SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor

#1

Post by natep » Fri, Aug 03, 2012, 4:57 PM UTC

SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor
spaceflightnow.com

Re: SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor

#2

Post by RyanMcGreal » Fri, Aug 03, 2012, 5:21 PM UTC

Has SpaceX gotten a contract to manufacture the ship according to NASA's preset specifications, or has it been hired to design and manufacture a ship that fulfills NASA's requirements?

Re: SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor

#3

Post by javanix » Fri, Aug 03, 2012, 5:25 PM UTC

According to http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttl... each Shuttle launch cost about $450 million.

This contract amount seems to suggest that SpaceX launches will come in significantly lower than the Shuttle - a very good sign for continued space research.

Re: SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor

#4

Post by chucknelson » Fri, Aug 03, 2012, 5:26 PM UTC

Good for them - let's hope more commercial space companies appear in the next decade.

Re: SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor

#5

Post by aMoniker » Fri, Aug 03, 2012, 5:34 PM UTC

javanix wrote: post #3

According to http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttl... each Shuttle launch cost about $450 million. This contract amount seems to suggest that SpaceX launches will come in significantly lower than the Shuttle - a very good sign for continued space research.

One of Musk's stated goals is to reduce the cost of spaceflight by a factor of one hundred.

Re: SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor

#6

Post by ceejayoz » Fri, Aug 03, 2012, 5:35 PM UTC

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #2

Has SpaceX gotten a contract to manufacture the ship according to NASA's preset specifications, or has it been hired to design and manufacture a ship that fulfills NASA's requirements?

Dragon is already designed to fit their requirements, IIRC.

Re: SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor

#7

Post by dfriedmn » Fri, Aug 03, 2012, 5:51 PM UTC

javanix wrote: post #3

According to http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttl... each Shuttle launch cost about $450 million. This contract amount seems to suggest that SpaceX launches will come in significantly lower than the Shuttle - a very good sign for continued space research.

One of Musk's original goals was to do it 10x cheaper, and accd to his recent discussion with NPR, he's already at 1/8th of the cost(1). What an amazing accomplishment. 1. http://www.npr.org/2012/05/18/153015277/on-eve-of-launch-spa...

Re: SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor

#8

Post by ColinWright » Fri, Aug 03, 2012, 5:51 PM UTC

The SpaceX announcement: http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20120803

Re: SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor

#9

Post by danielweber » Fri, Aug 03, 2012, 5:52 PM UTC

javanix wrote: post #3

According to http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttl... each Shuttle launch cost about $450 million. This contract amount seems to suggest that SpaceX launches will come in significantly lower than the Shuttle - a very good sign for continued space research.

Wiki says the inflation adjusted cost for the whole program was $196 Billion. At 135 flights, that's more than a Billion dollars per flight.

No wonder we've been stuck.

Re: SpaceX wins $440M contract with NASA to develop Space Shuttle successor

#10

Post by beambot » Fri, Aug 03, 2012, 5:55 PM UTC

SpaceX is just one part of this program... As part of the new agreements, Sierra Nevada will receive $212.5 million, SpaceX will receive $440 million, and Boeing will receive $460 million.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/08/03/nasa-awards-11-bil...