Both Dynetics and 'The National Team' could only land a couple people and maybe a rover. They were essentially publicity stunts. Starship was the only option that could actually deliver the supplies needed to build a persistent moon base.
We also have no urgent need to put boots on the moon. Selecting multiple multi-billion dollar contractors to ensure timely delivery would have been a massive waste of money.
Worst case scenario: SpaceX screws the pooch, Starship never flies and NASA is a few years behin
Dynetics was a safe proposal for half the cost of Blue's proposal. It was really very sensible if you're not SpaceX. I think they ultimately went with SpaceX because the budget was slashed and because it doesn't rely on SLS.
Some other possible reasons for selecting SpaceX besides bang/buck: 1. Even if Artemis is cancelled, this will fund development of the vehicle that NASA would really like to see fully working. 2. It's also possible that if SpaceX makes sufficient progress fast enough, the public may not l
SpaceX’s Total Evaluated Price of $2,941,394,557 was the lowest among the offerors by a wide margin. Blue Origin’s Total Evaluated Price was significantly higher than this, followed by Dynetics’ Total Evaluated Price, which was significantly higher than Blue Origin’s
Seems like Dynetics was significantly higher than the significantly higher bid
Interesting reading through the selection statement. Seems like, in addition to cost, they really like the excess performance from Starship, enough to outweigh their concerns about it being contingent on rapid orbital refuelling panning out.
This part right here is just mind blowing:
two airlocks providing redundant
ingress/egress capability, each with independent environmental control and life support
capabilities that can provide a safe haven for crew. Additionally, SpaceX’s design allows
for the sourcing of excess propellant, which will provide crew with a large reserve supply
of life support consumables in the event of a contingency event
If I'm reading that right, SpaceX is proposing that the O2 tank can be used to augment the life support, and that either airlock can be used as an emergency shelter if the main cabin is having issues. One even envisions a Martian-esque scenario where the astronauts ascend from the lunar surface in an airlock.
The only sensible choice (Score:5, Insightful)
Both Dynetics and 'The National Team' could only land a couple people and maybe a rover. They were essentially publicity stunts. Starship was the only option that could actually deliver the supplies needed to build a persistent moon base.
We also have no urgent need to put boots on the moon. Selecting multiple multi-billion dollar contractors to ensure timely delivery would have been a massive waste of money.
Worst case scenario: SpaceX screws the pooch, Starship never flies and NASA is a few years behin
Re: (Score:5, Interesting)
Some other possible reasons for selecting SpaceX besides bang/buck:
1. Even if Artemis is cancelled, this will fund development of the vehicle that NASA would really like to see fully working.
2. It's also possible that if SpaceX makes sufficient progress fast enough, the public may not l
Re:The only sensible choice (Score:4, Informative)
According to the statement from NASA:
SpaceX’s Total Evaluated Price of $2,941,394,557 was the lowest among
the offerors by a wide margin. Blue Origin’s Total Evaluated Price was significantly
higher than this, followed by Dynetics’ Total Evaluated Price, which was significantly
higher than Blue Origin’s
Seems like Dynetics was significantly higher than the significantly higher bid
Re: (Score:2)
Re:The only sensible choice (Score:5, Interesting)
This part right here is just mind blowing:
two airlocks providing redundant ingress/egress capability, each with independent environmental control and life support capabilities that can provide a safe haven for crew. Additionally, SpaceX’s design allows for the sourcing of excess propellant, which will provide crew with a large reserve supply of life support consumables in the event of a contingency event
If I'm reading that right, SpaceX is proposing that the O2 tank can be used to augment the life support, and that either airlock can be used as an emergency shelter if the main cabin is having issues. One even envisions a Martian-esque scenario where the astronauts ascend from the lunar surface in an airlock.