Proof of EELV costs over Ares I

[Me2]

"In September 2005, NASA authorized the Ares I project to proceed with the development of a new human-rated crew launch vehicle with a 24.5-metric ton lift capability and a total budget of $14.4 billion for design, development, test, and evaluation (DDT&E), and production." (GAO-08-51)

Ares Project manager Steve Cook "said that the cost estimate for developing the Ares I and seeing it through its first manned flight was $35 billion. " (NY Times 6/18/09)

ULA presentation to the Augustine commission

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/361835main_0...9_final_R1.pdf

Affordable and credible costs
– Non-recurring ($800M pad, $500M human rating)
– Recurring ($300M/launch)
Available within 4.5 years from start

Similar numbers were validated by NASA's OSP team in 2005.

[Me2]

Also the point that Ares I is developing the J-2 and 5 segment for Ares V is bunk.
Using EELV's saves enough money so that J-2 develop can still continue. Ares V will use 5.5 or 6 segments steel or composite SRB's, so there is no synergism.

[Rick]

Thanks for the info.