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Sea launch for Atlas V?
The current political events in Ukraine got me to wondering about the continued availability of Zenit. Which then led to the thought that Atlas V is rather Zenit-like in design and operations. Has anybody looked into the possibility of sea launch for A-V? |
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"Allen Thomson" wrote in
ups.com: The current political events in Ukraine got me to wondering about the continued availability of Zenit. Which then led to the thought that Atlas V is rather Zenit-like in design and operations. Has anybody looked into the possibility of sea launch for A-V? That won't be easy; Atlas has a separate cryogenic (LH2) upper stage that the Sea Launch platform isn't equipped to service. Zenit is mostly plugged in at the base with all propellant plumbing in through there; the Centaur upper stage requires a service mast. Atlas V has a somewhat similar payload, if the Sea Launch platform could handle solid strapons. Atlas is integrated vertically; might be some issues in adapting it to horizontal integration and handling. Big show-stopper is if the RD-180 engines, made in the Ukraine, became unavailable. LockMart may have a Plan B for that contingency, but it might require a good bit of time to implement. In summary, we already have good EELV land facilities; if Zenit became unavailable, Sea Launch is probably dead in the water. --Damon |
#3
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"Damon Hill" wrote in message 31... "Allen Thomson" wrote in ups.com: The current political events in Ukraine got me to wondering about the continued availability of Zenit. Which then led to the thought that Atlas V is rather Zenit-like in design and operations. Has anybody looked into the possibility of sea launch for A-V? That won't be easy; Atlas has a separate cryogenic (LH2) upper stage that the Sea Launch platform isn't equipped to service. Zenit is mostly plugged in at the base with all propellant plumbing in through there; the Centaur upper stage requires a service mast. Atlas V has a somewhat similar payload, if the Sea Launch platform could handle solid strapons. Atlas is integrated vertically; might be some issues in adapting it to horizontal integration and handling. Big show-stopper is if the RD-180 engines, made in the Ukraine, became unavailable. LockMart may have a Plan B for that contingency, but it might require a good bit of time to implement. The RD-180 is made in Khimki, a Moscow suburb, just like the Zenit engine, the RD-171. In summary, we already have good EELV land facilities; if Zenit became unavailable, Sea Launch is probably dead in the water. --Damon Murray Anderson |
#4
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"Murray Anderson" wrote in
: "Damon Hill" wrote in message 31... Big show-stopper is if the RD-180 engines, made in the Ukraine, became unavailable. LockMart may have a Plan B for that contingency, but it might require a good bit of time to implement. The RD-180 is made in Khimki, a Moscow suburb, just like the Zenit engine, the RD-171. I stand corrected, thank you. --Damon |
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