Thursday, October 31, 2013

Why 39A matters

It's all about holding SpaceX back because they can't compete otherwise.

In the almost as bad as SLS department...
...the MPCV, which has already absorbed an incredible $7 billion through 2012, while foregoing the rather important necessity of developing a service module,  is set to receive a steady allotment of roughly $1 billion per year, virtually for the foreseeable future.
What did it take to make a Dragon?

4 comments:

Arizona CJ said...

Dragon development cost... I have no idea, but I do know this; the development cost of all SpaceX projects, including of course the launch vehicles and engines, plus Dragon, is a lot less than Orion has spent so far.

And Dragon has flown. Repeatedly.

I'm not surprised that there's a movement to hit SpaceX; Falcon Heavy makes SLS look atrocious, especially once the performance issues related to the SLS main engines surface. I think we;ll find the SLS payload (Block 1 and Block 2 as well) estimates were rather optimistic.

My guess; by the time of the second SLS launch over a decade from now, SpaceX will already be flying something using Raptor methane engines, and that something (MCT?)will have a bigger payload than FH, or for that matter, SLS block one or two. (The current FH is pretty close to SLS block 1).

ken_anthony said...

I know I'm bad about doing my moderation duties in a timely fashion. So let me express my appreciation that you continue to leave comments. It makes my day.

Arizona CJ said...

Thanks for letting me comment, and for running this blog. Yours and Rand's are the only two I comment on these days.

Do you have a preference as to which "Chose an identity" I should use here? (Is one of them easier for you on your side?) I don't have open ID (or twitter, or facebook) but I do have google. I usually just use name/url, but I'd be happy to use one of the others if you have a preference.

:-)

ken_anthony said...

Use whatever is easiest for you. Sign if anon so I don't spam filter you.