Re: Air Force Signs Off on SRB-CEV

Kim Keller wrote:
> "Ed Kyle" <edkyle99@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1123908436.663883.31440@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > How about the GAO's numbers?
> > "http://www.gao.gov/htext/d04778r.html";
> >
> > They say that EELV "Program and launch costs increased
> > by about $13.3 billion over the approved 2002 baseline
> > estimate of $18.8 billion". That's a 71% increase,
> > over the original EELV contract when a straight EELV
> > sold for something in the $70 million range, which
> > puts both straight EELV models up to the $120 million
> > plus range today. The GAO report says that the EELV
> > program is getting close to costing as much as
> > Titan IV.
>
> Don't forget that prices will come down as orders go up. NASA has been
> launching roughly four space science missions per year on Delta II. Take
> those orders and insert them in the EELV companies' order books and see what
> the price drops to.

Since the EELVs duplicate each other's capabilities
and not those of Delta II, why not keep Delta II
and drop one of the EELVs instead? I bet DoD
would save a lot more cash that way.

- Ed Kyle

.

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