|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Vision of the three Rs: Regular, Reliable and Reusable
What if a 'vision for space exploitation' were to replace W's VSE. It is the first step to LEO that requires the giant leap. I don't know how to set a goal like, 'to deliver a thousand tons per year into orbit, with a price ceiling of $1K/Kg' , and make it sound as inspiring as 'landing a man on the moon', but it would be more practical; serving as a robust foundation for exploration, science and possible commertial ventures. What would be the best way to accomplish this? A half dozen, ten ton payload, frequent flyer flybacks, or a couple of heavys with a two month turnaround? Anyone up for this game of 'IF', as in 'what if the first goal is to establish the means'? The parallel goal would be to establish demand, but that's another subject. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Vision of the three Rs: Regular, Reliable and Reusable
In article . com,
"Totorkon" wrote: What would be the best way to accomplish this? A half dozen, ten ton payload, frequent flyer flybacks, or a couple of heavys with a two month turnaround? Set up a water depot in LEO, and guarantee to purchase at least 1000 tons/year from the lowest bidder to actually deliver, but with a price cap set initially just barely within reach of current launchers. Then lower the price cap each year for ten years, to drive continual progress. The parallel goal would be to establish demand, but that's another subject. Seems like the same subject to me. Best, - Joe |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Vision of the three Rs: Regular, Reliable and Reusable
On Feb 15, 7:53 pm, Joe Strout wrote:
In article . com, "Totorkon" wrote: What would be the best way to accomplish this? A half dozen, ten ton payload, frequent flyer flybacks, or a couple of heavys with a two month turnaround? Set up a water depot in LEO, and guarantee to purchase at least 1000 tons/year from the lowest bidder to actually deliver, but with a price cap set initially just barely within reach of current launchers. Then lower the price cap each year for ten years, to drive continual progress. The parallel goal would be to establish demand, but that's another subject. Seems like the same subject to me. Best, - Joe Good idea, atleast for that part of the Kton that other projects can't be found for or sold commertially. Water is stable and an ideal asorber for cosmic rays until it is electrolysed for propulsion. Still it's a lot less 'romantic' than space tourism or 'assemblable space telescopes' or life science 'islands'. But for topping off the tonnage, I can't think of anything better. Thanks. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Vision of the three Rs: Regular, Reliable and Reusable
In article .com,
"Totorkon" wrote: Good idea, atleast for that part of the Kton that other projects can't be found for or sold commertially. Water is stable and an ideal asorber for cosmic rays until it is electrolysed for propulsion. Still it's a lot less 'romantic' than space tourism or 'assemblable space telescopes' or life science 'islands'. But for topping off the tonnage, I can't think of anything better. Thanks. Yes, water has a lot of really important uses in space: shielding, fuel, oxygen for breathing or industry, etc. It's also extremely cheap (on Earth), can withstand any amount of acceleration, and if something goes wrong on launch and it gets sprayed over a large area, nobody cares. These traits would encourage the development of launchers which may not be suitable for human transport (because they're too unreliable, or have too high a G level, or whatever), but that's OK -- bulk cargo will be the vast majority of mass launched for a long time. So if you can launch that cheap, and launch people on a more specialized and expensive launcher, you still come out way ahead. Best, - Joe |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Vision of the three Rs: Regular, Reliable and Reusable
Totorkon wrote:
What if a 'vision for space exploitation' were to replace W's VSE. It is the first step to LEO that requires the giant leap. I don't know how to set a goal like, 'to deliver a thousand tons per year into orbit, with a price ceiling of $1K/Kg' , and make it sound as inspiring as 'landing a man on the moon', but it would be more practical; serving as a robust foundation for exploration, science and possible commertial ventures. What would be the best way to accomplish this? A half dozen, ten ton payload, frequent flyer flybacks, or a couple of heavys with a two month turnaround? Anyone up for this game of 'IF', as in 'what if the first goal is to establish the means'? The parallel goal would be to establish demand, but that's another subject. We're working on it. You might be interested : http://cosmic.lifeform.org/?p=267 The basic plan is to remove the SSME and use the robotic arm to install it into a specially designed nose cone engine reentry carrier, leaving the fully functional tank in orbit, for residual fuel stockpiling and tourist operations. We'll put the tourists to work regardless. -- Get A Free Orbiter Space Flight Simulator : http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/orbit.html |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Vision of the three Rs: Regular, Reliable and Reusable
Joe Strout wrote:
In article . com, "Totorkon" wrote: What would be the best way to accomplish this? A half dozen, ten ton payload, frequent flyer flybacks, or a couple of heavys with a two month turnaround? Set up a water depot in LEO, and guarantee to purchase at least 1000 tons/year from the lowest bidder to actually deliver, but with a price cap set initially just barely within reach of current launchers. Then lower the price cap each year for ten years, to drive continual progress. In other words - pork and handouts. D. -- Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh. -Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings. Oct 5th, 2004 JDL |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Vision of the three Rs: Regular, Reliable and Reusable
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Vision of the three Rs: Regular, Reliable and Reusable
|
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Vision of the three Rs: Regular, Reliable and Reusable
On Feb 16, 2:36 pm, (Rand Simberg)
wrote: On Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:30:31 GMT, in a place far, far away, (Derek Lyons) made the phosphor on my monitor glow in such a way as to indicate that: Joe Strout wrote: In article . com, "Totorkon" wrote: What would be the best way to accomplish this? A half dozen, ten ton payload, frequent flyer flybacks, or a couple of heavys with a two month turnaround? Set up a water depot in LEO, and guarantee to purchase at least 1000 tons/year from the lowest bidder to actually deliver, but with a price cap set initially just barely within reach of current launchers. Then lower the price cap each year for ten years, to drive continual progress. In other words - pork and handouts. No, handouts are when you give the money with no service provided. You know, like X-33? So Rand, who is the big culprit WRT the X-33, NASA or Lock-Mart? |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Vision of the three Rs: Regular, Reliable and Reusable
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
NASA AND ZERO-G AGREE ON REGULAR SHUTTLE RUNWAY USE | Jacques van Oene | Space Shuttle | 0 | April 5th 06 10:38 AM |
Regular photos, not long exposure? | JimmyK | CCD Imaging | 0 | January 24th 06 06:19 PM |
Are regular eyepiece lenses "bad?" | RichA | Amateur Astronomy | 3 | December 12th 04 07:10 AM |
Regular access to 3rd Party FITS Images | Dafydd | UK Astronomy | 1 | January 13th 04 11:18 PM |
Fast, reliable, cheap vs CATS | brianwh | Technology | 2 | August 10th 03 05:28 PM |