Well, it's settled. Lockmart won the bid for the next generation spacecraft to succeed the Shuttle. The initial $4 Billion will be to to develop and build two new vehicles- one manned, and one unmanned variant for cargo lifting to the ISS. There is a follow-on $3.5 Billion for additional copies (depending on NASA req's and the re-usability of the CEV), and another $750 Million for sustainment.
First manned flight is expected in 2012-2014. The Orion CEV will be boosted by a family of boosters derived from the Shuttle boosters called ARES. It will carry 6 astronauts to the ISS or 4 to the moon.
The Orion will be the basis for a series of long-duration moon missions beginning sometime around 2018-2020. These missions will be the precursors to a Mars mission. The intent is to spend 6 months or so on the moon per mission, similar to the current Space Station missions in duration.
The vehicle will sit atop the booster similar to the Saturn 5 configuration for safety reasons. Being above the booster, it will not be affected by falling ice and debris like the shuttle, and it will have the ability to separate and abort during a launch failure. The goal is a 10 fold increase in safety over the Shuttle.
This will be a disappointment for Boeing and Northrup Grumman, who were in competition with Lockmart for the contract, and were considered by many to be the favorites. This will be Lockmarts first time as the prime on a manned spacecraft.
So congratulations to Lockmart, and hope this will be a successful program.
First manned flight is expected in 2012-2014. The Orion CEV will be boosted by a family of boosters derived from the Shuttle boosters called ARES. It will carry 6 astronauts to the ISS or 4 to the moon.
The Orion will be the basis for a series of long-duration moon missions beginning sometime around 2018-2020. These missions will be the precursors to a Mars mission. The intent is to spend 6 months or so on the moon per mission, similar to the current Space Station missions in duration.
The vehicle will sit atop the booster similar to the Saturn 5 configuration for safety reasons. Being above the booster, it will not be affected by falling ice and debris like the shuttle, and it will have the ability to separate and abort during a launch failure. The goal is a 10 fold increase in safety over the Shuttle.
This will be a disappointment for Boeing and Northrup Grumman, who were in competition with Lockmart for the contract, and were considered by many to be the favorites. This will be Lockmarts first time as the prime on a manned spacecraft.
So congratulations to Lockmart, and hope this will be a successful program.
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