titan, Cape vs. Vandenberg

(ed kyle) wrote in message . com...

You're right, Henry, but I will persist with my prediction
nontheless. I just have a feeling about this one for some
reason. The convergence of historical coincidences is only
part of what has convinced me that one EELV will be military,
and one NASA, oriented. Martin/Lockheed/Denver has a long
working relationship with the U.S. Air Force when it comes
to space launch, via the Titan program (they've flown Titans
every year since 1959). Boeing/McDonnell/Douglas/Rockwell,
on the other hand, historically built hardware for NASA
(Mercury/Gemini/Apollo spacecraft, Saturn stages, Delta
rockets, STS orbiters).

[snip]

Mind you, I'm not saying this was all planned. I'm just saying
that it was historically inevitable.

And then there is your earlier post on Atlas V using LC41 an AF
heritage pad vs Delta IV using LC37 a NASA heritage pad.

This is like reading an Asimov Foundation story.

However, Atlas V does provide lift capability with 531, 541, and 551
that falls between Delta 4450 and 4050H. Depending on what OSP comes
out to be, Atlas V may provide a sweet spot in lift capability that
Delta IV does not. Another note is two NASA planetary missions are
using Atlas V -- MRO on a 401 and the New Horizons Pluto mission (if
it doesn't get cancelled) on a 551 (over a 4050H most likely on cost).
MRO might have had a choice of Delta III vs. Atlas III, and NASA went
with Atlas. "Might" since Atlas III did have slightly more capability
than Delta III, and MRO, being built by LMAO, could have massed out to
require the extra margin of Atlas III.

Incidentally, I never read the reason MRO switched from Atlas III
to Atlas V 401. Mass growth or LMAO proposed change to get an earlier
end to balloon tank support structure (MRO being the furthest out user
of Atlas III)?

Ideally, OSP would launch on either, and NASA could negotiate for the
best deal on individual launches. But it may turn out that a package
deal for a whole bunch of launches on one would be cheaper. OSP
support facilities would not need to be duplicated at two different
LC's.

We will know more about how this will turn out within a few
months - after the next EELV contracts are let, after NASA
picks the X-37 launch provider, and after we see what happens
when the first Delta Heavy flies.

Yes, EELV Buy 3 and the X-37 LV selection will be interesting...