[Senate] Hearing on U.S. Space Launch Strategy 6/26

[DocM]

Hearing starts June 26, 2015 0900 Eastern

YouTube Live Event at the committee channel

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD506yORW2voSanqEgLOUIQ

http://spacenews.com/hearing-on-u-s-space-launch-strategy-could-get-testy/

Hearing on U.S. Space Launch Strategy Could Get Testy

WASHINGTON

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Ahhhhhhh........(rubs hands.........gets slippers...........and gets lots of popcorn ready)

 

Edit: Happy B day!

[DocM]

Thanks

[Beittil]

Meh, I will be going on vacation this this friday so I highly doubt I can watch this live... bummer, was looking forward to it. (Guess my friends are right to call me nuts for watching US Senate hearings while I am not even from the US )

 

I really wonder how this is going to turn out, because those politicians really seem to think that there is just going to be a drop-in engine replacement for the Atlas V while Bruno seems to have the least bit of interest in sailing that ship!

 

To quote myself from the SpaceX topic:

 

 

So we have SpaceX, BO, OrbitalATK, Aerojet and ULA testifying at that hearing! SpaceX will never sell engines to 3rd parties, only sell launches on their own rocket(s). BO seems to be willing to sell theirs (to ULA at least) as well as use it for their own future rockets. Orbital... Lol, hey lets replace that Russian engine with another? What are they going to bring to the table? Aerojet just wants to soak up that government money for their AR-1 engine, which I believe ULA has no interest in. And ULA is probably only going to be plugging their Vulcan! Should make for a very interesting hearing to watch indeed! 

[DocM]

@NASAWatch

Griffin: using SLS to transport DoD cargo would be like using an aircraft carrier to carry cargo across the ocean #RD180

SpaceX has captured 50% of global space launch market #RD180

Cooper: we could make Delta IV continuation to happen if we paid ULA to make it happen? Greaves: Yes. #RD180

@Simberg_Space

RT @NASAWatch: Hyten: it is possible to create a #RD180 replacement by 2019 - but still need to build /modify rocket that can use it

SpaceX's Jeff Thornburg prepared testimony

http://spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?utm_medium=srs.gs-twitter&pid=47400&utm_content=api&utm_source=t.co&utm_campaign=

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This launch vehicle system [Falcon 9] can deliver 60 percent of DOD's manifest today. With the Falcon Heavy, which we plan to launch later this year, fly three times next year and certify soon thereafter, SpaceX will be able to launch 100 percent of the DOD's manifest.

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Our Merlin 1D engine, manufactured at our Hawthorne, CA headquarters, has flown to space more than any other boost-phase rocket engine involved in the EELV Program today, including the Russian RD-180 used on the Atlas V and the RS-68 and RS68A used on the Delta IV. This is a little appreciated fact borne of the reality that each Falcon 9 flies 10 engines per flight. So, each launch of the Falcon 9 provides rapid and discernible heritage for the Merlin 1D engine, which has now surpassed the RD-180. It also bears noting that SpaceX currently produces more liquid rocket engines than any other private company in the world.

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There is no credible risk of any "capability gap" for national security launch now or in the future. Existing vehicles, including the Falcon 9 and the Delta IV, are both made in America and are certified for DOD launch. Even if no new engine or launch vehicle is flying by the Congressionally-mandated deadline of 2019, there will be no gap.

The threat of any potential gap in competition is a false premise. SpaceX's Falcon 9, ULA's American-powered Delta IV, and ULA's Atlas V can compete today in the EELV Program. By current law, ULA can purchase Russian engines for its existing $11 billion sole-source contract for 28 missions through 2019 or beyond. Following the Congressionally-mandated phase-out of the Russian-powered Atlas V in 2019, the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Delta IV, and Delta IV Heavy will be able to compete, providing total redundancy for all types of launch.

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In fact, Falcon 9 will exceed the Delta IV family in flights to orbit by the end of next year. And, the Merlin 1D engine has already surpassed the Russian RD-180 in terms of flight heritage.

