Well, things are rushed as usual. There's no time to write a proper Update, yet things are happening, so here's the hasty version:
- The NASA X-33 CAN (Cooperative Agreement Notice, a request for bids) has been released. It's available online via WWW; the address is http://procure.msfc.nasa.gov. Make sure you get the final release version, as the October 19th initial draft is still up also. It's about 225K of text.
We've only had time to do a hasty scan so far - we find the 15 months before selection of hardware contractor(s) to be a bit leisurely for our tastes; we'd like to see the process as far along as possible two years from now, given the funding uncertainties. If possible, we'd like to see airframe construction well advanced by the start of '97.
Other than that, the X-33 CAN looks like it'll allow the people running the project to get the job done, if they're capable of doing so. Fingers crossed.
- Speaking of getting the right people onto X-33, NASA's choice to run the project, Lt. Colonel Gary Payton, is still being prevented from coming over from BMDO. In the normal course of events, he would have finished his tour at BMDO next July. We think X-33 is important enough to the country that if NASA wants him for X-33, NASA should get him, ASAP. This has been dragging on for months now.
- On the DC-X front, we hear DC-X should leave the factory for White Sands again sometime in the next few weeks. Flight test should be underway again in March, and with luck, this prolonged initial flight test program should be complete in May sometime. At that point, DC-X will be turned over to NASA for the DC-XA upgrade program.
- And finally, Space Access '95, our annual conference on the technology, economics, and politics of cheap space access, will take place this April 21-23, Friday evening through Sunday evening, at the Phoenix Airport Days Inn. Rooms are $45, $55 poolside, call 602 244-8244 and mention "Space Access" for reservations. Admission is $65 through January 31st, $10 off for SAS members, send checks to SAS, 4855 E Warner Rd #24-150, Phoenix AZ 85044. Email to hvanderbilt@bix.com for additional info.
We already have commitments from two of the three major X-33 bidders -- MDA/Boeing and Lockheed Advanced Development -- to come and tell us what they're up to, and we're working on Rockwell. We'll also have some intensive sessions on financing and organizing launch ventures, and then on making the resulting vehicles legal for commercial operations. Even if you're not starting your own rocket company, these should give you a better handle on evaluating other people's startups... And of course, we're going to have a number of presentations on affordable launcher projects ranging from high concepts to startup projects already underway, plus late night panels, activism workshop, and more. Y'all come, y'heah?
Henry Vanderbilt hvanderbilt@bix.com
Executive Director, Space Access Society