09-11-2017, 08:46 AM
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Dazed and Confused
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 11,624
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRIJoe
So why the launch vehicle switch for the X-37B?
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They want multiple launch vehicles for a couple of reasons.
1. Competition drives the cost down a little.
2. Redundancy. If one launch vehicle gets grounded, the other can be used in its place. I haven't kept up and don't know if it has been replaced yet, but the Atlas V was using an NPO Energomash RD-180 main engine from Russia. That supply could be cut off at any time.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/...eplane-mission/
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I love sanding.
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