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From: eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Private Space
Message-ID: <333@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 19:43:09 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.333
Posted: Fri Nov  1 19:43:09 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Nov-85 09:35:15 EST
References: <8510291721.AA00286@s1-b.ARPA>
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 35

> rockets. Two companies are now backed with large amounts of money to develop
> private launch vehicles, one of which is a manned vehicle with the intent of
> taking tourists into space for two day trips. The scuttlebut is that Soceity
> Expeditions has agreed to set up a funding package of up to $280M to back
> Pacific American Launch Services (Gary Hudsen) in design and construction of
> the reusable VTVL-SSTO Phoenix. Vessel is modular and refuelable, so unlike
> the shuttle, it can leave LEO. A Phoenix is projected to cost about the same
> as a 747. Completion supposedly by the early 1990's. Maybe you can book a
> flight to watch NASA put up it's space station.
> 
> Actually, I don't honestly know how real the funding is. I've been trying to
> get hold of Gary to find out, but I haven't gotten a call back yet. I'd also
> guess the first flight will be several years late and will cost twice as
> much as expected to develop, build and operate. But even then, it will fly
> economic circles around anything the turkeys at NASA or DOD are up to.
> 
     Having reviewed the Phoenix reference design, I can say several things
about it.  For a vehicle that has several new technologies in the design
(aerospike engine, oxidizer rich combustor, transpiration cooled heat
shield), he is carrying a very low weight growth margin . The figure in
Hudson's weight statement is about 5% of inert weight (weight without
propellant).  It should be more like 20%.  After proving the new 
technologies, we estimate it would cost Boeing $2.7 Billion to build
a vehicle like the Phoenix, and that the first one off the assembly line
would cost about $300 million (3 times a 747). 

     Considering that we can use existing manufacturing and assembly
plants, with experienced people , whereas Pacific American would be
starting from scratch, I find it doubtful they could build it for
less than we can.  There might be some advantage in engineering if they
go 100% CAD, but on the other hand, we own a CRAY to do number crunching.
We don't yet have a keyboard for every engineer, its more like one/three.

Dani Eder/Advanced Space Transportation/Boeing/ssc-vax!eder