On Jan 6, 3:02*am, Pat Flannery wrote:
...

I can't for the life of me figure out why Robert Clark is constantly
coming up with ideas for so radically modifying something that already
exists that it effectively becomes a entirely different spacecraft, but
without the advantages that a whole new design would offer.

Pat

There are several other options that could be used at relatively low
cost. I still believe though retrofitting already existing but unused
airframes would be much cheaper.
For instance on another forum someone suggested using the Russian
Burans instead. Likewise you could use the Shuttle Enterprise. This
didn't have engines or heat shield, but you would need to use
different engines anyway, and for the first stage use you could use
much more lightweight and maintenance-free thermal protection.
The Russian Burans have been ill treated since the cancellation of
that program. The Buran that made the orbital flight was destroyed in
a hangar collapse in 2002. The Buran that was used only for subsonic
flight tests had been attempted to be sold over the internet for $6
million - with no takers. According to the Wikipedia page on it, it
currently resides at a German museum:

OK-GLI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK-GLI

There are several other Burans that were only partially completed
that also could be used:

Buran program.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttle...Current_status

According to this video report, there are some Russian and American
scientists who want to revive the Buran, with the American shuttle
being retired:

Soviet space shuttle could bail out NASA.
"The Soviet-era Buran space programme, mothballed 20 years ago, may be
revived. With NASA about to retire its aging fleet of space shuttles,
there is a pressing need for viable space transport."
Published 15 November, 2008, 09:44
http://rt.com/Best_Videos/2008-11-15...ml?full story

Additionally other airframes intended for supersonic speed could also
be used. These would be for example supersonic fighters or bombers, or
passenger craft such as the Concorde with delta-shaped wings. DC-9's
or Boeing or Airbus type jets would not be suitable because the wings
are designed for subsonic flight. Airframes with short-stubby wings
such as the hypersonic, X-15 and X-34 would also work.

See the examples of delta-winged craft he

Delta wing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_wing

Then mothballed versions of use probably could be purchased at low
cost. The jet engines would be removed and replaced with rocket
engines. With the rocket propellant contained only in the wing tanks,
they could probably reach sufficient delta-V for suborbital space
tourism or hypersonic transport. And if most of the fuselage volume
previously used for cargo, payload, or bomb bays, was also used now to
hold propellant, it is *possible* these could become fully orbital
vehicles. If similar sized craft were made of all-composite
construction they almost certainly could become fully orbital,
reusable, SSTO's.


Bob Clark