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Old April 15th 05, 04:02 AM
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Ed Kyle wrote:

I think you could cut the launch cost significantly
if you used an Atlas 552, which could do nearly as
well as a Delta IVH. If you can wait a few years,
Lockheed Martin has now been given the green light
to build Atlas V-Heavy, which will be the world's
most powerful expendable rocket when it flies. Or
for even less money you could buy a Russian Proton,
one of only two rockets in use today that actually
*have* launched moon landers.


I had read the 551 has better performance for GTO and earth escape
missions due to not having the extra mass of the 2nd RL10. All Atlas V
to date, plus the upcoming MRO and New Horizons use the single RL10
upper stage.

On the "other" rocket in use today to have launched moon landers, R-7?