Re: SSME vs. J2 / RS-68

Jeff Findley wrote:
<landings.geo@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1142881613.974014.61450@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

So we have to ask, why is this better than using EELV's and EELV derived
vehicles? Why are we letting NASA design and build yet another launch
vehicle when it's looking like the EELV's aren't getting the business they
need to keep their prices down?

One reason is that the EELVs are optimized for GTO
missions with two stages. To be used for LEO
missions, they would need to be redesigned quite
a bit. An optimized two-stage LEO launcher would
have a smaller first stage and a bigger second stage
than Delta IV or Atlas V. This would mean that
NASA would not be buying EELVs, but would instead
be paying bucks to develop an "EELV-derived"
launcher.

- Ed Kyle

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