Re: Plutonium on Next Atlas V - Bad Idea?

richard schumacher <no-spam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>Launching the one-and-only probe to Pluto on an un-tested launcher
>configuration, now that's anus-clenching adventure.

Part of the reason the proposal I was working up for PK used two
separate spacecraft. There was no realistic chance that either
of the PK launch vehicles would have enough flights under its
belt by the launch window opening; my approach at the concept
level was to accept it as a throw of the dice, and throw two
pairs of dice (use one of each).

There was realistically no other way to reach the mission
reliability target specified, though I think that NH got
it waived in the end.


-george william herbert
gherbert@xxxxxxxxx / gherbert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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