XPost: sci.physics, sci.space.policy   
   From: fjmccall@gmail.com   
      
   JF Mezei  wrote:   
      
   >On 2017-05-24 20:53, Jeff Findley wrote:   
   >>   
   >> We should, but we won't.  Orbital ATK needs the pork to keep open their   
   >> SRB manufacturing facilities, which the DOD will need the next time they   
   >> want to acquire a new solid fueled ICBM.   
   >>   
   >   
   >Never considered that.   
   >   
      
   Really?  Virtually any discussion of the choice to use SRBs on the   
   Shuttle will include this idea of keeping costs for military solid   
   rockets down.   
      
   >   
   >How long does an ICBM last? wouldn't it be better   
   >for the military to order a few replacements each year, enough to keep   
   >ATK alive without the NASA pork for SLS?   
   >   
      
   I would assume it's around 30 years, given that USAF started fielding   
   Minuteman III in around 1970 and started doing motor replacements on   
   them in 1998.   
      
   >   
   >(blame the need for replacements on degradation of the solid fiuel   
   >propellant).   
   >   
      
   They just redid all the motors a decade or two ago.  Probably won't   
   need any more until they're ready to replace Minuteman III in 2030 or   
   so.  Then they'll need to buy 400-500 missiles.   
      
      
   --   
   "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute."   
                              -- Charles Pinckney   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)