AnotherITguy Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 So, they are going from one Russian engine to another... where here in the U.S there are quite the few rocket motors to choose from, as you mentioned FALCON9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 Falcon 9 was the insiders bet based on cost and leaks just last week. ULA probably gave them major deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingskippy Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Problem is there are only two launch providers now that Antares is grounded. SpaceX and ULA. ULA being so expensive that only the US Gov't can afford them. Like Doc said it's PR. ULA is going to hold this up and say, "Look, we are providing services for a private company now, not just Uncle Sam". We offer "competitive" pricing in the industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherITguy Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Right, on a very expensive Atlas V, which as Docm brings up a good point, probably took a loss on those two flights just to make themselves look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingskippy Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 With the billion dollar subsidy ULA gets from the US Gov't, I doubt they will lose anything on these two launches. They are still well ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 There is also legislation moving through Congress, should be in the $1.1T authorization coming up for a vote this week, that will ban RD-180 for USAF/NRO launches after ~2018. Could be they'll have extras and will sell cutrate to dispose of them. ULA and Blue Origin are working on an Atlas V replacement using BO's BE-4 methane engine on S1 and a smaller hydrolox BE-3U On S2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingskippy Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 How far along is Blue Origin on BE-4/3U? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Drawing board! Not expected for flight until at least 2019 i believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 BE-3 (non-U) is a reusable for the lower stage of a suborbital system and has hundreds of test fires for over 10,000 seconds under its belt. About 110,000 lbf of sea level thrust. BE-3U is just an expendable and vacuum optimized version. BE-4 is a methane reusable booster engine of 555,000 lbf of thrust, and is also a candidate for the DARPA XS-1 reusable booster program. We don't know for certain if it's been on the test stand, Blue Origin is a very secretive outfit, but it started development in 2011 so it's likely. BE-3 was a surprise in 2013. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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