Форум Новости Космонавтики

Европейцы помогут США пережить списание шаттлов
09 февраля, 05:12 | Павел КРАСНОВ
 
   
Европейский аэрокосмический и оборонный концерн (EADS) готов помочь США как можно скорее найти альтернативу космическим челнокам, которые должны прекратить космические полеты в этом году.
Как пишет The Wall Street Journal, ракетостроительное подразделение EADS, компания Astrium совместно с американской Alliant Techsystems (ATK) готова в кратчайшие сроки разработать ракету-носитель, способную доставлять людей и грузы к Международной космической станции.
Ракета, получившая название Liberty, будет построена с использованием технологий, широко применявшихся Astrium и ATK на протяжении десятилетий. Европейская компания является разработчиком одной из самых надежных на сегодняшний день ракет-носителей Ariane 5; ATK выпускает ракетные ускорители для космических челноков с 1988 года.
Liberty будет состоять из двух ступеней: первую, твердотопливную, построят на основе слегка измененных ускорителей ATK; вторая, жидкостная, будет получена доработкой первой ступени Ariane 5. Ракета сможет доставлять на низкую околоземную орбиту около 20 т груза. По словам разработчиков, итоговая комбинация станет одной из самых надежных ракет-носителей в истории.
Использование проверенных компонентов позволит разработать ракету в кратчайшие сроки – если все пойдет хорошо, первый полет Liberty может состояться уже в 2013 г., а в 2015 г. ракета будет полностью готова к транспортировке людей.
Сравнительно малый объем работ, требующийся для создания Liberty, наделяет ее существенным преимуществом перед конкурентами. К тому же перспективную ракету-носитель можно будет запускать с космодрома на мысе Канаверал, что сократит затраты на каждый старт. По данным ATK, запуск будет обходиться в $180 млн, что на 40% дешевле, чем сегодняшние старты ракет, разработанных Boeing и Lockheed Martin.
Проблема поиска замены шаттлам стоит перед NASA как никогда остро и осложняется недостатком средств на разработку. В начале прошлого года Белый дом по финансовым соображениям прекратил финансирование программы Constellation, частью которой была разработка ракеты-носителя Ares. Президент США Барак Обама предложил NASA обратиться за помощью в изготовлении ракеты-носителя к частным компаниям.
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Постоянный адрес статьи:
http://www.utro.ru/articles/2011/02/09/954960.shtml

Гады из ATK опять за свое. Не удивлюсь если Хоровиц тут недалеко. А еще мне понравилось как в одном релизе ракету называют "недорогой" и хвалются сколько рабочих мест будет создано (3000). Такая вот нодорогая ракета, а 3000 ртов зарплату хотють.

Не, у них никаких шансов. Поскольку проблема не в ракете, и не в космическом корабле. Проблема в том, что никто не может внятно сформулировать зачем всё это нужно?  :D

CCDev2 вестимо. Эдакий американо-французский Ares-1.

Т.е. тот же Арес-1, только вторая Европейская?...
вполне м.б. полетит, но на 5-7 лет позже... 8)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/16609.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/16619.jpg) (http://media.al.com/space-news/photo/liberty-rocket-elementsjpg-05dcff500d85637a.jpg)
Elements of LIBERTY LV (C) ATK
YouTube - ATK Liberty Launch Vehicle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2cnmxH9Hbg)

ЦитироватьUnder the joint ATK-EADS proposal, ATK would provide a five-segment solid-rocket motor first stage.
EADS would provide a lquid-fueled cryogenic core of the Ariane 5 vehicle powered by the Vulcain 2 engine.
The resulting rocket would be able to lift 44,500 pounds of cargo (20227 kg) to the International
Space Station as well as crew vehicles.
Both stages were designed for human-rating since inception and would enable unmatched crew safety.  
Since Liberty uses qualified, proven, and reliable systems, the team has planned an initial flight by the
end of 2013, a second test flight in 2014, and operational capability in 2015.
The launcher would be 90 m (300 ft) tall, 5.40m (18 ft) in diameter, it is advertised at a price of $180 million per launch.

(http://s47.radikal.ru/i116/1102/96/3863659030de.jpg)

Все, чтобы сохранить технологию производства Минитментов.

Интересно, а почему бы им не поставить вторую ступень сбоку, "раз уж такое дело".

Мало на сегодняшний день двадцатитонников, срочно нужен еще один.  А то все какие-то ненадежные...

Цитировать09.02.2011 / 00:05   Американцы предложат космическим туристам отвергнутую лунную ракету


      Ракета "Арес I", которая должна была доставить астронавтов на Луну в рамках американской программы возвращения на спутник "Созвездие", может лечь в основу нового дешевого космического транспорта. Его созданием займутся две компании, которые рассчитывают получить часть денег, выделенных NASA на частную космонавтику. Коротко о проекте пишет газета The New York Times.
      Разработкой ракеты-носителя под названием Liberty ("Свобода") займутся американская компания Alliant Techsystems (ATK) и европейская фирма Astrium. ATK, в числе прочего, производит двигатели для космических шаттлов, а Astrium является создателем ракеты-носителя "Ариан-5" (Arian-5).
      Производство 90-метровой "Свободы" должно обойтись дешевле, чем производство "Аресов", так как верхняя ступень новой ракеты, построенной на базе "Арес I" будет заменена на ступень ракеты "Ариан-5". Нижняя ступень останется без изменений, но она представляет собой несколько модифицированную версию твердотопливного ускорителя шаттлов. Конструкторы рассчитывают, что ракета сможет доставлять на орбиту научное оборудование, профессиональных астронавтов, а также космических туристов.
      США отказались от планов возвращения на Луну и соответственно от создания необходимых для этого космического корабля и ракеты в феврале 2010 года. Новая стратегия развития американской космонавтики предполагает, что немалую роль в освоении космоса будут играть частные компании. Две из них - SpaceX и Orbital Sciences - уже получили от агентства по 50 миллионов долларов на разработку нового космического грузовика. Еще 200 миллионов NASA должно распределить в январе - деньги получат компании, разрабатывающие наиболее перспективные проекты. ATK и Astrium рассчитывают получить часть этих средств - первый запуск "Свободы" должен состояться уже в 2013 году, пишет Lenta.ru.

     - К.И.

Они бы лучше SpaceX дали пару сотен миллионов за Falcon-9 в тяжелой модификации, чем этот "Арианес" городить.

Эттттттто пГосто пГекГасно :)))))))))  Свободно конкурировать с Протоном сей агрегат не сможет никогда, цена то в 2 раза больше. А вот не заморачиваться с 20-тонником и сделать сразу дешевый 40-тонник  они все никак не додумаются.


В общем, я приветствую распыление средств нашими конкурентами.

ЦитироватьОни бы лучше SpaceX дали пару сотен миллионов за Falcon-9 в тяжелой модификации, чем этот "Арианес" городить.

Они это кто? АТК?

Цитировать

ЦитироватьОни бы лучше SpaceX дали пару сотен миллионов за Falcon-9 в тяжелой модификации, чем этот "Арианес" городить.

Они это кто? АТК?

Они что, "на свои кровные" работать собираются?

ATK, как и Маск, хочет присосаться к бюджету.
Поэтому сия чуда отдельно, а F9H отдельно.
Только вот непонятно, зачем на НЗО 20т, а тем более 30.

ЦитироватьATK, как и Маск, хочет присосаться к бюджету.
Поэтому сия чуда отдельно, а F9H отдельно.
Только вот непонятно, зачем на НЗО 20т, а тем более 30.

Меня "сильно сомневает" то предположение, что этот Арианоарес будет дешевле даже Дельты-4 в тяжелой модификации или Атласа-5 в тяжелой модификации.

 Про F-9H я уже сказал выше.

А если на ТТУ сверху поставить бак от "Шаттла"...
И назвать это "Джарвис НГ"...

 :roll:

А если эти ТТУ пришпандорить к Протону!  :shock:

И сверху Центавр :D

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1102/08liberty/

ЦитироватьLiberty rocket emerges from shadow of defunct Ares 1[/size]
BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: February 8, 2011

WASHINGTON -- ATK and Astrium are joining the growing crowd of companies competing for a $200 million pot of NASA seed money to build a commercial vehicle to haul astronauts and cargo to space, proposing to combine proven U.S. and European rockets into a 300-foot-tall behemoth named Liberty.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/16634.jpg)
Artist's concept of ATK's Liberty rocket rolling to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center. Credit: ATK
 
The Liberty rocket would stack the cryogenic core stage of Europe's proven Ariane 5 launcher atop a solid-fueled motor developed for the Ares rocket. The result is a vehicle closely resembling the Ares 1, the crew launch vehicle cancelled by the U.S. government in 2010.

