year (I'm generous, they said 4) would make each flight cost..$466M.