Brian Thorn wrote:
"Michael Gallagher" wrote:
Would it be possible to build a reusable CAPSULE? Obviously, it would be
launched on an ELV and still have a disposable SM, but why not build a
series of capsules that can be used repeatedly and save a little money? The
reusability concept must have some validity to it!

I think it would probably make more sense to go the wings or lifting
body route if reusability were your prime concern. Then you'd have the
SM functions in the same airframe and can reuse the whole shebang.

[This is lousy terminology, by the way, but I will approach that
problem later...]

Why would you not put the 'SM functions' inside the main capsule
if you are designing a capsule for reusability?

The reasons to put them outside are to minimize the re-entry TPS
and recovery systems mass, in a non-reusable system. If you are
going to reuse those systems, the mass multipliers for TPS and
for recovery are the same if you have CM or CM+SM functions in
the one capsule, or if you have CM+SM functions in one winged
or lifting body vehicle.


-george william herbert