DocM Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 SpaceFlightInsider has an interview with ULA CEO Tori Bruno, the subject being their Next Generation Launch System, the replacement for Atlas V and Delta IV which is planned to fly in 2019. To cut costs they'll be cutting back to 2 launch facilities, 1 per coast, and of the BE-4 doesn't work out the backup is apparently the yet to be built Aerojet-Rocketdyne AR-1 ($25m+ a pair). Downside: if a launch goes kaboom they risk months of delays like Orbital Sciences after the Antares incident http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/ula/insider-interview-united-launch-alliances-tory-bruno-next-generation-launch-system/#comment-554615 Not all in the article, 5 meter core (Delta IV diameter) S1: 2x Blue Origin BE-4 Propellant: LNG/LOX S2 (initial LH2): Delta Cryogenic Second Stage S2 (evolved LH2): Blue Origin BE-3U, XCOR, or ACES** SRB's: Aerojet-Rocketdyne Existing payload fairings Recycling as much h/w as possible Possible 3-core Heavy variant to replace Delta IV Heavy ** http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Common_Evolved_Stage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geertd Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Good article .still no word on reusability.i dont know how they think they can compete in the long term if they dont change all that SALSN 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share Posted January 29, 2015 Bruno is going to discuss reusability at an upcoming conference. IMO he'll either try to debunk it and SpaceX's efforts on economic grounds, or announce they'll support Blue Origin's R&D. The middle road of ignoring the Kodiak bear in the room obviously isn't working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Debunking it would also kind of be a slapping their partners over at Blue Origin in the face wouldn't it? I mean I know they are currently only in bed concerning that new BE-4 engine, but still... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share Posted January 29, 2015 I think they'll support BO. It's hard to get news out of BO because they're so secretive, but they have people from the DC-X program. They've also done landing avionics work using both subscale booster-like testbeds (about 1/3 the size of Dev-1), and before that landers powered by small vertical turbojets. Blue Origin RLV testbed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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