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Meanwhile, we continue to push ahead on rocket technology developments and innovations as we advance toward fully reusable launch vehicles, design the safest crew transportation system ever produced for American astronauts for our NASA customer, and test next-generation rocket engines. Critically, all of this innovation is occurring in the United States. Our launch vehicles (including engines and fairings) and spacecraft are made in America. We will never rely upon Russia for any element of the launch vehicle.

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SpaceX maintains a network of more than 3,000 American quality suppliers and partnersan investment in U.S. American industrial base when others are spending abroad.

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We are also moving forward with significant R&D on a next generation rocket engine Raptor. As the company moves forward with the advanced Raptor rocket propulsion system, we will leverage our significant past experience with rapid development of reliable and affordable engines.

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SpaceX is currently building and qualifying the Falcon Heavy Launch System, including launch sites to support Falcon Heavy launches. SpaceX designed Falcon 9 and the Falcon Heavy from the outset to meet EELV design specifications, including the EELV Standard Interface Specification (SIS) and System Performance Requirements Document (SPRD), at no charge to the U.S. Air Force. SpaceX is self-funding the development of the Falcon Heavy.

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Raptor

Leveraging our design, fabrication, and testing experience on the Merlin engines, SpaceX has already begun internally-funded development and testing on our next-generation Raptor engine. Raptor is a reusable LOX/methane staged-combustion engine designed for high performance, cost effectiveness, and long life in high production volume. The engine utilizes a full flow staged combustion cycle, promising the highest performance possible for a methane rocket engine, while also delivering long life through new SpaceX technologies and more benign turbine environments. SpaceX is currently testing key Raptor components at a test facility within NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and at our SpaceX McGregor, TX test facility.

Raptor represents a fundamental advancement in propulsion technology. This staged-combustion system will not only be extremely powerful, but it will also be extremely efficient and reliable. It will achieve commercial viability through notable risk-and cost-reducing improvements in metallurgy and producibility, as well as revolutionary technologies enabling long term reusability. All of these features are crucial in ensuring affordable assured access to space for the United States. Rather than turning to decades-old technology developed to support last-generation launch systems, Raptor will advance the state-of-the-art and ensure the US remains the global leader in rocket propulsion technology.

Raptor could have significant applications for national security space launch, all while significantly advancing U.S. industrial capability and technology with respect to liquid rocket engines. With a highly scalable engine cycle, Raptor's "light and tight" design is built for operational functionality, cost efficiency and long life in high production volume, which makes it ideal for NSS needs. The engine utilizes a closed cycle with the objective of achieving the highest performance possible for a methane rocket engine while also delivering extended reusability through new SpaceX technologies and more benign turbine environments. Key engine components and large structures have been additively manufactured, and Raptor will be the first large liquid engine in the world constructed largely with printed parts.

Raptor directly contributes to the rapid advancement of oxygen-rich and full-flow staged combustion and additive manufacturing technologies for the United Statesenhancing U.S. industrial capability. Further, the engine enhances state-of-the-art, high-performing EELV-class propulsive capabilities for future flight engine systems to support commercial and NSS applications in accordance with Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (FY15 NDAA), Section 1604. The flexibility of the Raptor design enables the technology to be applied to existing EELV-certified launch vehicles.

Importantly, SpaceX capability to support all NSS missions is independent of Raptor development; Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy together exceed the DOD's requirements and will not require external development funds related to this engine. Beyond the existing and imminent Falcon family of launch vehicles, the Raptor engine provides great promise for additional capability that could be relevant to the national security space community and advance the U.S. industrial base.

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[Draggendrop Veteran]

I watched the hearing......pretty much what I expected....after it was done, I wished that I had an eye wash station to remove the "Bruno image" from my eyes. Bruno appears to me to be nothing more than a paid snake oil salesman...no credibility at all.

 

The SpaceX (Jeff Thornburg) testimony and submitted text (prepared testimony) pretty much paints reality. For those with a need for  "glasses", someone else can read it to them later.

