Re: What else could you do with the Stick?

On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 07:11:05 GMT, "Kim Keller"
<kekeller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Based on what? DOD abandoning their dual launcher policy? Not likely.

Then we disagree. When the Air Force has to decide between F/A-22s and
F-35s or maintaining two EELVs (and they will, its only a matter of
time... mil space budgets are being cut left and right, soon the only
thing left to cut will be EELV) I think the odds are heavily in favor
of one of the EELVs going down the tubes. It will have to be Atlas 5,
sadly.

>And
>with NASA deciding to order EELVs instead of Delta IIs, I think EELVs will
>be around a lot longer than you seem to think.

Delta IV is capable of 18 flights per year (limited by the Mariner, I
think). There's still only enough government business for one of the
EELVs, not both.

>>>Wow, Russia : our international space partners, no less!

>>Don't ya just love 'em?
>
>About as much as I love an agency that keeps trying to scale back ISS
>unilaterally so it will never reach full functionality.

It ain't unilateral. Let's look at the Russian Research Modules,
Universal Docking Module, Docking and Stowage Module, Science Power
Platform... oh, wait... Russia cancelled them years ago. But oh yeah,
all the troubles of ISS are the US's fault...

>> I suppose you prefer the boat Delta IV arrives in? Or the C-5 that
>> hauls in Atlas 5s? Boats. Planes. Trains. Guess which one carries the
>> most freight in the US.
>
>Delta IIs are still delivered by truck. Atlas V arrives by commercial
>AN-124s, not USAF C-5s.

Thanks for the correction. I knew it was a large transport.

>> Yeah, like EELV has done so much in that effort. Two! Two EELVs for
>> the price of... er, the two LVs they replaced.
>
>Oh, I dunno. MRO's launch was much cheaper than the Delta II Heavy used for
>one of the MERs and SIRTF.

Yeah but... Atlas 5 is cheaper than Titan IV, while Delta IV is more
expensive than Atlas II. Okay, maybe we're saving a little money, but
it sure can't be very much.

>> They're sitting idle for a reason. If the government is going to keep
>> at least one of them afloat (and they will) how about picking the one
>> that gets us the most bang for the buck and doesn't leave us begging
>> the Russians to please sell us some more of those fancy engines?
>
>I haven't heard any begging. They're more than happy to sell them. It seems
>the Russians are better capitalists than the Americans.

Today. Next year, after Israel pre-emptively nukes Tehran and the
world blames the US (which they do for everything)...

Brian
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: What else could you do with the Stick?
    ... DOD abandoning their dual launcher policy? ... with NASA deciding to order EELVs instead of Delta IIs, ... Delta IIs are still delivered by truck. ... the Russians are better capitalists than the Americans. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Air Force Signs Off on SRB-CEV
    ... >>>and not those of Delta II, ... >>>and drop one of the EELVs instead? ... one small-vehicle production line and one big-vehicle ... big vehicle is likely to be cheaper than a monopoly-priced ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Air Force Signs Off on SRB-CEV
    ... >>Since the EELVs duplicate each other's capabilities ... >>and not those of Delta II, ... >>and drop one of the EELVs instead? ... payloads, why not shut down *two* production lines ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: What else could you do with the Stick?
    ... > F-35s or maintaining two EELVs (and they will, ... > of one of the EELVs going down the tubes. ... Why be sad if Atlas V survives. ... integration concept and more efficient launch processing. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Air Force Signs Off on SRB-CEV
    ... >and decided to keep Delta II and cancel Delta IV Light ... >payloads, why not shut down *two* production lines ... Well, the two EELVs have a little commonality, at least in the RL-10 ... Even when Boeing got caught cheating with LockMart ...
    (sci.space.policy)
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