Re: Space Access Update #112 9/19/05


Rand Simberg wrote:
> On 3 Oct 2005 20:09:26 -0700, in a place far, far away, "Will McLean"
> <mclean1382@xxxxxxx> made the phosphor on my monitor glow in such a
> way as to indicate that:
>
>
> >> >> it would have
> >> >> provided confirmation of aerocodes for that particular aeroshape at
> >> >> hypersonic velocities, and additional experience with airdropping and
> >> >> routinely operating rocket planes, something that NASA seems to have
> >> >> left to the private sector.
> >> >
> >> >That would be worth something. The question is, was it worth the cost
> >> >of bringing the X-34 to hypersonic flight? And how much would that be?

> >>
> >> Who knows how?
> >
> >But that's the question, isn't it? If the x-34 required $200 million to
> >get to captive carry and tow tests, how much for hypersonic flight?
>
> IIRC, the reason it needed that $200M was NASA's idiotic change to the
> requirements that required multiple strings.


That seems not to be entirely correct.

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=5414

The avionics redesign seems to have contributed a fairly small share of
the increased costs, and the X-34 would have considerably exceded
budget even with no second thoughts from NASA.

The original budget assumed that the chosen engine would be produced on
time and on budget, and had limited resemblance to reality.

Will McLean

.

Relevant Pages