ATK says the privately-built rocket could be operational by 2015. And because it leans on proven rocket technology, the company claims it can launch the Liberty on a test flight by the end of 2013.

The company was hit hard last year when the White House called for the cancellation of the Constellation program, including the Ares 1 crew launcher, in which ATK had a leading role.

Some work on the Ares 1 rocket continued while Congress weighed in on the Obama administration's proposal, including a major ground test firing and preparations for another one. Despite the the Ares 1's dead-end future, ATK continued the development in hopes of applying the work to a heavy-lift rocket or a commercial program.

The Liberty rocket could deliver 44,500 pounds to the International Space Station's orbit, enough capacity to lift any crew vehicle in development, according to Kent Rominger, ATK's vice president of advanced programs.

"We can lift any potential crew vehicle out there, whether it's a space plane or a capsule," Rominger said in an interview with Spaceflight Now. "We can lift Orion, for that matter."

SpaceX, Boeing Co., Orbital Sciences Corp. and Sierra Nevada Corp. have entered the competition with crew-carrying capsule and space plane designs.

The rush of established aerospace giants and start-up firms is sparking a heated competition for the $200 million prize in the second round of NASA's Commerical Crew Development effort, dubbed CCDev 2. NASA expects to announce the winners in late March.

NASA will divide the funding to multiple winners.

The first CCDev competition awarded $50 million to five companies for design work and systems testing. The next round will seek to mature the commerical proposals, according to NASA.

"We think this launch system offers the best possible value for our nation's space program," Rominger said. "That's because it has unparalleled performance. It has a good track record on the first stage and the second stage."

Charlie Precourt, vice president and general manager of ATK space launch systems, also touted Liberty's reuse of existing rocket designs and proven flight experience.

"The Liberty initiative provides tremendous value because it builds on European Ariane 5 launcher heritage, while allowing NASA to leverage the mature first stage," Precourt said in an ATK press release.

ATK has test-fired two Ares 1 five-segment solid rocket motors for NASA, and a third static test is scheduled later this year. The upgraded Ares motor is based on the space shuttle's solid rocket booster, which has a spotless flight record over the last 23 years.

Built by EADS Astrium, the Ariane 5 rocket is the world's leading commercial satellite launcher, having flown 41 straight successful missions with communications satellites and European institutional payloads.

The Liberty rocket would blast off from Kennedy Space Center on 3.1 million pounds of thrust from ATK's Ares solid rocket, then the Ariane's hydrogen-fueled Vulcain 2 engine would ignite to accelerate crews into low Earth orbit.

ATK would base Liberty launch operations at existing KSC facilities, utilizing retired space shuttle infrastructure and the new mobile launch platform partially constructed for the Ares 1 rocket.

The Liberty rocket would tower twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty.

"We will provide unmatched payload performance at a fraction of the cost, and we will launch it from the Kennedy Space Center using facilities that have already been built," Precourt said. "This approach allows NASA to utilize the investments that have already been made in our nation's ground infrastructure and propulsion systems for the space exploration program."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/16635.jpg)
The Liberty launch vehicle combines space shuttle and Ares 1 rocket designs with Europe's workhorse Ariane 5 rocket. Credit: ATK
 
Both stages of the Liberty were designed to be human-rated. The Ares 1 was supposed to be NASA's next crew launch vehicle, and the European Space Agency planned to launch its piloted Hermes space plane on Ariane 5 rockets before that project was terminated.

According to Rominger, there would be very few changes to adapt ATK's five-segment motor for the Liberty program. Engineers at Snecma of France must prove the Ariane 5's Vulcain 2 engine can be ignited in flight. Astrium would also beef up the thickness of the stage's skin for potential Liberty rocket flights, Rominger said.

The companies have been pursuing the Liberty concept for about a year, but its roots are in a proposal for NASA's exploration architecture study in 2005.

ATK and Astrium's Liberty proposal would compete for commercial crew launch opportunities with the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket and SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster. Those vehicles are already flying with unmanned payloads, but ATK says the Liberty can lift more mass to space than both rockets and is less expensive than the Atlas 5.

"This team represents the true sense of international partnership in that we looked across borders to find the best for our customers," said Blake Larson, president of ATK aerospace systems group. "Together we combine unique flight-proven systems and commercial experience that allows us to offer the market's most capable launch vehicle along with flexibility to meet a wide variety of emerging needs. Liberty provides greater performance at less cost than any other comparable launch vehicle."

Rominger said ATK foresees a commercial crew and cargo market for up to nine launches per year for the Liberty rocket. If NASA chooses to fund the Liberty program, it will bring 400 jobs to ATK's Utah solid motor factory and 300 launch site positions in Florida.

The company expects to sell Liberty flights for less than $180 million each, Rominger said. ATK is not disclosing the Liberty rocket's total development cost.

ATK is also partnering with United Space Alliance and L-3 Communications for ground operations and first stage avionics, according to the company's press release.

NASA is already zeroing in on ATK's five-segment solid rocket motor to boost the agency's Space Launch System, a heavy-lift rocket for deep space exploration missions.

"We are right in the middle of heavy-lift, a NASA program that's crucial to our nation's future in spaceflight. At the same time, we are now proposing commercially for the crew vehicle," Rominger said. "The neat thing is both of those are synergistic with the five-segment solid. What we're doing commercially benefits NASA with heavy-lift, and vice versa."

А чисто технически кто-нибудь прикидывал, насколько такая ракета осуществима и оптимальна?

ЦитироватьА чисто технически кто-нибудь прикидывал, насколько такая ракета осуществима и оптимальна?

А чего там может быть технически неосуществимым? Все элементы носителя работают или в полете или на земле (напрмер, 5-сегментный РДТТ). По размерам и распределению масс РН практически соответствует Арес-1.

Ares-1 с ГВМ второй ступени уже летал, нижняя SAS испытывалась, так что больших проблем быть не должно.

ЦитироватьAres-1 с ГВМ второй ступени уже летал, нижняя SAS испытывалась, так что больших проблем быть не должно.

Особенно если учитывать то, как происходило разделение ступеней с этим ГВМ второй ступени. :wink:

Цитировать

ЦитироватьА чисто технически кто-нибудь прикидывал, насколько такая ракета осуществима и оптимальна?

А чего там может быть технически неосуществимым? Все элементы носителя работают или в полете или на земле (напрмер, 5-сегментный РДТТ). По размерам и распределению масс РН практически соответствует Арес-1.

Как передаётся усилие от ТТУ на вторую ступень Ариан-5 в составе Ариан-5?

ЦитироватьAres-1 с ГВМ второй ступени уже летал, нижняя SAS испытывалась, так что больших проблем быть не должно.

Единственная, на мой взгляд, технически сложная задача - обеспечение запуска ЖРД "Вулкан-2" в полете.

ЦитироватьОсобенно если учитывать то, как происходило разделение ступеней с этим ГВМ второй ступени. :wink:

А оно вообще происходило? Или ГВМ просто отломался при потере ориентации после завершения программы?

ЦитироватьА оно вообще происходило? Или ГВМ просто отломался при потере ориентации после завершения программы?

Да сразу же после полета уже было однозначно и официально сообщено, что разделение было чистым, в соответствии с расчетами.

Цитировать

ЦитироватьА оно вообще происходило? Или ГВМ просто отломался при потере ориентации после завершения программы?

Да сразу же после полета уже было однозначно и официально сообщено, что разделение было чистым, в соответствии с расчетами.

Но при этом все видели как закрутился ГВМ, соответственно возникает вопрос, - как они вообще собирались лететь дальше?

Цитировать

ЦитироватьAres-1 с ГВМ второй ступени уже летал, нижняя SAS испытывалась, так что больших проблем быть не должно.

Единственная, на мой взгляд, технически сложная задача - обеспечение запуска ЖРД "Вулкан-2" в полете.

А переделать вторую ступень Ариан-5 под установку на основание это не сложная задача?

Ну а мы, что не европейцы что ли?
Что, нам нечего на ТТУ водрузить?:
1) УРМ? -маловато будет...
2) 1-я ступень "Зенита"? - слишком много...
3) 2-я ступень "Протона"? - вроде самое оно... ;)

В Европе трава лучше :lol:

ЦитироватьНу а мы, что не европейцы что ли?
Что, нам нечего на ТТУ водрузить?:
1) УРМ? -маловато будет...
2) 1-я ступень "Зенита"? - слишком много...
3) 2-я ступень "Протона"? - вроде самое оно... ;)

:shock: Вы это что, всерьёз?
Да нахрена??  :lol:

Да и нету у нас похожего ТТУ нигде.

