Re: Air Force Signs Off on SRB-CEV

Kim Keller wrote:
> "Ed Kyle" <edkyle99@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1123722586.516736.274220@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Most strikingly, the letter also says that NASA
> > is agreeing to consider phasing out Delta 2 in
> > favor of EELV. This means that long-running
> > Thor-Delta, probably the world's most reliable
> > active launch vehicle - the launcher that has
> > boosted all of NASA's recent Mars missions - is
> > in danger of being abandoned. The alternative
> > launchers cost more than Delta 2, so giving up
> > Delta 2 means fewer, costlier missions
>
> Actually, you'd be surprised what a Delta II costs these days. Delta II
> Heavy pushes $100M.

That is still tens of $millions less than an EELV,
at least according to Astronautix.com, which says
that the basic Medium EELVs now cost $130-140
million. NASA's MRO Atlas V press kit says the
launch cost $90 million, but I wonder about that
number. (A nice launch this morning, BTW, at least
up to the end of the first Centaur burn).

> On a totally separate note, Griffin's contention that he can develop the
> "Shaft" CEV carrier for $5B stinks. There's no way it would cost that much
> to ass-rate an EELV, and i'll bet the mission costs would be lower, too.
> More politics at work.

I always thought NASA would end up with one EELV
and the Air Force would get the other. But the
Air Force seems content keeping control of *both*
EELVs.

- Ed Kyle

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: $/Kg of various launch systems
    ... There has been a great deal of discussion on low cost LEO systems. ... Here we have a tabulated list of the various launch systems. ... but flight rate is often a more important factor. ... U.S. EELV program, which costs the U.S. Government $1.2 billion per ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Air Force Signs Off on SRB-CEV
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  • Re: Current US military thinking on launch needs
    ... >> A cynic would say that Delta II's departure from USAF service has ... The big question, though, is whether the Air Force will subsidize EELV ... launch services centrally for all military projects. ... continue to allow Delta-II-sized birds to fly on Delta II. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: CBO Report: Alternatives for Future U.S. Space-Launch Capabilities
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  • Re: CEV in disarray???? From space news........
    ... EELV option would cost more. ... The average EELV launch is now expected to cost $230 million, ... CLV will share much of its post ISS overhead with the CaLV, ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
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