Comments on: Orbital Sciences restarts engine testing for its Taurus 2 rocket

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:18:12 +0000

In reply to Joe2. At least SpaceX contract is not cancel, so there still hope they will succeed. Unlike Constellation.

By: Joe2

Joe2 — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 02:27:06 +0000

In reply to libs0n.

Under the COTS program they also got a smaller task, delivery of cargo to the ISS. Constellation Systems had:
– Delivery of Cargo to the ISS.
– Delivery of Crew to the ISS.
– Delivery of Cargo to the Moon.
– Delivery of Crew to the Moon.
– Eventual support of crewed Martian missions.

By: Joe2

Joe2 — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:53:54 +0000

In reply to Frank.

“The difference is that SpaceX does’nt get more money if they split from their schedule.”

Neither did Constellation Systems. They got cancelled.

“They have to come up with there own money to complete what they signed up for.”

Here is hoping they eventually live up to what “they signed up for”. They are more than two years behind schedule and they have not yet.

By: libs0n

libs0n — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:30:42 +0000

In reply to Joe2. They also got an order of magnitude less money than Constellation. ISS cargo resupply was not prioritized greatly, and it would be a challenge to come up with a more promptly timed resupply system for the amount of money allocated to COTS and under its terms, which was to create a redundant domestic supply line.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:06:37 +0000

In reply to Joe2. The difference is that SpaceX does'nt get more money if they split from their schedule. They have to come up with there own money to complete what they signed up for.

By: Joe2

Joe2 — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:56:57 +0000

In reply to wade.

Yes Wade, that is me Fairy Tales all the way (why do you guys always feel you have to resort to insults to try to make your points?)

If you do not believe that Space X is running two years behind schedule (while having received all the money they were promised) you can find the COTS scheduling documents on line. The next Falcon 9/Dragon test flight (now tentatively scheduled for December 2011) was originally set for November 2009.

If you do not believe that Constellation Systems got less than originally promised look up the original planning and authorization documents and then look at the actual appropriations.

By: wade

wade — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 02:37:57 +0000

joe, obviously you are consumed by the fairy book story presented by the higher-ups that the once scheduled Constellation Program and the sponsoring of private interests along with the now proposed Liberty Program. These birds will never fly. Ever. they are an avenue for the funneling of tax dollars into a project that the public Has Not Seen. each of these programs have a project window of 7-10yrs from now.

By: Joe2

Joe2 — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:39:36 +0000

Space X is now about two years behind schedule for delivering payload to the ISS (under the COTS program) with their next test flight scheduled for January (Remember – unlike the much maligned Constellation Systems – the COTS program got every penny promised it by the government).

I guess that their only remaining COTS competitor is even further behind schedule could be construed as good for Space X. However, I do not see how it can be considered good news for the United States, NASA, the ISS and especially ‘Commercial Space’.