Цитироватьи нету у нас похожего ТТУ нигде.

Вообще по-хорошему, могли-бы на базе производства твердотопливных ракет ТТУ сделать, как собственно это в свое время сделали американцы.

Да и европа, ИМХО, не на пустом месте ТТУ занялась - думаю что это закономерное использование военных технологий.

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2011/09/09/nasa-atk-announce-new-commercial-crew-agreement/

ЦитироватьNASA, ATK Announce New Commercial Crew Agreement[/size]
byDoug Messier
on September 9, 2011, at 3:39 pm

NASA PR — CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA and Alliant Techsystems (ATK) managers will announce an agreement that could accelerate the availability of U.S. commercial crew transportation capabilities at 3 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The announcement will occur at the Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The announcement participants are:

– Ed Mango, Commercial Crew Program manager, NASA
– Kent Rominger, vice president, Strategy and Business Development, ATK Aerospace
– John Schumacher, vice president, Space Programs, EADS North America.

Editor's Note: An agreement on human rating the Liberty rocket similar to the one signed between NASA and United Launch Alliance is a possibility. Another possible agreement would be the use of KSC facilities for the Liberty rocket. Stay tuned.

ATK is trying to change from a traditional cost-plus contractor. One interesting bit of information I picked up out in Utah is that they are offering their rockets on a fixed-cost basis.[/size]

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/20054.jpg)

Выглядит так как будто ATK  купила EADS на корню :lol:

Вроде у Арес-1 были проблемы что тту слишком сильно стучит/вибрирует на ПН - а может быть и у етой РН будет такой проблем?

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1109/13atksaa/index.html

ЦитироватьNASA experts to assist ATK on commercial crew rocket[/size]
BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: September 13, 2011

NASA and Alliant Techsystems Inc., a leading rocket contractor, announced Tuesday they will share data and expertise in helping design and develop the Liberty rocket, a U.S.-European launcher that could haul humans into Earth orbit by 2015.
 
 In a press conference at the Kennedy Space Center, government and industry officials said the unfunded Space Act Agreement, or SAA, will allow both entities to communicate and collectively analyze the design of the Liberty rocket.

Alliant Techsystems, or ATK, will continue funding development of the Liberty rocket with internal capital under the Space Act Agreement, which includes four milestones and runs through March 2012. The company plans to bid for NASA funding next year.

"An SAA is an approach in which we both share data and we both share ideas to move forward with a particular design or a particular concept," said Ed Mango, manager of NASA's commercial crew program. "We believe that this effort that we start today will go through next spring and will allow ATK and the commercial crew team, our team of managers, engineers and safety folks, to explore the Liberty design that ATK is wanting to talk about."

ATK's Liberty concept was passed up in April when NASA directed funds to four companies designing and testing commercial spacecraft that could transport astronaut crews to the International Space Station.

NASA picked spacecraft developers over rocket-makers in the April decision, concluding launch vehicles could be ready for crewed flights faster than the proposed capsules and space planes.

"We want talk about [ATK's] design, we want to talk about their requirements, how they want to implement their requirements against their design, talk about the capabilities of the Liberty system as a whole, and understand how they plan to work it in an international approach," Mango said.

The agreement between NASA and ATK covers technical exchanges during the preliminary design review phase of the Liberty program, according to ATK. Mango said NASA would aid ATK with structural, thermal and vibration analyses, plus other core engineering disciplines.

If Liberty is ultimately approved for operations, it could be ready for test flights in 2014 and launching astronauts into orbit by 2015. ATK says the Liberty will cost about $180 million per flight.

The Liberty's first stage is a five-segment solid-fueled booster developed with funding from NASA for the canceled Ares 1 rocket from the shut-down Constellation moon program. Its second stage, manufactured by EADS Astrium, would be the hydrogen-fueled core of Europe's workhorse Ariane 5 rocket.

Both stages were designed to loft human passengers into space. The solid-fueled first stage is an extended version of the strap-on booster used to help propel the space shuttle into orbit. The Ariane 5's first stage Vulcain 2 engine has amassed a record of 45 straight successes since a rocket failure in 2002.

"Both pieces of this system have extensive flight experience with very impressive records," said Kent Rominger, ATK's vice president and program manager for the Liberty rocket.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/20129.jpg)
The Liberty rocket borrows rocket designs from the space shuttle and the Ariane 5 rocket. Credit: ATK
 
 The Liberty is one of three launchers vying to be the next rocket to lift astronaut crews into space from U.S. soil.

NASA signed a similar unfunded Space Act Agreement in July with United Launch Alliance, the builder of the Atlas 5 rocket. SpaceX plans to fly crewed missions of the Dragon capsule on its own Falcon 9 rocket, assuming the firm wins a NASA contract.

The space agency is shifting its human spaceflight strategy following the retirement of the space shuttle. NASA is fostering the development of commercial rockets and spacecraft to deliver crews to the International Space Station, freeing up government resources to design vehicles for more ambitious exploration missions to asteroids, Mars and other deep space destinations.

NASA awarded $269 million to four companies in April to help mature their crew-carrying spacecraft concepts. Boeing Co., Sierra Nevada Corp., Blue Origin and SpaceX were the winners of the second round of funded Commercial Crew Development agreements, which run through May 2012.

Boeing, Sierra Nevada and Blue Origin each plan to initially fly their spacecraft on the Atlas 5 rocket.

"With Liberty, we showed up a little bit later than the Atlas 5 that's been flying," Rominger said. "Having said that, what we've found are a couple of things. Folks are very interested in Liberty because of the value that we bring. We're competitive, we believe, pricing-wise for the performance. Nobody can match what liberty can do, in particular if you look at the reliability and safety of the systems, the heritage of our systems."

The 300-foot-tall Liberty rocket can lift 44,500 pounds of payload to the International Space Station's orbit. It's powerful enough to lift any of the commercial crew vehicles now under consideration.

Kent Rominger, a former NASA astronaut, emphasized the two-stage launcher would be based at Cape Canaveral and use existing infrastructure from the space shuttle and defunct Ares rocket programs.

"There is a reason I'm sitting here at the Kennedy Space Center," Rominger said. "This is going to be the home of Liberty. Clearly, the infrastructure at the Kennedy Space Center right here is set up perfectly to enable us to process Liberty and launch Liberty. So [we will] not just use the infrastructure but the people here at the Kennedy Space Center. We wind up bringing jobs into Florida and using the existing expertise that we've developed over the last five decades."

According to Rominger, the Liberty program could bring about 300 jobs to the Florida Space Coast if it becomes operational. There are between 35 and 40 ATK employees currently working on the program, Rominger said.[/size]

Что-то я юмора не понимаю. Ариан-5 сам по себе выводит на низкую орбиту около 20 тонн. (Грузовик, летавший к МКС весил 18т, если меня склероз не подводит.)

Я понимаю, что амеры хотят своих накормить. Но зачем Ариану этот вибростенд под соплом?

--
Shumil

Честно говоря, не думал, что эта тема получит продолжение! :D

ЦитироватьЯ понимаю, что амеры хотят своих накормить. Но зачем Ариану этот вибростенд под соплом?

--
Shumil

потому что иначе на ариану бюджетные деньги не дадут?

НАСА пообещало поддержать коммерческую ракету-носитель Liberty

Финансировать проект аэрокосмическое ведомство не спешит, зато с готовностью предлагает разработчикам техническую помощь.

http://science.compulenta.ru/634369/

ЦитироватьЧестно говоря, не думал, что эта тема получит продолжение! :D

Да это как обычно, опять виртуальная "война"... Думаю, "Либерти" счас нужна только чтобы было что показать в части "альтернативных предложений". Ну, и может чуток цену на создание основного претендента сбить.

