Comments on: Viasat drops launch contract with Ariane-6 https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/viasat-drops-launch-contract-with-ariane-6/ Mon, 01 May 2023 19:23:15 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Ray Van Dune https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/viasat-drops-launch-contract-with-ariane-6/#comment-1410725 Mon, 01 May 2023 19:23:15 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=94679#comment-1410725 With Falcon Heavy batting 1,000.0, why would you put your money anywhere else? This is the real “Big Guy”!

I wouldn’t be surprised if SpaceX decides to human-rate it, for Artemis emergency use. To think Elon wanted to cancel it, until Gwynne Shotwell straightened him out.

]]> By: Jay https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/viasat-drops-launch-contract-with-ariane-6/#comment-1410714 Mon, 01 May 2023 18:36:39 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=94679#comment-1410714 Ouch. With the delays in Vulcan, now a launch in July, I see SpaceX getting another contract.

]]> By: Ray Van Dune https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/viasat-drops-launch-contract-with-ariane-6/#comment-1410713 Mon, 01 May 2023 18:21:38 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=94679#comment-1410713 AFAIK, all remaining Atlas 5 launches will use Russian RD-180 engines, since it would be cost-prohibitive to integrate the BE-4 into a soon to be discontinued rocket.

]]> By: Mitch S. https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/viasat-drops-launch-contract-with-ariane-6/#comment-1410710 Mon, 01 May 2023 18:02:52 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=94679#comment-1410710 “Viasat announced in 2018 it selected SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Arianespace to each launch one ViaSat 3 satellite”

Wonder how the pricing worked out. Did Viasat contact to pay more for Ariane and ULA or did they match SpaceX’s price (even if it meant losing money)? (Though it’s not a cheap SpaceX launch since they had to expend the boosters)
Atlas 5 use Russian engines? I recall ULA said they still have some in stock.

]]> By: Ray Van Dune https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/viasat-drops-launch-contract-with-ariane-6/#comment-1410703 Mon, 01 May 2023 17:08:02 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=94679#comment-1410703 “The ULA launch, on its Atlas-5 rocket, is still scheduled for either late this year or early next.”

So, is an Atlas 5 going to be capable of duplicating the launch performance of a fully-expended Falcon Heavy?

]]>