Thread by @thesheetztweetz

The annual #SATShow rocket roundtable, moderated today by @Sandra_I_Erwin, with:

ULA CEO Tory Bruno
SpaceX VP of Commercial Sales Tom Ochinero
Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel
Rocket Lab $RKLB Senior Director Richard French
Blue Origin VP of Commercial Sales Ariane Cornell

@Sandra_I_Erwin @SATELLITEDC @ulalaunch @torybruno @RocketLab @blueorigin @arianecornell @arianespaceceo @Arianespace @SpaceX French: $RKLB spacecraft components and integrated satellite systems business combines with launch, "working to bring the lowest total cost ... back to customers."

"Really exciting to see our diversifying revenue and being able to stabilize the lumpiness of launch."

@Sandra_I_Erwin @SATELLITEDC @ulalaunch @torybruno @RocketLab @blueorigin @arianecornell @arianespaceceo @Arianespace @SpaceX *Bruno asks the crowd if they like the red paint job on Vulcan*

"Only one yes? That's it, sorry."

@Sandra_I_Erwin @SATELLITEDC @ulalaunch @torybruno @RocketLab @blueorigin @arianecornell @arianespaceceo @Arianespace @SpaceX Bruno, after Cornell showed a Blue Origin promo reel: Were those your engines testing or mine?

@Sandra_I_Erwin @SATELLITEDC @ulalaunch @torybruno @RocketLab @blueorigin @arianecornell @arianespaceceo @Arianespace @SpaceX Cornell: Blue Origin completed a hardware-in-the-loop test of New Glenn software (full avionics etc.), and flew a couple of simulated nominal launches.

"We're making fantastic progress and we're going to fly when we're ready."

@Sandra_I_Erwin @SATELLITEDC @ulalaunch @torybruno @RocketLab @blueorigin @arianecornell @arianespaceceo @Arianespace @SpaceX Cornell, to Bruno: The BE-4 engines "look very nice at the tail end of your rocket."

(Bruno says he hugged each of the engines when they arrived.)

@Sandra_I_Erwin @SATELLITEDC @ulalaunch @torybruno @RocketLab @blueorigin @arianecornell @arianespaceceo @Arianespace @SpaceX Ochinero: "So close" to Starship orbital launch.

"Currently waiting on our FAA license so that we can announce our launch date, but that should be happening very shortly."

@Sandra_I_Erwin @SATELLITEDC @ulalaunch @torybruno @RocketLab @blueorigin @arianecornell @arianespaceceo @Arianespace @SpaceX Israel: "Hopefully by the end of the year we will have" the debut launch of Ariane 6, but still some risk to that schedule goal.

@Sandra_I_Erwin @SATELLITEDC @ulalaunch @torybruno @RocketLab @blueorigin @arianecornell @arianespaceceo @Arianespace @SpaceX Israel: "It's really a moment of transition for Arianespace."

"in 2022, we have had the most important order intake we have ever had."

@Sandra_I_Erwin @SATELLITEDC @ulalaunch @torybruno @RocketLab @blueorigin @arianecornell @arianespaceceo @Arianespace @SpaceX Bruno: "Yes," confident in a May launch for Vulcan.

@Sandra_I_Erwin @SATELLITEDC @ulalaunch @torybruno @RocketLab @blueorigin @arianecornell @arianespaceceo @Arianespace @SpaceX Bruno: Vulcan debut "only has about four to five days of launch window each month" due to the Astrobotic lunar payload requirements.

Bruno: BE-4 engines for second Vulcan launch "are being built right now" in Blue Origin's factory and "proceeding along well."

After debut flight, will "take a couple of months" to study data before launching again.

Bruno: "With respect to speculation and rumors around M&A in general, with certain notable exceptions, we can never talk about that -- whether it's happening or not."

Ochinero: Started with goal of 10 launches per Falcon 9 booster, but capable of "way more." SpaceX will incrementally increase reuse certification "if market conditions require it," so depends on whether the investment is needed.

Ochinero: On recent price changes, "I feel like we are just making adjustments to keep up with our own costs."

Cornell: "We do have some very important customers ... and we've been communicating with them in vast detail. And I know we don't necessarily give the public as much detail, but with our customers we are very open."

Cornell: Blue Origin is "still closing up the investigation" into the NS-23 failure, and "working very closely with the FAA."

"Safety is our number one priority, and we'll certainly fly that vehicle when we're ready."

French: The Archimedes rocket engine is the "major development item" for Neutron, and delivering on schedule.

"Watch the engine"

French: Rocket Lab "worked very closely" with the DoD to create Lane 1 in NSSL Phase 3 and "applaud" the government for the new structure for national security launch contracts.

Ochinero: SpaceX's annual launch rate "is driven more by market demand," and even comes down to things like weather ("how many sunny days you're going to count on"). "There really isn't any reason we can't keep going, it's just about meeting the market needs."

Cornell: "I can't get into the specifics" of what mission will fly first on New Glenn, but NASA's ESCAPADE mission will be an "early" flight of the rocket.

French: “Execution among our competitors” in the small satellite launch market has “demonstrated a lack of supply.”

Cornell: Can’t get into NS-23 investigation details because Blue Origin is working alongside the FAA, but the launch escape system “worked perfectly” as design.

All prior New Shepard customers have “continued to stay on.”

Cornell: Won’t comment on NSSL bidding, but built New Glenn “to serve all markets.”

Ochinero: Don't have plans at the moment to stop manufacturing new Falcon 9 boosters or Merlin engines.

"That day will come but we're publicly committed" to flying Falcon 9 "until the retirements of the ISS."

Cornell: "I'm not sure if we're going to release the details" of the NS-23 investigation, "it's something that we have to coordinate with the FAA."

"We are looking to get back into flight with New Shepard by the end of this year."