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=57342

ЦитироватьCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- This is an artist's conception of the Liberty Launch Vehicle under development by Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) of Promontory, Utah, for NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP). In 2011, NASA and ATK entered into an unfunded Space Act Agreement during Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) activities to mature the design and development of a crew transportation system with the overall goal of accelerating a United States-led capability to the International Space Station. The goal of CCP is to drive down the cost of space travel as well as open up space to more people than ever before by balancing industry's own innovative capabilities with NASA's 50 years of human spaceflight experience. Six other aerospace companies also are maturing launch vehicle and spacecraft designs under CCDev2, including Blue Origin, The Boeing Co., Excalibur Almaz Inc., Sierra Nevada Corp., Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), and United Launch Alliance (ULA). For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial[/size]

(http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/medium/2011-8113-m.jpg) (http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/large/2011-8113.jpg)(http://s39.radikal.ru/i085/1112/9e/089554617255.jpg) (http://s55.radikal.ru/i150/1112/72/baecfdb83115.jpg)

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/598228main_October_2011_CSD%2060%20Day%20Report_508.pdf

ЦитироватьNASA AND ATK FORM NEW PARTNERSHIP

As part of Commercial Crew Development Round 2 activities, NASA and Alliant Techsystems (ATK) have entered into a new agreement for collaboration on the development of ATK's commercial Liberty launch system. The agreement is an unfunded Space Act Agreement (SAA) which means no money will exchange hands, but each party will benefit.  
"This unfunded SAA will provide the opportunity to look at the Liberty system to understand its design solution and risks, its capabilities and how it could be used to fly our NASA crew," said Ed Mango, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager.
ATK and NASA experts will review and discuss Liberty system requirements, safety and certification plans, computational models of rocket stage performance, and avionics architecture designs.  A launch system "Initial System Design" review also is planned, where ATK will formally present the Liberty systems-level requirements, preliminary design, and certification process development.
"With this SAA, we believe NASA will benefit from gaining insight into the various systems we are developing, and we can benefit from the feedback," said Kent Rominger,  ATK vice president and program manager for Liberty.  
A copy of the Agreement has been posted to the Kennedy Space Center Procurement Website at
http://procurement.ksc.nasa.gov/documents/NNK11MS06S-ATK.pdf

(http://s017.radikal.ru/i406/1112/8f/c83e8c8a6c9d.jpg)

http://blog.al.com/space-news/2011/12/european_space_company_will_co.html

ЦитироватьEuropean space company will compete with Decatur plant to launch satellites[/size]
Published: Wednesday, December 07, 2011, 4:15 PM

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - European aerospace titan EADS will officially enter the race next year to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station and government satellites into orbit, the company's president said Wednesday in Huntsville.

Sean O'Keefe, president of EADS North America and a former NASA administrator, discussed the opportunities his company sees in aerospace and defense with The Huntsville Times editorial board.

EADS is a European conglomorate including Airbus; Airbus military; Eurocopter, Europe's major helicopter supplier and Astrium, builder of the Ariane rocket that is a leading satellite launcher.

"We're looking at a very strong opportunity to compete for launch vehicle systems," O'Keefe said. O'Keefe said the company's entry is the offspring of a partnership between EADS and Utah-based solid-rocket motor manufacturer ATK. The joint venture rocket would be powered by ATK solid-rocket boosters and include an Ariane 5 upper stage.

EADS will develop two versions of the new rocket, O'Keefe said. One will be "human-rated" to carry astronauts, and the other will be designed to lift Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office satellites into space. "They're looking for price competition," O'Keefe said.

O'Keefe took direct aim at United Launch Alliance, the Boeing-Lockheed Martin partnership that assembles Delta and Atlas launch vehicles in Decatur. "Our friends at the Government Accountability Office and other familiar faces on Capitol Hill have basically come back and said, 'You know, the United Launch Alliance, which has been a single, sole source provider for everybody to do everything ... the price of that has escalated every time you turn around,'" O'Keefe said.

"The United States government is finally getting to the point of saying, 'We can no longer do that,'" he said. O'Keefe said NASA and the Air Force have both said, "for the first time ever, we want to certify competitors."

EADS is ready to compete, he said, because it already launches more than half of all European satellites[/size].

ЦитироватьЧестно говоря, не думал, что эта тема получит продолжение! :D

Башня то уже есть... :wink:

http://www.marshall.org/pdf/materials/1024.pdf

(http://s017.radikal.ru/i418/1112/aa/78a335986fd3.jpg)
(http://s010.radikal.ru/i313/1112/d2/a370ca92deb9.jpg)

Полезные нагрузки в фунтах.

Цитировать

ЦитироватьЧестно говоря, не думал, что эта тема получит продолжение! :D

Башня то уже есть... :wink:

Она будет использоваться исключительно для SLS. Под Liberty предложеноиспользовать МПУ от шаттлов, а ее еще надо переделать.

Скрестили дорогущий ускоритель шаттла с дорогущей ступенью ариан... Этто очень хорошо. Для нас.

Ещё один претендент на нишу Delta IV Heavy.

"И поменяли фунты на рубли" (С) В.С. Высоцкий
(http://s017.radikal.ru/i437/1112/fa/1cb05a2bd33d.png)

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/01/20/atk-holds-isd-under-ccdev-2-saa/

ЦитироватьATK Holds ISD Under CCDev 2 SAA[/size]
Posted by Doug Messier
on January 20, 2012, at 4:09 pm

NASA PR — One of NASA's industry partners, Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) of Utah, successfully held a Launch System Initial Systems Design (ISD) Review of its Liberty Transportation System. This is the third milestone to be completed under ATK's unfunded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

ATK has five milestones to meet under the Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) agreement, which enables NASA and ATK teams to exchange technical information related to Liberty during the Preliminary Design Review phase of the program.
"This unfunded partnership with ATK on its Liberty systems brings expertise from around the globe and we are glad to contribute our more than 50 years of human spaceflight experience to this effort," said Ed Mango, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager.

During the ISD, Liberty team members from ATK, its European-based partner, Astrium, and their subcontractors presented the status of Liberty's system level requirements, preliminary design and certification process to representatives from the Commercial Crew Program at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and other NASA centers.

"With the SAA in place we have been able to work closely with NASA's Commercial Program and receive valuable feedback as we develop the Liberty Transportation System," said Kent Rominger, ATK vice president and program manager for Liberty. "We continued to develop Liberty with the goal of providing the safest, most reliable, cost-effective and capable launch vehicle for crew transport."

The current SAA continues through at least March. The two milestones met earlier include a Requirements Status Briefing and a Technical Interchange Meeting for the Liberty Transportation System. Two additional milestones are scheduled to be completed under this SAA.

All of NASA's industry partners continue to meet their established milestones in developing commercial crew transportation capabilities that will ferry U.S. astronauts to and from the International Space Station, reducing the amount of time America is without its own system.[/size]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1203/22legall/index2.html

ЦитироватьQuestion: What is Arianespace's involvement in the Liberty project?

Le Gall: Liberty is a nice use of technology developed for Ariane and the space shuttle. This project is made by ATK in the U.S. and Astrium in Europe, and if this project finally exists, Arianespace will bring its expertise for launch operations. I want to remind you that this project, Liberty, today is funded by the companies. They did not get a single dollar from NASA.

Question: Is there any discussion about who will administer the launch services for Liberty?

Le Gall: We will see. If this project exists, it is clear that Arianespace has the expertise of launch operations. But we will see, if this project goes forward, who will manage that.

Question: What range are your prices now for launches?

Le Gall: We are about the same level of price as Proton, or not much more expensive. But our quality is much better.

Question: Is that for the total launch service, or per payload?

Le Gall: Per payload.[/size]

http://www.spacenews.com/civil/120509-atk-throws-hat-into-commercial-crew-ring.html

ЦитироватьWed, 9 May, 2012
ATK Pitches Liberty Rocket for Commercial Crew[/size]
By Denise Chow

    LOS ANGELES — The aerospace company that built the solid rocket boosters for NASA's space shuttle fleet announced plans May 9 to develop its own private launch system — a spaceship and rocket — to fly astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit. The first manned flight could launch in about three years, company officials said.

    Utah-based Alliant Techsystems, or ATK, announced the new project here at the first Spacecraft Technology Expo, where thousands of government and industry officials have gathered to discuss innovative new technologies and the future of human spaceflight.

    ATK had already been working on a new private rocket, called Liberty, which it submitted as a contender in the second round of NASA's Commercial Crew Development program last year. Ultimately, the Liberty rocket was not selected to receive funding, but ATK continued development of the booster under an unfunded Space Act Agreement with NASA. As part of this arrangement, NASA shares its expertise in designing and testing the rocket but does not provide money for the project.

    Now, ATK has unveiled plans for a complete launch system centered around the Liberty rocket. The design includes a space capsule to carry passengers to destinations in low-Earth orbit, such as the International Space Station, said Kent Rominger, vice president and program manager for Liberty.

    "The goal is to provide a new launch capability for the nation," Rominger said. "The vehicle is designed to be very, very simple, and inherently more safe and reliable. We really believe the whole system is designed for success."The spacecraft will be able to carry seven passengers, or various combinations of crew and cargo. ATK also hopes to provide launch services for U.S. government satellites eventually, Rominger said.

