Replacements for Orion?

Dream Chaser (from SpaceDev)
Dragon from SpaceX
What else?

On 4/5/2010 3:29 AM, Alan Erskine wrote:
Dream Chaser (from SpaceDev)
Dragon from SpaceX
What else?

Comrade! Soyuz!
The "Little Spacecraft That Could"!
....and a launch site for it could be conveniently close to KSC:
http://www.reuters.com/article/scien...47851920080917

Patsky

"Pat Flannery" wrote in message
dakotatelephone...
On 4/5/2010 3:29 AM, Alan Erskine wrote:
Dream Chaser (from SpaceDev)
Dragon from SpaceX
What else?

Comrade! Soyuz!
The "Little Spacecraft That Could"!
...and a launch site for it could be conveniently close to KSC:
http://www.reuters.com/article/scien...47851920080917

Patsky



Comrade Flannery (been so long since I used the word "comrade"!).....

You also forget the Shenzhou from China (our close friends in the field of
technology development). For that, you are to be sent to the gooooolag (I
can't even spell like a Communist!) where you will be used for biological
and experiments (no sexual experiments; I've reserved that privilege..
pleasure.... I mean 'punishment' for myself).

However, Soyuz is hardly a practical replacement for Orion (limited payload;
limited crew size [not just crew quantity; there is actually a very limited
height range for crews on Soyuz) and really can't be used for Lunar or
Martian flights.

Mine you, I'm still a fan of the Big Gemini concept - light enough to use a
Delta IV Heavy for ISS missions (as is Orion) and could carry six people to
the Moon.

On 4/5/2010 4:12 AM, Alan Erskine wrote:

However, Soyuz is hardly a practical replacement for Orion (limited
payload; limited crew size [not just crew quantity; there is actually a
very limited height range for crews on Soyuz) and really can't be used
for Lunar or Martian flights.

The Russians have also designed something a lot closer to Orion in
capabilities: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/acts.html
As usual they are shy of funding to actually build it though.

Pat

"Alan Erskine" wrote in message
...
Dream Chaser (from SpaceDev)
Dragon from SpaceX
What else?

Orion scaled back to LEO operations on a commercial launch vehicle (Atlas V
or Delta IV).

Jeff
--
"Take heart amid the deepening gloom
that your dog is finally getting enough cheese" - Deteriorata - National
Lampoon

"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
...

"Alan Erskine" wrote in message
...
Dream Chaser (from SpaceDev)
Dragon from SpaceX
What else?

Orion scaled back to LEO operations on a commercial launch vehicle (Atlas
V or Delta IV).


That's was the original plan; use D-IV-H for Orion. What kind of mentality
decided to develop an entirely new booster for Orion anyway? Bloody
ridiculous idea.

"Alan Erskine" wrote in message
...

"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
...

"Alan Erskine" wrote in message
...
Dream Chaser (from SpaceDev)
Dragon from SpaceX
What else?

Orion scaled back to LEO operations on a commercial launch vehicle (Atlas
V or Delta IV).


That's was the original plan; use D-IV-H for Orion. What kind of
mentality decided to develop an entirely new booster for Orion anyway?
Bloody ridiculous idea.

That's easy: former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin. It was his pet design
from the beginning and he made it clear to his underlings what the "right"
decision was when it came to launch vehicles. Thanks Mike, NOT! :-P

Jeff
--
"Take heart amid the deepening gloom
that your dog is finally getting enough cheese" - Deteriorata - National
Lampoon

On Apr 5, 5:25�pm, "Jeff Findley" wrote:
"Alan Erskine" wrote in message

...







"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
...

"Alan Erskine" wrote in message
...
Dream Chaser (from SpaceDev)
Dragon from SpaceX
What else?

Orion scaled back to LEO operations on a commercial launch vehicle (Atlas
V or Delta IV).

That's was the original plan; use D-IV-H for Orion. �What kind of
mentality decided to develop an entirely new booster for Orion anyway?
Bloody ridiculous idea.

That's easy: �former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin. �It was his pet design
from the beginning and he made it clear to his underlings what the "right"
decision was when it came to launch vehicles. �Thanks Mike, NOT! �:-P

Jeff
--
"Take heart amid the deepening gloom
that your dog is finally getting enough cheese" - Deteriorata - National
Lampoon- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

no doubt china can build a new manned launcher for far cheaper than
any other source.

why produce anythingf domestically when we can buy it for pennies on a
dollar from china

wrote:

no doubt china can build a new manned launcher for far cheaper than
any other source.

why produce anythingf domestically when we can buy it for pennies on a
dollar from china

Nah, it'll never take off when you take into account the lead content in the
capsule.


--
Greg Moore
Ask me about lily, an RPI based CMC.

On 4/5/2010 1:25 PM, Jeff Findley wrote:
That's was the original plan; use D-IV-H for Orion. What kind of
mentality decided to develop an entirely new booster for Orion anyway?
Bloody ridiculous idea.

That's easy: former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin. It was his pet design
from the beginning and he made it clear to his underlings what the "right"
decision was when it came to launch vehicles. Thanks Mike, NOT! :-P

Spread the wealth...first you have Delta IV and Atlas V meeting the same
military requirement, now it's time to bring in ATK with a third design
for civilian use.
One too many pigs in the pork barrel.

Pat