Unobscured Vision Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Not so easy... RD-180 has some secrets that will not works with reverse-engineered: some of parts built from special metals that sustain very hot, high pressure, oxygen rich environment. So russians also have some secrets in advanced metallurgy... SpaceX and the other NewSpace companies have already beaten ULA to the punch. There's no need for the U.S.-imported RD-180's now, as has already been pointed out earlier in the thread. All that's left is to get Orbital to switch over their gear to another engine -- easier said than done, admittedly, but necessary if they want to stay in business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 Yup. They have plans to upgrade Antares, but if they can't compete for USAF/NRO EELV launches due to Russian engines it cuts them out of a $70B market. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ks8877 Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Generally it's not necessary to have the highest engine's output. SpaceX has good approach: no hydrogen, multi engine design. If one engine out 72% of other eight is enough for flight. Second stage has kerosene fuel, hydrogen could have better result, but more simple design has more reliability and cost less. I would have two engine design for second stage just in case if any problem with one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 I keep imagining an F9/FH upper stage with a Raptor methane engine. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Yup. They have plans to upgrade Antares, but if they can't compete for USAF/NRO EELV launches due to Russian engines it cuts them out of a $70B market. And nobody wants/needs any of the NewSpace companies folding right now. Not when the climate is so fertile and wide-open right now. There's such a demand for launch vehicles that it wouldn't surprise me at all if bidding wars break out over who can get their gear launched. Nobody can build vehicles fast enough to fill the demand. So yeah. We need all players on the field ready to give it their all, and Orbital is in the Lineup. SpaceX is Cabrera and Orbital is Martinez .. the Team needs both players hitting Home Runs to succeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 This seems a bit up this alley, gotta love (Bela)Russians Belarus police arrested a man wanted on charges of embezzling funds from Russia's Vostochny spaceport. The 45-year-old man allegedly accepted a $75,000 contract for spaceport construction work, then took the money for personal use. He was, in retrospect, not hard to find: police in Minsk found him Monday in his diamond-encrusted Mercedes. [The Siberian Times] From the SN First UP newsletter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 ^ Wow. Diamonds (and construction contracts) are cheap in Russia! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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