New Rocket monopoly in the US

[antowan]

Rocket Monopoly Approved
Boeing-Lockheed Alliance Likely to Increase Costs

By Renae Merle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 4, 2006; Page D01

U.S. antitrust authorities yesterday approved a plan by Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. to merge their government rocket businesses, creating a monopoly in a multibillion-dollar market that the Federal Trade Commission acknowledged will probably lead to higher prices and lower quality.

The decision came 16 months after the plan was announced, several months longer than both firms expected, signaling the concern within the Defense Department and FTC about eliminating competition in yet another part of the military market. Defense industry consolidation has already squeezed competition out of various parts of the market -- since the 1990s the number of aircraft makers has fallen to three from eight, for example.

 

[gboy]

not realy a monoploly, what about that Elon Munsk guy and his falcon rocket if the next launch goes well he will have a huge amount of orders. see www.spacex.com

unfortunitly some techie forgot to tigten a bolt wich caused fuel to leak and caused the rocket to blow up in mid flight.

But i think they will have a senior techie to check the techie that he tigtens the bolt next time.

 

[StrongTurd]

It'll make no difference (at least to the commercial market). The satellite launch business is by nature international. People use the cheapest vehicle available at the time to launch commercial payloads, no matter where the launch site might be situated. The US cannot afford to price themselves out of the market because as it is the Russians and the EU are already offering very stiff competition. Besides, the US's mainstay booster, the Atlas, uses Russian engines.

IMHO Elon Musk is not a threat to the commercial launchers and will not be for many years to come. I'm not saying that this might not change in the long term but for now his launch vehicle can only reach LEO (low earth orbit) and with very limited payoad capacity. There's no money in LEO launch vehicles. In order to compete with the big boys you need to be able to haul at least a good few tons into geostationary orbit. That's where the money is.

 

[Darth Garth]

There is always SP Korolev Rocket & Space Corp.

 

[Darth Garth]

Besides, the US's mainstay booster, the Atlas, uses Russian engines.

Rather ironic ain't it .

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Besides, the US's mainstay booster, the Atlas, uses Russian engines.

Shhh... don't tell the 'mericans... they'll think that is another Russian plot to take over the world...