In no big surprise,Boeing ( News - Alert )today announced it is using the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket for its CST-100 manned space capsule. The larger question weighing upon the commercial crew vendors are if NASA will have the money to carry more than one concept through development to deliver crew to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station (ISS).
Under the agreement, if Boeing gets enough money from NASA, ULA will provide services for an autonomous orbital flight, a transonic autonomous abort test launch, and a manned test flight with two Boeing “badged” test pilots in 2015. Work will include an integrated system for launch and spacecraft operations, pad improvements/modifications to Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41, and a system for crews to get in and out of the capsule while it is on the ground.
Boeing's earlier presentations for the CST (Commercial Space Transport) 100 capsule listed a number of different potential rocket choices, including theSpaceX ( News - Alert )Falcon 9, but the Atlas V was selected for a integration and a series of three 2015 test flights because of its “best value” according to a Boeing official, including evaluation of technical aspects, management, and past performance of team and vehicle. ATK ( News - Alert )and SpaceX were also considered, but Boeing said it also went through a process to make sure “the decision wasn't biased” since the company is part owner of ULA.
Atlas V has had 26 consecutive flights in its current configuration, and is the only rocket currently qualified to launch nuclear-powered missions, such as the Mars Curiosity rover later this year. Boeing will use the Atlas 412 configuration to launch theCTS ( News - Alert )-100, a rocket that uses a single strap-on solid booster on the first stage and a dual-nozzle Centaur upper stage.
Neither Boeing or ULA would comment on the rocket costs, calling such information “competitive.” A ULA spokesperson wouldn't comment on how much of the Atlas V's cost could be attributed to the Russian RD-180 engine in the first stage.
Many of the questions from the press on the Boeing conference call tried to fish out the company's opinions on the future and funding of NASA's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program, where Boeing, Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada, and SpaceX are all competing for R&D money to complete a commercial manned spaceflight system and ultimate win business to transport crew to the International Space Station (ISS).
Boeing emphasized that “with full funding” the company could be ready to transport crew to the ISS by the end of 2015, but hoped that increased funding would be forthcoming to keep the program on schedule. There was also a hint that NASA could be faster with the CCDev process if it downselected to fewer vendors to manage and divide money between.
Reporters from Florida, Huntsville, Alabama and Houston, Texas probed for potential job creation with Boeing's offering. Since the Atlas V is manufactured in Alabama, if manufacturing rates for the rocket pick up with manned crew launches, an associated uptick in jobs is possible.
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Doug Mohney is a contributing editor for TMCnet and a 20-year veteran of the ICT space. To read more of his articles, please visit columnist page .
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