I just looked over the preliminary briefing on the RD-180 mess. A couple things stuck out at me. First, let’s compare the policy dictates on launch between the DoD and NASA:
“Secretary of Defense, as the launch agent for national security space missions, shall:
– Ensure, to the maximum extent possible, the availability of at least two US space transportation vehicle families capable of reliably launching national security payloads”“Administrator, NASA, as the launch agent for civil space missions, shall:
– Develop, in support of US space exploration goals, the transportation-related capabilities necessary to support human and robotic exploration to multiple destinations beyond low-earth orbit, including an asteroid and Mars.”
Emphasis mine.
First, note that the DoD is tasked with a resilient launch capability. No such requirement exists for NASA. Which is why we went through two periods of over two-and-a-half years when we couldn’t get astronauts to orbit during the Shuttle program. Note also what else is missing from the NASA mission: no mention of heavy lift. Some, of course, believe that it is implicit in “transportation-related capabilities necessary to support human and robotic exploration…beyond earth orbit,” but many studies indicate otherwise. And the two omissions are related. If heavy lift is necessary, and if resilience were necessary for human exploration then, as with the DoD mission, the wording would be “Develop, to the maximum extent available, at least two of the transportation-related capabilities necessary to support human and robotic exploration…beyond low-earth orbit.”
Of course, they can’t even afford one, so they know that if they make that a requirement, it would make it utterly hopeless. But it does demonstrate the dramatic difference in importance between national security and “space exploration” “beyond low-earth orbit.”
Also note, later on in the briefing, that they say that there will be a “heavy-lift” requirement for military payloads. But they don’t define that explicitly, instead pointing out potential examples of such a capability (e.g., growth Delta and Falcon Heavy). That is, the DoD has a different definition for “heavy lift” than NASA does.
Given that the two of them, together are supposed to (among other things):
Work with each other and other departments and agencies, and with the private sector, as appropriate, to pursue research and development activities regarding alternative launch capabilities to improve responsiveness, resiliency, and cost effectiveness for future space launch alternatives,
it would be nice if they could resolve these disparities. Particularly since serious use of the EELV (and Falcon) families for exploration could drive down the costs of those vehicles for everyone. Instead, NASA is wasting billions on a non-redundant rocket that no one needs, except those working on it, who depend on it for their salaries.
The situation is interesting, especially since Aerojet took over Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. Dynetics was working with PWR to develop an upgraded and easier to produce version of the F-1, the F-1B. Aerojet was going to develop the AJ 1E6, basically a million pound thrust replacement for the RD-180. Dynetics has now signed an agreement to work with Aerojet on engine development, apparently geared towards the AJ-1E6. The F-1B is too large and powerful to be a replacement for the RD-180, but it could make for an Atlas VI. Dynetics says that a single stick version of their proposed SLS strap-on using two F-1Bs and an upper stage would give you heavy EELV capability without the need for solids. However, the F-1B and AJ 1E6 are essentially two engine programs within the same company competing with one another and it looks like the AJ 1E6 is the way the company wants to go. Either way, Dynetcs will be involved. Cool.
Has Dynetics produced anything besides paper studies? The LOX/Kerosene expertise is at SpaceX.
Dynetics produces a lot of things. They have not built any large rocket motors but they’ve built small ones. Take a look at their website and keep in mind that it only covers the stuff they can talk about.
We will know NASA is serious when they request a vehicle that can lift the maximum number of people that can be launched at one time within the restrictions of a launcher’s capabilities. NASA wants heavy lift? How many people are going to ride SLS, 7? How many could ride SLS?
You can’t reach for the stars with your hands in your pockets.