    The composite crew module was built by ATK at its Iuka, Miss., facility as part of an earlier NASA program headed by the agency's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. from 2007 to 2010. The program aimed to assess whether composite materials were a viable alternative to aluminum lithium on NASA's Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle which is being built for future manned exploration flights to deep space.

    "For Liberty, it made a huge amount of sense since composites were one of our competencies," Rominger said. "We wanted to pull in all the supplies and leverage all the work that has already gone into the system."

    The look of the capsule will be similar to the Orion capsule, except it will only perform flights to and from low-Earth orbit. The capsule, which will land over water, will be reusable up to 10 times, Rominger said.

    But ATK is hoping to use Liberty for more than just taxi rides to the space station.

    "We are looking at space tourism," Rominger said. "Also other [space] stations, such as Bigelow — we can help build the station. We're also looking at other nations that aren't partners on the space station that would like to have stand-alone missions."

    ATK is aiming to begin test flights of the Liberty system in 2014, with the first manned mission expected to occur in late 2015, ATK officials said. This schedule means that Liberty could be available to NASA and other potential customers by 2016.

    In September, ATK completed a full-scale test of Liberty's five-segment solid motor — the world's largest solid rocket motor, which was originally designed to be the first stage of the Ares 1 rocket that NASA planned to use to launch the Orion capsule on trips to the Moon. The rocket was shelved after the agency's Moon-bound Constellation program was scrapped.

    Liberty will use the original Ares 1 engine as a first stage and European aerospace firm Astrium's workhorse Ariane 5 rocket as the second stage. The massive Liberty rocket will tower at 300 feet (91 meters) tall, company officials have said.

    "Liberty can lift more than any other system," Rominger said. "Our capabilities can carry seven crew and significant cargo, which I think is unique. We really are a launch system designed for the 21st century to bring better reliability and safety."

    With NASA's space shuttle fleet retired, the space agency now relies on Russian Soyuz rockets and spacecraft to ferry astronauts to and from the space station until commercial alternatives in the U.S. become available. NASA hopes that happens by 2017.

    The agency pays approximately $63 million per seat on Soyuz flights. But the Liberty system is designed to be more cost-effective, Rominger said. He did not disclose the projected price per seat, but did say it will be "significantly less than what we're paying the Russians today."

    The Liberty system is being built in partnership with Astrium, whose Ariane 5 rocket has served as Europe's primary booster for launching satellites and spacecraft into orbit.

    "One of the very exciting aspects of this program is having proven teams that have really worked on complex programs in various ways together," said John Schumacher, chief executive officer of Astrium in North America. "This is the commercial industry coming together to provide a capability built on previous test work and investment in a very lean, commercial way."


    Lockheed Martin will also provide support as a major subcontractor for the Liberty System, ATK officials announced today. This work includes designing various components for the spacecraft, such as avionics, propulsion systems, navigation and control, and the vehicle's docking system.

    "The infrastructure we put in place that's already there to support testing and production is going to shorten the timeline," said Scott Norris, leader of the Liberty program at Lockheed Martin. "All three of our companies have worked together in the past, integrating things and working together. I think we're well poised to meet our schedule, as aggressive as it is, with things we've already paid for in the past."

    The Liberty rocket and spacecraft have been submitted for consideration for the third and final round of funding under NASA's commercial crew program, Rominger said. The agency's selections are expected to be announced in August. In the meantime, ATK is eager to continue development of the Liberty system.

    "For us as a nation, we need commercial crew and heavy lift to maintain our leadership in space," Rominger said. "To me, it looks like this is a team that we, as a nation, should be very comfortable with. Let's do this so we can get U.S. astronauts launching from the U.S. by 2015."[/size]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1205/09liberty/

ЦитироватьATK adds crew capsule to Liberty rocket proposal[/size]
BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: May 9, 2012

Joining a growing list of aerospace companies competing to build a commercial crew taxi for NASA, rocket contractor ATK announced Wednesday it could launch astronauts into orbit by 2015 aboard the firm's Liberty rocket and a composite module derived from existing programs.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/24736.jpg)
Artist's concept of the Liberty rocket rolling to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center. Credit: ATK
 
But the Liberty bid faces stiff competition from other companies hoping to snare a slice of NASA funding. And Congress is likely to appropriate less funding than NASA requested for the commercial crew program, potentially leading to delays for any company which wins an award.

NASA is counting on commercial providers to build a crewed rocket and spacecraft to end U.S. reliance on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft for astronaut trips to the International Space Station.

A proposal for the Liberty rocket and spacecraft was submitted to NASA in March. The space agency expects to announce in August awards of between $300 million and $500 million to at least two companies over a 21-month period.

ATK is vying for NASA awards with SpaceX, Boeing Co., Sierra Nevada Corp., and other companies working on commercial crew transportation vehicles. Unlike other companies, ATK's Liberty program is currently operating entirely on private funding.

But much of Liberty's design, including the rocket's propulsion systems and the composite spacecraft, would recycle previous work on government programs in the United States and Europe.

ATK's late 2015 target date for the system's first crewed flight is earlier than its competitors say they will be ready for a similar mission.

Kent Rominger, ATK's vice president and program manager for Liberty, said program can meet the ambitious schedule thanks to its incorporation of proven designs used by the space shuttle, Europe's successful Ariane 5, and work already underway on NASA's Orion multipurpose crew vehicle.

"Our major components are either flying, at the [critical design review] level, or very close," Rominger said.

But without a monetary investment from NASA, ATK says it could not meet a 2015 goal for a manned flight. Rominger said Liberty's development would continue, but at a slower pace.

ATK, the builder of the space shuttle's strap-on boosters, said it would combine an extended version of the shuttle solid rocket motor with an upper stage based on the cryogenic core of Europe's Ariane 5 rocket. A seven-person capsule built by ATK and Lockheed Martin Corp. would fly into orbit on top of the two-stage Liberty launcher.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/24737.jpg)
File photo of ATK's composite crew module. Credit: ATK
 
The spacecraft would be made of a lightweight composite shell developed by ATK in partnership with NASA's Langley Research Center beginning in 2007. ATK and Langley built a composite pressure vessel as an alternative to the Orion spacecraft's aluminum-lithium structure.

Lockheed Martin, Orion's prime contractor, picked a traditional metallic shell for the craft, which the space agency is developing to fly astronauts to destinations beyond low Earth orbit. But the composite structure picked by ATK for its commercial crew proposal has approximately the same shape as the Orion spacecraft.

"Each subsystem we're tailoring because Liberty has a simpler mission than the deep space missions that Orion will do," said Scott Norris, the lead Liberty manager from Lockheed Martin, one of the program's main subcontractors.

ATK hopes to use the structural design and tooling developed for the composite crew module for the Liberty spacecraft, which would carry astronauts to the International Space Station and back to Earth. The Liberty capsule would stay docked to the complex for more than six months.

Norris said Lockheed Martin would oversee final assembly of the spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center. Lockheed Martin would also build the Liberty spacecraft's service module and manage integration of the capsule's avionics provided by other subcontractors.

According to Rominger, an award in the expected range of $300 million to $500 million would allow ATK to reach an overall system critical design review in 2014.

Before then, ATK and Lockheed Martin plan to advance testing of Liberty's avionics in through 2013, assuming Liberty wins an award from NASA.

Ground test firings of an air-start version of the Ariane 5's Vulcain 2 main engine are also scheduled to begin in mid-2013. Rominger said the Vulcain tests would likely occur at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

ATK would begin placing personnel at the Kennedy Space Center in late 2012. According to Rominger, Liberty processing and launch operations would eventually bring up to 150 jobs to the Florida spaceport.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/24738.jpg)
File photo of the cryogenic core stage of an Ariane 5 rocket, which will be modified to become the upper stage of the Liberty launch vehicle. Credit: EADS Astrium
 
Other milestones planned through 2014 include testing of Liberty's pyrotechnic stage separation system. The rocket's launch abort computer, designed to detect impending failures before they become catastrophic, will also be developed beginning after an August award.

Rominger said ATK does not plan further test firings of Liberty's first stage motor after three ground ignitions conducted under the auspices of the canceled Ares rocket program and for the Space Launch System, NASA's heavy-lift booster for deep space exploration.

The Liberty critical design review would lead to a pad abort test using the rocket's Max Launch Abort System in August 2014, Rominger said. The Max Launch Abort System, or MLAS, is a rocket system designed to propel a crew capsule away from a failed launch vehicle.

