First Mention of SRB "Stick"

I've been trying to reconstruct the history of the SRB in-line "Stick"
that evolved into Ares I. The first mention of it that I could find in
this group was here, on February 22, 2004.

"http://groups.google.com/group/sci.space.policy/msg/d8d5ca1cbc76d245?hl=en&"

This referred to a presentation made at the 2004 Space Shuttle Life
Extension Program Summit in Galveston, Texas.

I would like to know if any earlier discussion of this concept occurred
here or in any other on-line group.

I've read the Lockheed Martin Advanced Transportation Systems Studies
report prepared in 1993 that defined a similar concept. MSFC ran that
study, so the "Stick" idea was on the backburner within NASA hallways
for a decade at least. My current understanding is that it broke free
again in 2003, after Columbia's loss, when it was championed by the
Astronaut Office in the wake of the failed OSP studies. Someone,
perhaps ATK, did some back of the envelope work on the idea and
presented both within NASA and to some key outsiders, including then
APL head Michael Griffin.

President Bush made his VSE announcement in January 2004.

As near as I can tell, this February 2004 presentation was the first
mention of the Stick available to the general public. In April 2004
Mike Kahn of ATK presented a Space Congress paper that showed the
concept in more detail, with a four-segment SRB topped by a new upper
stage. That launcher was projected to be able to lift 16-18 tonnes to
LEO with a liquid hydrogen upper stage, enough to lift either cargo or
a crewed vehicle.

At some point, perhaps in late 2004 or early 2005, former NASA
astronaut Scott Horowitz hired on with ATK and began making
presentations about the in-line SRB rocket across the nation, including
before Congressional committies. His presentations focused on the
proven flight history of the SRBs and on the potential cost-savings
provided by using an already-developed 1,500 tonne thrust rocket motor.
Horowitz talked about reviving NASA's J-2S engine for the upper stage.
He also described an alternative kerosene-fueled upper stage version
loaded with 113 tonnes of propellant that would be able to put 13
tonnes into LEO.

Griffin's ESAS study was initiated shortly after he became NASA
Administrator in April 2005. ESAS finally did a master trade of
EELV-derived versus Shuttle-derived versus clean sheet launcher
designs. Why that didn't happen earlier is a bit puzzling. Stick, of
course, was part of the ESAS mix. It came out on top, although defined
as a four-segment SRB topped by an SSME-powered upper stage. The
current five-segment with J-2X design was selected in January 2006.

- Ed Kyle