LockMart F%#@S SpaceX

[mikejz]

From: http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/050812_spacex_island.html<br /><br />But a far more vexing issue now faces SpaceX.<br /><br />After spending an estimated $7 million on its Vandenberg Air Force Base facilities, the private rocket company is being told to get out of its Complex 3 West launch site.<br /><br />“It is just, I think, a travesty,” Musk told SPACE.com in an interview here at the 19th Annual Conference on Small Satellites, sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Utah State University.<br /><br />Fundamentally unfair<br /><br />The squeeze play stems from Lockheed Martin moving back to use a Complex 3 East site at Vandenberg for Atlas 5 launches.<br /><br />“It’s like you build your house…somebody else builds a house next to you and tells you to get out of your house. Like, what the hell…after we’ve made that big investment and everything. We’re going to fight that issue because it is just fundamentally unfair,” Musk said.<br /><br />The Air Force said it has discussed moving SpaceX across the range to Space Launch Complex-4 but has made no decision to evict the company from its current location.<br /><br />“We have had discussions with SpaceX about the possibility of moving to SLC 4 to better serve and protect all our launch partners, but no decisions have been made,” Air Force Maj. Todd Fleming, a Vandenberg spokesman, said in a written statement Aug 11. “We look forward to building strong relationships with Space X, as well as other launch providers, as we work together to provide responsive launch capabilities for our nation. Space X already conducted a successful test from Vandenberg, and we look forward to their future launches from here.”<br /><br />Musk said the U.S. Air Force has got to let the company launch from Vandenberg. “There’s no two ways about it as far as I’m concerned…or pay for us to move to another pad.”<br /><br />SpaceX si

 

[spacefire]

Big company always tries to screw over small company when its monopoly is threatened, or just to show some muscle. <br />I hope Blockheed never gets another contract for their Delta IV Heavy. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">"I hope Blockheed never gets another contract for their Delta IV Heavy. "</font><br /><br />Boeing - /> Delta IV<br />Lockmart - /> Atlas V<br /><br />Blockheed???? If you're referring to the illegitimate bonding of Boeing and LockMart, they're retaining both launchers... supposedly.

 

[spacefire]

my bad, I got a few things confused in my anger... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[grooble]

I hope Musk is angry. Angry enough to use it as motivation to destroy lockheed and boeings share in the rocket market. <br /><br />

 

[frodo1008]

You really Do need to start putting your brain in gear before placing your keyboard in motion!<br /><br />This isn't the first thread and post that you have had to say this kind of thing about!<br /><br />Take the time, make longer more thougtful posts. I go over to my copy of Word and take the time (also using the spell checker makes me seem at least a little more educated than I really am) to really think through what you are saying here. I am NOT just trying to be negative towards you, just trying to give you some advice that might just make your debates here a little more enjoyable for both yourself and others!<br /><br />PS: Making up thoughtless negative comments about ANY of the space companies is not very helpful here!<br />Not even to spacex or Elon Musk!

 

[frodo1008]

As neither Boeing nor LM has any launchers in the class of the Falcon I, I don't really think that they are overly worried yet. Perhaps it would be useful to find out EXACLY what it is that LM is worried about? THEN it can be reasonably decided whether or not this is actually a legitimate issue, or indeed just LM trying to make it more difficult for a possible competitor! We need more information here before such accusations!<br /><br />Even the Falcon V itself is a long way from the size of the Atlas V. Both Boeing and LM might have some worries about spacex at some time in the future, but as of now I don't see them being overly concerned! I mean they themselves also have many larger versions of the Delta IV and Atlas V Heavies on paper at least, but like the more advanced designs of spacex, these are just paper studies at the present time!

 

[erauskydiver]

Whoa, you take posting a little too seriously. It's just entertainment. Anyway, Space X has yet to prove that they even have a working space vehicle. So until then, I think that those who have already proven themselves should get first dibs. Why give up the launch site to a rocket that has the potential to not even work?

 

[yurkin]

That sure sucks for SpaceX. Even if the Air Force pays them for the move there’s still lots of time lost. That time lost is going to mean launches delayed and money lost that SpaceX is going to have to make up.<br /><br />Big companies always use their muscle to get an edge. If Musk doesn’t like it then he can get out of the business.

 

[spacefire]

aww shucks Frodo, I recognized my mistake. Lockheed makes the Atlas, Boeing makes the Delta, And SpaceX has plans to make the Falcon 5 which will be able to compete with the Atlas II for some payloads. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[mikejz]

Atlas II is no longer flying, and the Delta II is going to retired too

 

[spacefire]

are you sure? then why is this still up?<br /><br />http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=80 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[yurkin]

Because the Air Force doesn’t update their website that frequently.<br /><br />The last Atlas II was launched August 31, 2004.<br />http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/atlas2as_launch_040831.html<br />

 

[spacefire]

okie...maybe you can edit the entry in Wikipedia as well, it lists the Atlas II as part of the current family of launchers, and points you to the AF website. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[mikejz]

No longer flying, last Atlas IIAS was in August of last year. Atlas V has replaced it.

 

[frodo1008]

I always thought that the Atlas V, which was one to the EELV's, was a much larger rocket than the original Atlas series. If this would be the case it would leave the next version of the Falcon (FalconV) of spacex as relatively free of American competition as the Falcon I is. Of course, this doesn't say anything about the Russians or the Chinese!

 

[frodo1008]

Actually you are correct. I do take posting on THIS forum as more than just simple entertainmant. After all, THIS forum is about somethig actually important, like space.<br /><br />Now, IF I want entertainment I go over to free space, where almost anybody seems to be able to make a complete jackass of themselves about almost ANY subject. Now that's entertainment!!!

 

[spacefire]

why do you take it that seriously? do we actually believe that we are influencing the course of history with our sometimes silly, sometimes heated debates? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[erauskydiver]

Life is too short to get stressed out about writing a post on a website.

 

[propforce]

We take it seriously because people are judged by what they type. <br /><br />In your case, showing a lack of knowledge of what company launch what rocket then not even realizing their latest products... would seem to make your opinions and criticisms of these companies... less credible.<br /><br />But then again, you're probably some new college kids just having some fun. In that case, go at it... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[propforce]

You too, college kid <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacefire]

yeah, we're young and inexperienced, but we're not dumb. and we can learn.<br />In fact, you're talking to two of the brightest kids ever <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

*Ahem*<br />you are referring to me right <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" />

 

[erauskydiver]

What did I say that disrupted your whole posting universe? Geesh! And I'm graduated. Though I wish I was still in college.

 

[spacefire]

not as much as I do, I bet. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>