The MLAS differs from traditional launch abort systems in that it would push a spacecraft away from a rocket. Previous launch escape motors, including the system on Russia's Soyuz rocket, use towers on top of the launcher, adding height and weight to the vehicle.

"The abort off the pad is one of the most challenging flight scenarios," Rominger said. "You want that system to get you a mile away from the pad. If the pad turns into a big fireball, you don't want the crew coming down anywhere near it. Our system has that kind of capability."

"Later that year, we will do another ascent abort test that simulates the second stage not igniting," Rominger said.

The ascent abort in late 2014 would launch from the Kennedy Space Center with a five-segment first stage motor.

An unmanned orbital flight test would follow in early 2015, then ATK would mount a crewed mission by late 2015, according to Rominger.[/size]

ATK и Lockheed Martin против Элона Маска... Кто кого? :)

ЦитироватьATK и Lockheed Martin против Элона Маска... Кто кого? :)

И Маск на девятимоторной козе на повороте вжжжик! :)

Производитель ракет-ускорителей для шаттлов намерен создать корабль

ЦитироватьМОСКВА, 10 мая - РИА Новости. Аэрокосмическая компания ATK - производитель твердотопливных ракет-ускорителей для американских шаттлов - объявила о намерении создать полноценную космическую транспортную систему Liberty ("Свобода") для доставки астронавтов на орбиту, которая будет включать в себя ракету-носитель, систему аварийного спасения, космический корабль и наземную инфраструктуру.

"Liberty даст США новые возможности для космических запусков... как мы ожидаем, пилотируемый полет может состояться уже через три года, что прекратит нашу зависимость от России (в доставке астронавтов на орбиту)", - заявил вице-президент компании ATK Кент Роминджер (Kent Rominger), чьи слова приводятся в пресс-релизе компании.

Базирующаяся в американском штате Юта компания Alliant Techsystems или ATK создавала твердотопливные ускорители (Reusable Solid Rocket Motor - RSRM) для шаттлов, полеты которых были прекращены в 2011 году. В феврале 2011 года компания объявила, что намерена создать собственную ракету-носитель Liberty, в которой твердотопливный ускоритель должен был играть роль первой ступени. Вторую ступень для нее должна была разработать компания Astrium - на основе второй ступени ракеты Ariane 5.

Теперь компания объявила о намерении создать космический корабль для этой ракеты, который сможет доставлять астронавтов на низкую околоземную орбиту, в частности, на Международную космическую станцию (МКС). Как рассчитывает ATK, первый пилотируемый полет состоится в конце 2015 года, а начало регулярных запусков для НАСА и других потенциальных заказчиков планируются на 2016 год. Как обещает компания, цена за одно место в ее корабле будет ниже, чем цена места на "Союзе".

Помимо самой ATK в проекте будет участвовать компании Astrium (вторая ступень ракеты-носителя) и Lockheed Martin, которая будет разрабатывать системы управления, связи и навигации, стыковочный узел и ряд других систем.

Для запусков планируется использовать космический центр имени Кеннеди, откуда раньше стартовали шаттлы.

Российские корабли "Союз" после завершения программы полетов шаттлов в США остаются единственным средством доставки экипажей на МКС. Именно "Союзы" будут возить астронавтов НАСА и агентств-партнеров на МКС и возвращать их обратно на Землю, по крайней мере, до 2016 года. Соответствующее дополнение к контракту подписали ранее Роскосмос и НАСА.

http://ria.ru/science/20120510/645595142.html

Теперь главное чтобы в эту тему не забрел Валерий :lol:

Вот смеха будет, если американский сегмент МКС утопят в 2020 году  :)

Будет типичный кризис перепроизводства в космической отрасли отдельной страны :o

Они эти корабли и макеты солить будут что-ли?  :lol:

ЦитироватьВот смеха будет, если американский сегмент МКС утопят в 2020 году  :)

Будет типичный кризис перепроизводства в космической отрасли отдельной страны :o

Они эти корабли и макеты солить будут что-ли?  :lol:

будут пускать и стыковаться друг с другом!  :mrgreen:

Не утопят, а продадут всем желающим.

Не только в Москве и Питере глобальное потепление  :twisted:

ЦитироватьНе утопят, а продадут всем желающим.Например китайским,арабским коммунистам,  гражданам США.

О! Это идея! Создать консорциум из всяких частных космических фирм и продать за 1 доллар им американский сегмент. Таким изощренным способом с ними будет покончено раз и навсегда  :twisted:

ЦитироватьВот смеха будет, если американский сегмент МКС утопят в 2020 году  :)
Будет типичный кризис перепроизводства в космической отрасли отдельной страны :o
Они эти корабли и макеты солить будут что-ли?  :lol:

SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace Join Forces to Offer Crewed Missions to Private Space Stations

http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20120510

ЦитироватьВот смеха будет, если американский сегмент МКС утопят в 2020 году  :)
Будет типичный кризис перепроизводства в космической отрасли отдельной страны :o
Они эти корабли и макеты солить будут что-ли?  :lol:

SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace Join Forces to Offer Crewed Missions to Private Space Stations

http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20120510

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_05_10_2012_p0-456480.xml&p=2

ЦитироватьATK Unveils End-To-End Liberty Launch System Plan[/size]
By Guy Norris guy_norris@aviationweek.com
Source: AWIN First

May 10 , 2012

Alliant Techsystems (ATK) will develop a composite crew compartment with support from Lockheed Martin as part of a complete launch system being proposed with partner Astrium for NASA's commercial crew program.

Unveiling new details about the Liberty project, ATK says the system is on track for initial tests in 2014, with the first crewed test mission anticipated as early as 2015. Kent Rominger, ATK vice president and Liberty program manager, says the test plan supports crewed missions for NASA by 2016 and is built on flight-proven elements.

"We're at the point where (the U.S.) reputation is on the line, and hopefully when people see Liberty they'll recognize the whole system is unique in that it has been designed from the outset to meet NASA's human-rated standards," says Rominger. Although ATK and Astrium have previously detailed the use of a five-segment, space shuttle-derived solid first-stage and Ariane 5-based liquid-fueled upper-stage for Liberty's combined configuration, the team has not previously discussed details of the crew capsule, abort system and other elements of its proposal.

Liberty is one of several competing system-level proposals for the third phase of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, known as Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap). Proposals for the contest were submitted in March, with expectations of multiple follow-on contracts valued at between $300 million and $500 million due to be awarded in early August. Other contenders include Blue Origin, Boeing, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Sierra Nevada.

"Unlike when we bid on CCDev2 (Commercial Crew Development two), now we have an entire system," says Rominger who adds that the spacecraft leverages design work performed at NASA Langley Research Center on the composite crew module and the pusher-based Maximum Launch Abort System (MLAS), for which ATK was a contractor, as well as service module design work performed by NASA Glenn Research Center. "We're using all that work and, in some cases, making it less capable to suit the less demanding missions to low Earth orbit."

ATK's crew module development comes as the manufacturer's aerospace structures division continues its company-wide strategic push for a larger role in composite assembly for commercial, military and space markets. As well as wing skins and nacelles for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, ATK produces stringers and frames for the majority of the Airbus A350 fuselage in addition to engine cases for the Boeing 747-8 and A350. Composite structures for space applications include large elements of the Delta 4, Atlas 5, Ariane 5 and more than 11,100 rocket motor cases.

As well as providing the crew module and MLAS, ATK is responsible for the first stage, system integration and ground and mission operations, while Astrium provides the Vulcain 2-powered second stage. Lockheed Martin will provide subsystems and other support including access to the same supply chain providing components and systems for the Orion capsule, as well as the use of its recently-completed Space Operations Simulation Center near Denver. "With things like backshells, heat shields, guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) and so on, we are trying to leverage all those things," says Rominger.

Lockheed Martin will work with ATK to tailor the design of subsystems for the crew compartment to suit the "specific mission requirements" of the LEO mission, says Scott Norris, Lockheed Martin Lead for Liberty. Aside from "implied" savings in cost from the use of a common supply chain, Norris adds the entire development process will also be speeded up. "We have 21 months if selected to get to critical design review," he notes. Lockheed Martin will provide crew interface systems design, subsystem selection, assembly, integration and mission operations support. ATK adds subsystems could include avionics, GN&C, propulsion systems, environmental control system, docking system and other components.

Astrium North America CEO John Schumacher says the initial second stage will be shipped to Kennedy Space Center, Fla., where it will be integrated with the ATK-made first stage. However, "once the business case develops in the U.S., then we envisage moving manufacture of the Liberty upper stage to the United States." Although nearly identical to the standard Ariane 5 core, Schumacher says additional structural reinforcement is required for the second stage. Despite this, he adds that no major tooling will be needed to accommodate the Liberty on the line, which can be grown from its current six to seven units per year rate to "easily incorporate three to five more."

