Comments on: Stratolaunch lays the groundwork while refining its aircraft design

By: Emma Tameside

Emma Tameside — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:20:34 +0000

“while I do think that Stratolaunch will ultimately bid for ISS resupply work, I donâ€™t think they will be ready in time for the next contract award period, even if they are using SpaceX hardware. They arenâ€™t planning on testing their carrier vehicle until 2015, and that is far too late for the next contract timeframe.”

I totally agree with this Ron. There’s already some very strong suppliers looking to be ready for similar contracts within the next 2 years. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if Boeing has a hand in some of the tenders. Now that SpaceX has shown the industry that it’s possible and profitable, there will be a rush from the shadows to supply the ISS and other manned stations. Don’t be too surprised if Virgin step forward, given then already have some (LOE) framework in place with their established private jet flights and Virgin Galactic.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:54:44 +0000

@Gary Warburton – SpaceX is working on making their rocket stages re-used, with a “blast-back” trajectory for the first stage, where it reverses course back to the launch site. A Stratolaunch version would be more efficient, where the carrier aircraft can fly west whatever distance the first stage needs. Now the first stage rocket can just fly a ballistic trajectory back to the landing point, without having to reverse course.

Combining a reused aircraft with reused rocket stages makes tremendous sense, and I am sure they have thought of it. From what I have seen, it will not be there on the first flight, but more likely test flown and then added over time.

By: Anom

Anom — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:26:39 +0000

Coastal Ron,

Good points on StratoLaunch being ready for competition.

The existing 4-year NASA CRS contracts will go from FY 2013 to 2016 because of SpaceX and OSC schedule delays, so the new $3 Billion ISS Re-supply contract competition will cover from FY 2017 to 2020.

StratoLaunch has said they plan to do their first orbital test launch in 2016, possibly with a Dragon ISS resupply capsule, so StratoLaunch should have perfect timing for the ISS resupply contracts in 2017. Stratolaunch will probably ask for NASA money for their test flight in 2016.

StratoLaunch will be much cheaper than the $225-Million per mission that OSC is charging NASA for 2.5-tons of cargo per ISS resupply mission. At worst StratoLaunch will charge something comparable to SpaceX at $130-Million per flight. OSC probably can’t compete at those prices.

By: Gary Warburton

Gary Warburton — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:47:15 +0000

The dual fuselage plane will be reused but will SpaceX rocket be reusable?

By: Coastal Ron

Coastal Ron — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 03:46:34 +0000

Anom, while I do think that Stratolaunch will ultimately bid for ISS resupply work, I don’t think they will be ready in time for the next contract award period, even if they are using SpaceX hardware. They aren’t planning on testing their carrier vehicle until 2015, and that is far too late for the next contract timeframe.

Besides, Orbital is likely to lower their prices on the next round of CRS work, and their prices, though higher than SpaceX, are still lower than what NASA would pay from other ISS partners. Orbital is the lower risk path – for now.

By: Anom

Anom — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:21:30 +0000

StratoLaunch is perfectly set up to compete for the 20 launch and $3-Billion NASA ISS resupply contracts that Orbital Sciences and SpaceX split.

This NASA CRS contract ends in 2015 so a new $3-Billion and 20-launch contract should open for competition by 2013 for ISS re-supply missions from 2016 to 2019. StratoLaunch has to move fast to look credible by 2013 or 2014 for this next $3-Billion contract.

By: Coastal Ron

Coastal Ron — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:36:20 +0000

It’s interesting to see that the cost of creating systems that can access space (sub-orbital & orbital) has declined to a point where it can be a personal choice for a wealthy individual. And I’m not talking about just buying rides on Virgin Galactic and Space Adventures, but building your own space transportation company like Stratolaunch, or even SpaceX for that matter. Just an observation.

Regarding the design of the Stratolaunch carrier vehicle, I wonder if they have decided they don’t have to have much of a pressurized fuselage? Really all they need is a pressurized cockpit, and the rest could be open – might still want to skin it for aerodynamics, but since you’re not carrying anything inside, all you need is a load-bearing structure, not a voluminous one. Can’t wait to see what the final design looks like.