SpaceX - Page 5

graham · 12-18-2008, 09:20 AM

Someone needs to steer the boat day-to-day while Elon is paying more attention to Tesla...

Congratulations, Gwynne!

vfx · 12-18-2008, 01:57 PM

graham · 12-23-2008, 08:10 PM

NASA awards $3.5 billion for space deliveries - New Space Race- msnbc.com

Quote:

NASA has awarded a pair of contracts worth $3.5 billion through 2016 to two private aerospace firms seeking to haul vital supplies to and from the international space station, the space agency announced late Tuesday.

The Hawthorne, Calif.-based firm Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Orbital Sciences Corp., of Dulles, Va., beat a third competitor for NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contracts with their proposals to privately develop and launch spacecraft capable of delivering cargo to the space station and returning supplies back to Earth.

doug · 12-23-2008, 08:25 PM

"beat a third competitor"

So who lost out?

graham · 12-23-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

So who lost out?

I was wondering the same thing... According to this article:

NASA gives space cargo contracts to start-up firms | Reuters

Quote:

SpaceX and Orbital Sciences beat out a Chicago-based consortium called PlanetSpace that included three of the U.S. space agency's prime contractors -- Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co and Alliant Techsystems Inc.

doug · 12-23-2008, 08:44 PM

...beat out a Chicago-based consortium called PlanetSpace that included three of the U.S. space agency's prime contractors -- Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co and Alliant Techsystems Inc.

It's a big deal that they beat out the old guard. I suppose that's what you get for naming your consortium an oxymoron.

graham · 12-23-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug

It's a big deal that they beat out the old guard.

Agreed.

Quote:

I suppose that's what you get for naming your consortium an oxymoron.

*grin*

dpeilow · 12-24-2008, 02:27 AM

Yes - I felt that the late arrival at the party of LM, Boeing and ATK was a bit like the Detroit 3 turning up in Washington with their EVs. At least the people at NASA have done the right thing here.

James · 12-24-2008, 05:09 PM

I looks like Elon will be making some good coin from NASA contracts. SpaceX just got a piece of a the $3.5 billion resupply contract for the space station.

Elon's pockets just got a lot deeper. I have MUCH more confidence that Tesla will be a long term survivor now.

By Dana Hedgpeth
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 24, 2008; Page D01

NASA yesterday gave two companies the job of resupplying the International Space Station after the space shuttle retires, picking Orbital Sciences of Dulles and SpaceX of Hawthorne, Calif., for a $3.5 billion contract.

As part of the deal, SpaceX and Orbital will build unmanned cargo vehicles that can carry a minimum of 20 metric tons. Eight flights, costing about $1.9 billion, will be handled by Orbital and 12 flights that will cost about $1.6 billion will be done by SpaceX, NASA officials said.

malcolm · 12-25-2008, 02:21 AM

Quote:

As part of the deal, SpaceX and Orbital will build unmanned cargo vehicles that can carry a minimum of 20 metric tons. Eight flights, costing about $1.9 billion, will be handled by Orbital and 12 flights that will cost about $1.6 billion will be done by SpaceX, NASA officials said.

Quote:

"It is partially a surprise that Lockheed lost," he said. "NASA is sort of spreading the wealth here.

Congratulations to Elon and his team. This is a ground-breaking contract.