As the Snecma-developed Vulcain 2 is used on the first-stage of the Ariane V, on which it has been used to power 47 consecutive launches, simulated altitude testing will be required to prove its air-starting capability for use in Liberty's second-stage. Rominger says test sites at NASA Stennis and Glenn are being evaluated. "We are working with both NASA centers to see which will be most appropriate."

Other Liberty subcontractors now identified include wiring manufacturer Safran/Labinal out of Salisbury, Md., avionics and telemetry provider L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics and Moog, which provides thrust vector control and propulsion control.[/size]

Похоже на рекламу :)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/25676.jpg)

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/240644.jpg)

http://www.libertyspace.us/index.html

(http://www.libertyspace.us/sg_multimedia_content/multimedia/bigbox/13ad.jpg)

(http://www.libertyspace.us/sg_multimedia_content/multimedia/bigbox/14ad.jpg)

http://www.libertyspace.us/multimedia.html

Видео :)

Liberty: Space Transportation System for Tomorrow's Astronauts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=girw-mDyxyw

ATK Signs Teaming Agreement for Liberty Transportation Service

ATK AND ASTRIUM TEAM WITH NANORACKS ON LIBERTY

Jun 28, 2012

ЦитироватьARLINGTON, Va, June 28, 2012 - ATK (NYSE: ATK) and Astrium North America have signed a teaming agreement with NanoRacks, LLC, for NanoRacks to market opportunities for both astronaut explorers and the experiments they plan to carry into space on board the Liberty Transportation Service.

"NanoRacks is a world leader in understanding the emerging commercial market for low Earth orbit utilization," said Kent Rominger, ATK's Liberty Program Manager. "Jeff Manber and his NanoRacks team will bring the tremendous capability of the Liberty Transportation Service to this community worldwide. The prospects are very exciting."

The Liberty Transportation Service offers researchers world-wide the opportunity to fly into low Earth orbit with their research-either to the International Space Station, to other on-orbit space craft for human-tended operations or to use a Liberty mission on-orbit as their own unique research platform. The Liberty team will work with NanoRacks to develop Liberty missions that allow use of low Earth orbit by non-NASA individuals, such as astronauts from other countries, as well as the delivery of innovative solutions for NASA commercial crew and cargo missions.

This teaming agreement allows NanoRacks to market to explorers from around the globe a Liberty mission consisting of transportation into low Earth orbit, on-orbit operations and a safe return to Earth for up to seven people and their research and/or equipment.

The Liberty team selected NanoRacks because of its proven performance and unique history of innovatively managing a number of International Space Station payloads and commercial astronaut programs. NanoRacks is already working with Astrium North America to provide quality hardware and services for the U.S. National Laboratory on board the International Space Station.

NanoRacks has developed and deployed two research platforms onboard the International Space Station's U.S. National Laboratory, which can house plug-and-play payloads using CubeSat. NanoRacks has a signed customer pipeline of over 50 payloads including domestic and international educational institutions, research organizations and government organizations.

"The possibilities with Liberty are exponential," said Jeff Manber, CEO of NanoRacks. "For the first time we are offering people across the globe an opportunity to use Liberty to create their own missions of exploration and discovery. This will greatly expand the use of the ISS for research and also create novel missions using Liberty in low Earth orbit."

"We look forward to expanding our work with NanoRacks as it brings Liberty to new customers worldwide for commercial missions to ISS and other LEO missions," said John Schumacher, President of Astrium in North America. "This builds on research and human space flight-related operations we have done in Florida and Texas with the NASA team for over a decade."

Liberty is a complete commercial crew system that includes a human-rated composite spacecraft, advanced abort system, a reliable, affordable and capable commercial launch vehicle to low Earth orbit and ground and mission operations, which were all designed from inception to meet NASA's human-rating requirements. Unmanned test flights are planned for 2014 and 2015, followed by the first human flights in 2015 with a Liberty flight crew flying to the International Space Station.

ATK is the team lead, with Astrium and Lockheed Martin serving as major subcomponent providers. Additional subcontractors for Liberty include Safran, Moog Inc., Honeywell, Astrotech Space Operations (ASTC), Aerojet, Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Dynamic Concepts, Inc, Hamilton Sundstrand, L-3 Cincinnati Electronics and Teledyne Brown.

The Liberty system team is located across 10 states including Alabama, California, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Virginia. The commercial program is expected to sustain thousands of jobs as well as bring approximately 600 new jobs across the country.

More information on the Liberty Transportation Service can be found at www.libertyspace.us .

ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com .

NanoRacks LLC was formed in 2009 to provide quality hardware and services for the U.S. National Laboratory onboard the International Space Station. NanoRacks provides repeatable access to the International Space Station microgravity environment for commercial and educational research projects. NanoRacks brings together entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers who have real-life experience and share a passion for space including humanity's utilization of low-earth orbit. Visit www.nanoracks.com for more information.

Astrium North America was formed in 1973 to support U.S. and European payloads flying on NASA missions, most recently on the Space Shuttle and ISS. It has operations in Florida and Texas. Its parent Astrium, a subsidiary of EADS, is responsible to ESA for the operation of the European component of ISS. Astrium builds ATV which has completed 3 missions to ISS in the last 4 years and Ariane 5 which launches ATV to ISS. More information can be found at www.astrium-na.com .

http://www.libertyspace.us/jun-28-2012-1.html

ATK Completes Software TIM for Liberty under NASA's Commercial Crew Program

LIBERTY SYSTEM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SAFE, RELIABLE CREW TRANSPORTATION TO THE ISS

Jun 28, 2012

ЦитироватьARLINGTON, Va., June 28, 2012 - ATK (NYSE: ATK) completed its Liberty software technical interface meeting (TIM), which was held to support further development of the Liberty space transportation system under the company's Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA for the Commercial Crew Development Program.

The software TIM was conducted to evaluate Liberty's software development plan with the NASA Liberty team. The plan governs the software process used by Liberty and its subcontractors throughout development, integration, test and flight.

"Understanding how your system will work together throughout the mission is critical in reducing risk and schedule delays," said Kent Rominger, ATK Vice President and Program Manager for Liberty. "Holding this TIM provides us valuable insight into expertise provided by the NASA team and ensures there are no issues we are overlooking."

The development of software is critical for understanding the entire system to support Liberty's test flights. Unmanned test flights are scheduled for 2014 and 2015, followed by the first crewed flights in 2015 with Liberty astronauts.

The TIM was held this month at Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.'s Boulder campus and the Lockheed Martin Waterton facility near Denver. The team also toured both facilities, including the integration and test laboratories where Liberty's flight and ground software will be checked out prior to its test flights.

Team members involved with Liberty's software development include ATK (first stage and ground support equipment (GSE)), Lockheed Martin (spacecraft subsystem support, launch vehicle ascent control and spacecraft GSE), Ball Aerospace ((Situation Awareness Fault Evaluation (SAFE) and Subsystems)), Astrium (second stage) and L3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics (Integrated Avionics and Flight Safety Systems), and Teledyne Brown (cargo carrier).

The CCDev-2 Liberty unfunded SAA enables NASA and the Liberty team to share technical information related to the Liberty Transportation System during the preliminary design review phase of the program. ATK has completed four milestones and held three TIMs, all on internal funding. The fifth and final milestone under the agreement is schedule for July.

"This SAA with NASA's Commercial Crew Program has enabled us to further advance development as we receive valuable feedback from a team of experienced human space flight experts," said Rominger. "As a result, we are able to offer a complete commercial crew service, and provide safe, reliable, cost-effective crew transportation to low Earth orbit."

ATK announced last month it had developed Liberty into a complete commercial crew transportation system, including the Liberty composite spacecraft, abort system, launch vehicle and ground and mission operations, all designed from inception to meet NASA's human-rating requirements.

Additional subcontractors for Liberty include Safran/Snecma, Moog Inc., Honeywell, Astrotech Space Operations (ASTC), Aerojet, Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Dynamic Concepts, Inc. and Hamilton Sundstrand. More information on the Liberty system can be found at www.libertyspace.us .

ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 22 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com .

http://www.libertyspace.us/jun-28-2012-2.html

Liberty second stage one step closer to production

Цитировать* Astrium working closely with ATK to deliver the second stage of the Liberty commercial launch vehicle on schedule
    * Successful tests on tank structures demonstrate that key Ariane 5 manufacturing technologies can be evolved for use on the Liberty second stage
    * Download film of the tests at: http://46.218.194.177/astrium/ASTRIUM_LIBERTY


Jun 28, 2012

ARLINGTON, Va, June 28, 2012 - Astrium, the number one company in Europe for space technologies and systems, has successfully completed a set of tests on tank structures proving that key design and manufacturing processes used for Ariane launchers are ready for production of the Liberty commercial launch vehicle second stage.

The tests covering load-carrying cryogenic tanks demonstrate that existing Astrium processes can be leveraged to confirm the overall Liberty schedule and enable a speedy entry into service - and into orbit. Astrium is also working on leaner production processes for the second stage to bring best value to the Liberty launch vehicle.

Liberty is a complete commercial crew transportation service, including the spacecraft, abort system, launch vehicle, and both ground and mission operations, designed from inception to meet NASA's human-rating requirements with a planned first test flight in 2014 and Liberty crewed flight in 2015. Astrium, as a major subcontractor, will provide the second stage of the Liberty launch vehicle - based on the liquid-fuelled cryogenic core of the Ariane 5 vehicle powered by the Safran-built Vulcain 2 engine. The Ariane 5 launcher, for which Astrium is the Prime Contractor, was developed under the aegis of the European Space Agency and is operated by Arianespace. With 48 consecutive successful missions over nearly nine years, it is the world's most reliable launcher. This includes the launch of three Autonomous Transfer Vehicles to resupply the International Space Station in the last four years. During this time, the Ariane 5 has launched more commercial satellites into orbit than any other launch vehicle in the world.

A film from the Astrium site in les Mureaux, near Paris (France), shows the work done to complete the stage testing. It shows the machining, forming, computerized automatic welding and inspection of cryogenic tank elements to provide the increased thickness and stiffened profiles necessary for the Liberty second stage. An additional tank panel of increased thickness is welded and tested in a cryogenic environment at the Euro Cryospace facilities (an Astrium and Air Liquide joint-venture). These successful tests demonstrate that Astrium's manufacturing technology has the capability to process panels that are several times thicker than those of Ariane 5. These panels meet the needs for the strengthened cryogenic tanks of Liberty's second stage.

Alain Charmeau, CEO of Astrium Space Transportation, said: "These tests take the Liberty second stage one step closer to production. They demonstrate conclusively that our proven processes can manufacture thicker and stiffer cryogenic tanks for the Liberty second stage.

"Welding, machining, and forming space hardware is a highly sophisticated industrial process. Our extensive experience in manufacturing all Ariane launchers has given us comprehensive and unmatched capability that we can now utilize for a new commercial space transportation system - Liberty. We are proud to be a valued partner alongside ATK and Lockheed Martin and look forward to the success of Liberty," he continued.

"Astrium's world-class commercial launch team provides unique vehicle and systems capabilities to Liberty," said Kent Rominger, ATK program manager for Liberty. "These tests by our Astrium teammates demonstrate how our flight-proven Liberty team is hard at work and keeping Liberty on schedule for first launch in 2014."

For additional information on the Liberty Transportation Serive please visit the Liberty website at: http://www.libertyspace.us .

http://www.libertyspace.us/jun-28-2012-3.html

ATK extends Liberty proposal to include cargo resupply

ЦитироватьATK announced Tuesday its Liberty space transportation system will comprise crew and cargo modules to haul seven astronauts and up to 5,000 pounds of supplies and science experiments to the International Space Station on the same flight.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/25716.jpg)

Artist's concept of the Liberty spacecraft and cargo module at the International Space Station. Credit: ATK
 
The combined crew and cargo capability differentiates ATK from its commercial competitors, which plan to offer only limited resupply capacity on crewed missions.

"Liberty's expanded service allows us to bring a commercial capability delivering up to seven crew members, 5,000 pounds of pressurized cargo, along with external cargo in a single flight," said Kent Rominger, ATK vice president and program manager for Liberty. "This results in tremendous value since all other commercial offerings would need two flights to accomplish what Liberty does in one."

Astronauts and cargo will blast off on a Liberty rocket, which ATK is proposing for NASA's commercial crew program. NASA expects to award two companies between $300 million and $500 million in 21-month agreements beginning as soon as this month.

The space agency plans to release about half that amount of funding to a third company, which will continue development of a commercial crew transportation system at a slower pace.

ATK is currently working on the Liberty proposal with private funding, and company officials say government financing is necessary to meet a schedule calling for a first piloted mission to low Earth orbit by late 2015.

The aerospace firm has an unfunded Space Act Agreement with NASA, where the space agency shares expertise with ATK but does not pay an award.

SpaceX, Boeing Co., Sierra Nevada Corp., and Blue Origin currently have funded Space Act Agreements with NASA. The next round of awards - called the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability phase - will pick up at the conclusion of the ongoing agreements this summer. All companies with funded agreements with NASA must re-compete to continue receiving government financing.

ATK, the builder of the space shuttle's strap-on boosters, plans to combine an extended five-segment version of the shuttle solid rocket motor with an upper stage based on the cryogenic core of Europe's Ariane 5 rocket. A seven-person capsule built by ATK and Lockheed Martin Corp. would fly into orbit on top of the two-stage Liberty launcher.

A Liberty logistics module will also fly with the crew capsule, carrying up to 5,100 pounds of cargo, including up to four full-size research racks for placement into the space station's laboratories.

The crew spacecraft would be made of a lightweight composite shell developed by ATK in partnership with NASA's Langley Research Center beginning in 2007. ATK and Langley built a composite pressure vessel as an alternative to the Orion spacecraft's aluminum-lithium structure.

If it proceeds into full development, Lockheed Martin would oversee final assembly of the crew capsule at the Kennedy Space Center.

The Liberty cargo module would be based on the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module carried about space shuttle flights to outfit the space station.

NASA's requirements for bidders in the commercial crew program do not specify cargo capacity as a decision point for monetary awards.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1207/03liberty/

Какая-то каша из топора (ТТУ) получается :)

ATK Completes Final Milestone for Liberty under NASA's Commercial Crew Program

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/320005.jpg)

LIBERTY SYSTEM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SAFE, RELIABLE CREW TRANSPORTATION TO THE ISS

Jul 17, 2012

ЦитироватьARLINGTON, Va., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ATK (NYSE: ATK)successfully completed the last Liberty space transportation system milestone under the company's unfunded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA for the Commercial Crew Development Program (CCDev-2).

The final milestone under the SAA was a Program Status Review (PSR) for the Liberty system. During the PSR, the Liberty team presented NASA with detailed progress of the program, including integrated master schedule, DAC cycle status, system requirements, software status, flight test plan, system safety review, ground processing certification plan and schedule for initial operation capability.

The CCDev-2 Liberty SAA enabled NASA and the Liberty team to share technical information related to the Liberty transportation system during the preliminary design review phase of the program. ATK completed five milestones and held three Technical Interchange Meetings, all on internal funding.

"It has been a privilege working with NASA to complete the SAA for the Commercial Crew program," said Kent Rominger, ATK vice president and program manager for Liberty. "The feedback we received from the NASA Liberty team has helped further the development of the entire system and we believe ensures the program is on target for Liberty to provide a capable and safe commercial transportation to the International Space Station (ISS) by mid-decade."

Currently, Liberty's schedule includes unmanned test flights in 2014 and 2015, followed by the first crewed flight in late 2015 with Liberty astronauts. Commercial operational flights to take NASA astronauts to the ISS would begin in 2016.

ATK also hosted a Liberty Supplier conference the day following the PSR. This meeting, held in Florida, brought together more than 20 of Liberty's major suppliers to support Liberty development activities.

"Our supply base is critical to Liberty's success as we move quickly through development of the entire system," said Rominger. "As a commercial program we need to ensure we are a strong team in order to provide the best service and grow a profitable business."

About Liberty

Liberty is a complete commercial crew space system that includes a composite spacecraft, abort system, launch vehicle and ground and mission operations, all of which were designed from inception to meet NASA's human-rating requirements. ATK is the prime contractor with Astrium and Lockheed Martin serving as major subcomponent providers. Additional subcontractors for Liberty include Safran/Snecma, Moog Inc., Honeywell, Astrotech Space Operations (ASTC), Aerojet, Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Teledyne Brown, Dynamic Concepts, Inc. and Hamilton Sundstrand.

The Liberty system team is located across 10 states including Alabama, California, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Virginia. The commercial program is expected to sustain thousands of jobs as well as bring approximately 600 new jobs across the country.

http://www.libertyspace.us/news.html