According to NASA, the plans for a new Shuttle and Heavy Lift Booster will look a lot like the Saturn V rockets of the Apollo era. NASA has decided to build two new launch systems - both will draw upon existing Space Shuttle hardware. One vehicle will be a cargo-only heavy lifter, the other will be used to launch the Crew Exploration Vehicle.
According to a NASA source , the study team focused on four primary areas:
Complete assessment of the top-level Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) requirements and plans to enable the CEV to provide crew transport to the ISS and to accelerate the development of the CEV and crew launch system to reduce the gap between Shuttle retirement and CEV IOC.
Definition of top-level requirements and configurations for crew and cargo launch systems to support the lunar and Mars exploration programs.
Development of a reference lunar exploration architecture concept to support sustained human and robotic lunar exploration operations.
Identification of key technologies required to enable and significantly enhance these reference exploration systems and reprioritization of near-term and far-term technology investments.
The Heavy Lifter
According to on-line reports, the heavy lifter will be a "stacked" or "in line" configuration (one stage atop another) and not a "side-mounted" configuration as is currently used to launch the space shuttle. The first stage will be a modified shuttle external tank with rocket engines mounted underneath. The first configuration will use 6 existing shuttle (SSME Block II) engines.
A growth version for lifting heavier cargos will use three RS-68 engines. The RS-68, manufactured by Boeing, are currently used in its Delta IV family of launch vehicles. Additional engines would be clustered for launching heavier loads such as those needed for Mars missions.
Article comments
1 - Tan The Man
Wow. Our future in space looks bright.
2 - gonzo marx
part of me is hopeful from these decision
part of me thinks it is more about the whole lobby/money thing and less about getting the job done
still no reason for choosing the Boeing designs over the Delta Clipper have ever been made public
a damn shame too...the Delta Clipper was truly a breakthru in the approach to the problem
but what the fuck do i know, eh?
Excelsior!
3 - Bennett
Yeah Tan, I can't wait to see a five stage SRB take off (hey, I did one of those with Estes engines and a carpet core tube!).
In fact, I've waited long enough. The wife and I will have to check out a shuttle launch in person. After all, they'll only be around until 2010.
It would be nice if they launch one in early February.
Early February in Vermont is wicked cold.
4 - Bennett
Gonzo - I agree, but NASA has got to pick a direction and go for it. Personally, the t/Space system of a high altitude air launch makes more sense than ANY ground based launch, short of a long track catapult as in "Mistress".
We'll see how much of the burden private industry can shoulder. If the cost/delivery is right, go private.
5 - gonzo marx
i hear ya...we will see how it goes, and keep our tentacles crossed...
on a lighter note, enjoy the week end holiday
slaughter and bar-b-q a fatted calf for me, work is closed down for the week, and wife is still in italy...so a long week of chores at the Round House in store for me
..:::bows, hand over fist:::..
Excelsior!
6 - Victor Plenty
I'm glad we're making something Mars-capable right from the design stage. I know many people are all jazzed up about the moon, but I suspect it will keep looking less and less attractive as we learn more about the lunar surface.
When more people finally wake up to the superior opportunities available on Mars, it would be good to have launcher designs already capable of getting us there.