(Henry Spencer) wrote in message ...

Some years ago at Space Access, back when X-33 was a going concern and
VentureStar was still taken seriously, Dave Urie was asked about operating
from LC-39. His response: "it's cheaper to build new pads".

If *Lockheed Martin* thinks LC-39 is too expensive to be worth it...

According to a recent AW&ST article, Lockheed Martin
also now thinks that SLC 41, the Atlas V launch complex,
is too expensive to be worth it. The company built the
site based on an assumed 18 launch/year rate, but now
only expects 4-6 per year. It could have upgraded one
of the existing Atlas pads for Atlas V (as it is now
doing at Vandenberg) to handle that launch rate instead,
for much less money.

- Ed Kyle