 

In my opinion, Blue Origin is doing themselves a disservice by being associated with the likes of ULA.

 

/s      Rant over.....Thanks for posting the testimony Doc.....Cheers......

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Interesting developments in an article after the fact...

http://spacenews.com/lawmaker-wants-u-s-air-force-to-focus-on-new-engine-period/

 

 

 

WASHINGTON

[Unobscured Vision]

Ahhh ....

 

So they're actually being called to task regarding all of the money that's already been spent to develop a new engine with nothing to show for it now? Finally?

 

Prime opportunity for SpaceX to step in and pick up the pieces of this debacle. And the above testimony provided by the ever-prepared DocM cannot be argued against.

 

- SpaceX will, by the end of 2016, have more launches under its' belt than ULA in 1/6th of the time and close to 1/20th the cost.

 

- Falcon-9 will be the "Workhorse Launch Vehicle" of NASA/MilGov (and other paying customers, of course) by that date and Falcon Heavy will have 3 launches by then (can't wait!).

 

- The RD-180 Engines aren't needed after all, nor does Congress (or NASA, really) want to spend more money on ULA's Vulcan Launcher (which is really just Delta-V).

 

- DragonV2 is gonna be a game-changer.

 

Yeah .... Call 'em out, SpaceX. Call 'em out on all of the B.S. they've been laying on Congress for the past 20 years.

[netty2014]

so now your telling us that the rockets you all have are rubbish, well that dose not surprise me at all, so Russia and america lied about there space programs, how the hell did you get a steel drum in space, past all the radiation and deflect all the radiation and heat, that is generated up there, when you can not even build a rocket that works  H A HA HA well done (claps) what a joke you all really are back in 1972 no chance the only computer around was big blue and if your telling me now you flew a ship navigated it to the moon and back ill just stick with my Lego ill have a better chance than you lot at getting my Lego into space oh my you really dropped your self's in it with that statement ! 

[FloatingFatMan]

Aaand, here come the trolls...

[DocM]

RD-180 on US rockets predates the Atlas V and has more to do with geopolitics and cost than rocketry.

When the Soviet Union fell countries like Saddam's Iraq, Iran, North Koreaa etc. were already bad actors with nuclear ambitions.

The post-Soviet Union Russian space industry was pretty much broke, and last thing the US or Russia wanted at the time was for their engineers to become free agents, selling their services to said bad actors where they would likely create nuclear delivery systems. The US also wanted a cheaper engine.

The solution for both countries was to put the Russian engineers to work on a project mainly for use by the US. This project started in 1995 was then known as the Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAR, which would use a Russian engine.

The engine completion for Atlas IIAR came down to two Russian designs: the NK-33 and the RD-180.

NK-33 recently turned into a disaster for Orbital Sciences as the Antares engine that went boom.

RD-180 is a mod of the 4-chambered RD-170 engine used on Energiya, they basically split in half creating a 2-chamber engine.

RD-180 was chosen in 1996 and first flew in 2000 on the Atlas IIAR, now renamed the Atlas III.

Of course now RD-180 has become a political liability, and a risk to US military launches, because of Putin's actions and saber rattling in Eastern Europe.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Aaand, here come the trolls...

Yes...It takes "all kinds" to form a society............we just found another place holder.......

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Now is the time to cut loose foreign engines/designs for "security sensitive" all access launch capabilities. North America is fortunate to be in this position now. Lift capability is available with no gap. If they want another provider....force ULA or whoever else, to invest and grow there own business to compete, if not, find another niche.....ULA is part of "one of the largest military contractors in North America"....and they have no money to design.............time to ween ULA off the trough.......

 

Edit....Here we have new rocket designs coming on a continual basis...SpaceX and their series (paid for by SpaceX), Blue Origin, Nasa, Arianespace, and Energia, all well on their way with new designs...all except ULA...and they want the US taxpayer to pay for it...time to dump these morons.