Comments on: More evidence ULA will pick Blue Origin over Aerojet Rocketdyne https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/more-evidence-ula-will-pick-blue-origin-over-aerojet-rocketdyne/ Fri, 19 Aug 2016 04:14:35 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Dick Eagleson https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/more-evidence-ula-will-pick-blue-origin-over-aerojet-rocketdyne/#comment-921546 Fri, 19 Aug 2016 04:14:35 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=41060#comment-921546 What mkent said.

]]> By: mkent https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/more-evidence-ula-will-pick-blue-origin-over-aerojet-rocketdyne/#comment-921489 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 17:02:02 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=41060#comment-921489 The latter. Atlas V will fly with the Russian RD-180 until the vehicle is retired and Vulcan takes over.

Current plans are to have the new engine on the test stand sometime next year and to fly Vulcan on its maiden flight in 2019. There will be several years of overlap before Vulcan is certified by the Air Force and Atlas V is completely phased out. Just like Atlas II and III flew concurrently with Atlas V for about three years during its transition.

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/more-evidence-ula-will-pick-blue-origin-over-aerojet-rocketdyne/#comment-921430 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 05:14:52 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=41060#comment-921430 In reply to Dick Eagleson.

Dick,

If ULA does not intend to use Aerojet Rocketdyne’s AR-1 in the Atlas 5, what will they use to replace the Russian engine? Or is there plan to simply use Russian engines until they can replace the entire rocket with Vulcan?

]]> By: Dick Eagleson https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/more-evidence-ula-will-pick-blue-origin-over-aerojet-rocketdyne/#comment-921428 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 04:49:11 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=41060#comment-921428 ULA has never intended to use the BE-4 in a re-engined Atlas V. Methane is about half as dense as RP-1. The tanks on an Atlas V couldn’t hold enough LNG to let the rocket make orbit. The Vulcan will use 5-meter tankage and structure modified from the Delta IV.

AJR is the entity that would like ULA to use its AR-1 in a re-engined Atlas V, but that isn’t going to happen either.

]]> By: wodun https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/more-evidence-ula-will-pick-blue-origin-over-aerojet-rocketdyne/#comment-921378 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:42:12 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=41060#comment-921378 As you pointed out the other day, Aerojet Rocketdyne could have a cash cow product in the works. Maybe this would make congress happy enough that they wouldn’t hamper ULA’s plans.

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