Private suppliers to the ISS --- ??

[frodo1008]

Yes, the SeaLaunch effort is fantastic. But do remember that the American power behind this effort is no simple small start up company. That power is the largest (and one of the oldest) American aerospace companies, with the name of Boeing.

 

[holmec]

>Yes, the SeaLaunch effort is fantastic. But do remember that the American power behind this effort is no simple small start up company. That power is the largest (and one of the oldest) American aerospace companies, with the name of Boeing.<<br /><br />Granted. Yet its the first time for them in making a system venture with another company and not including the US Government in the deal (at least to my knowledge). <br /><br />Ok SeaLaunch may be in its own category. I just threw it out there as a successful private space launching venture. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

>Well, not being an American, I dont much care how your congress chooses to run things. If people like you want to keep running your country the way you are, I'm quite happy to buy my tourist ride with my non-hyperinflated currency on a chinese built Zenit equivalent. <<br /><br />That brings the international community into the pie. Your right who cares who made the rocket. Just as long as the service is provided cheaply and safely and all profit.<br /><br />So you may have more like SeaLaunch LLC. Russian booster and American and other countries support team. It will be the silicon chip industry all over again. That is computer parts these days come from all around the world, and it will be the same for rockets, space ships, boosters, nav systems..etc. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

>This is the real world. If NASA gives a big contract to some dinky little company that has never done anything and that company goes bust without even launching a 1 gram washer into space then you can bet your last dollar that a lot of NASA people are going to find their butts before a Congressional hearing full of Congress critters screaming "Waste, fraud, abuse" at the very least, and they darn well could find themselves facing criminal charges for fraudulent use of the tax payers money. <<br /><br />Hold on Dobbins. NASA will not do as you say. Because NASA has a system of consecutive contracts so the private company can prove themselves. They did it incrementally with themselves, and other companies with the different programs (mercury, gemini, apollo) they will do no differently with a private firm. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

>They aint buying the two very capable CLV sized American made rockets either. <<br /><br />But they are buying Soyuz!<br /><br />http://www.space.com/news/051109_congress_soyuz.html<br /><br />" The U.S. Senate has approved amendments to the Iran Nonproliferation Act (INA), clearing the way for NASA to pay for Russian launches and spacecraft to support the International Space Station." <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[dobbins]

"That brings the international community into the pie. Your right who cares who made the rocket. Just as long as the service is provided cheaply and safely and all profit."<br /><br />The United States government cares because having an independent launch capability is vital to national security. If NASA launches on US made rockets then those US companies are more likely to remain in business.<br /><br />

 

[kdavis007]

The way it should be......

 

[Swampcat]

Not a reply to anyone in particular...<br /><br />Posters in this thread should enjoy this speech by Dr. Griffin posted on SpaceRef.com:<br /><br /><center><br />NASA and the Business of Space<br /><br /><blockquote><p align="left"><font color="orange">I believe that with the advent of the ISS, there will exist for the first time a strong, identifiable market for "routine" transportation service to and from LEO, and that this will be only the first step in what will be a huge opportunity for truly commercial space enterprise, inherent to the Vision for Space Exploration. I believe that the ISS provides a tremendous opportunity to promote commercial space ventures that will help us meet our exploration objectives and at the same time create new jobs and new industry.</font>/p></p></blockquote></center><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[bwhite]

Great speech by Griffin.<br /><br />CEV+CLV is very expensive (too expensive?) for crew/cargo transfers to ISS. This carves out a HUGE niche for anyone who can deliver pressurized or unpresurized cargo and crew. Griffin said its all on the table and open for bid.<br /><br />Further, did you read Griffin's call for a private sector fuel depot in LEO?<br /><br />IF commercial providers can deliver LH2 or LOX to LEO for less than NASA lift-to-LEO costs (Heh, that should be easy, right?) NASA will buy it.

 

[Swampcat]

<font color="yellow">"Further, did you read Griffin's call for a private sector fuel depot in LEO?"</font><br /><br />Yes. Read the whole speech.<br /><br />Dr. Griffin is looking more and more like the best thing to happen to NASA since Tang. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />If he'd run for president I'd vote for him. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[dobbins]

"Dr. Griffin is looking more and more like the best thing to happen to NASA since Tang.<br /><br />If he'd run for president I'd vote for him."<br /><br />If one of the candidates that is running will promise to keep Dr. Griffin as administrator through 2012 I will certainly be more likely to vote for him. We don't need some political hack coming in as the next NASA Administrator and screwing up the good work that Dr. Griffin has accomplished.<br /><br />