So, OrbitalATK wants to commercialize Antares....

[fredinno]

So, OrbitalATK wants to commercialize Antares... sell it for commerical launches.

I think they will be successful, with potential lower cost due to verical integration with ATK and solid upper stage.

They won't be able to compete for DOD EELV launches though, with the Russian Engine of the 200-series that is being built to replace the 100-series N-1 engine...

Also, the 7T to LEO (200 series) and 8T to LEO (300 series) markets are pretty large, and OrbitalATK could get into the commerical EELV-sized payloads by adding ATK boosters (like Minuteman 1st stages, or the GEM-63 being built for Vulcan).

Though, this could mean Blue Origin might get into a too-crowded market to be successful with their orbital launch system...

[Kryten]

It's less than 3t to GTO; a market with not many customers, and one they have to fight off Falcon 9 and soon GSLV for.

[fredinno]

It's less than 3t to GTO; a market with not many customers, and one they have to fight off Falcon 9 and soon GSLV for.

Soyuz-2 and Atlas 5 401 say otherwise:

http://www.universetoday.com/117758/2015-expected-to-be-a-record-breaking-year-for-soyuz-2-workhorse/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_V#Atlas_V_launches

Also, Falcon 9 is not in the same payload range.

[Kryten]

Soyuz-2 and Atlas 5 401 say otherwise:

No they don't. Have an actual look at the payloads involved with those; Atlas 401 is almost entirely DoD payloads, and Soyuz 2 is a mixture of Galileo, Progress and russian MoD missions. Actual competed commercial launches are few and far between, and those are the only ones Antares could target.

[J.Random]

Russian Engine of the 200-series

Which one would that be?

Most of the RD-02XX are UDMH engines

They were supposed to switch to RD-193 (RD-181). They've even bought two, but...

Surprise! Engines are under sanctions and US is going to build their own engine (or at least has declared the intention to spend money on development).

Seeing as Orbital goes against the flow of idiocy in US government, there is a good chance that they won't get any more engines. Or contracts.

[Kryten]

You've gotten confused, US law still only prevents use of russian (designed or built) engines for national security missions; Antares is fine, it didn't have any natsec missions or even certification to do them anyway. Ar-1/BE-4 are replacements for RD-180, not RD-181.

[J.Random]

Dang it, always mix them up. Okay then.

Still, no idea what this "Russian Engine of the 200-series" is about.

[Kryten]

Part of the Antares designation system. Antares-1XX; NK-33s; Antares-2XX; 1XX core fitted/retrofitted with RD-181s; Antares-3XX; stretched core built for RD-181.

[J.Random]

Now I feel stupid. Thanks. =)

Live and learn.

[PB666]

Not sure what this has to do with science or why it was threaded here.

[fredinno]

No they don't. Have an actual look at the payloads involved with those; Atlas 401 is almost entirely DoD payloads, and Soyuz 2 is a mixture of Galileo, Progress and russian MoD missions. Actual competed commercial launches are few and far between, and those are the only ones Antares could target.

NASA could still launch on Antares. There's launches for those around 1.5 per year.

Besides, if you need more payload, MOAR BOOSTERS will probably work for the Antares.

[Armchair Rocket Scientist]

Not sure what this has to do with science or why it was threaded here.

Real-world spaceflight news always goes in this subforum.