I imagine that the launch operations and non-hardware is the largest
portion of the total cost, but I am interested in what you assumed for
the initial BDB studies, and what the actual statistics are. Your story
is fascinating, and I am looking forward to future columns.
- Leon Bush
- Retired
I appreciate your comment, Mr Bush, but when the life cycle cost of
the total system shows that the cost of the space launch vehicle does
not
dominate, the application of the MCD criteria will still result in very
large savings. As explained in the March 4, 1997, Column, application
of
the MCD criteria to the vehicle and payload designs includes the cost
and
weight tradeoffs between the vehicle and payload and all other elements
of the system. Reliability, which has not been addressed as yet in the
Columns, would be included in the tradeoff analyses.
- Arthur Schnitt
- Consultant