Secret plan to privatize shuttle; now, to a next-generation shuttle.

On Dec 27 2011, 12:33*pm, Robert Clark
wrote:
Next Gen Shuttle-Capable vehicle interest as secret effort to save
orbiters ends.
December 19th, 2011 by Chris Berginhttp://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/12/next-gen-shuttle-vehicle-secre...

Atlantis Journal – Epilogue.
by MLD on Dec.19, 2011, under Commercial Space, Space Exploration,
Space Policy, Space Shuttle Programhttp://www.marylynnedittmar.com/?p=1303

*These articles report on a plan to privatize the shuttles for
commercial satellite launches only. Considering the costs of shuttle
launches it might seem a non-starter. But these articles state those
intending to finance the plan believed they could make a business case
for profitability.
*...

For the next generation shuttle the X-33 might fit the bill. For this
purpose you would remove the problematical propellant tanks. The X-33
was about 80% built before the program was cancelled because of
problems with the composite tanks. The X-33 weighed 28,600 kg dry:

X-33.
http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/x33.htm

The X-33's twin liquid hydrogen tanks had a weight of 4,600 pounds
each, and the liquid oxygen tank a weight of 6,000 pounds, for total
of 15,200 pounds, 6,900 kg, for the tanks:

Marshall Space Flight Center
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
Sept. 28, 1999
X-33 Program in the Midst of Final Testing and Validation of Key
Components.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~carlkop/x33.html

Then the X-33 without the tanks might weight 22,000 kg. This is about
60,000 kg lighter than the original shuttle orbiter, which could go to
extra payload. This would bring the payload of the shuttle system to
the range of 85,000 kg.
I've seen conflicting reports on how well the X-33 has been preserved.
But if needed to build a new one, then according to this article from
1998 a new one could be built for $360 million in 1998 dollars:

Adventure Star.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchi...0-%203141.html

Note that the aerospike engines and metallic shingle TPS were
proceeding well. It was the composite propellant tanks that caused the
most difficulty which wouldn't be needed in this application:

Lockheed Secret Projects: Inside the Skunk Works.
By Dennis R. Jenkins
http://books.google.com/books?id=DUkl5bH6k6EC&lpg=P
A95&dq=x-33%20venturestar&lr=&pg=PA106#v=onepage&q&f=true


Bob Clark

Robert Clark wrote:
For the next generation shuttle the X-33 might fit the bill. For this
purpose you would remove the problematical propellant tanks. The X-33
was about 80% built before the program was cancelled because of
problems with the composite tanks. The X-33 weighed 28,600 kg dry:

I'm not clear on what you are proposing here Bob. Are you proposing launching
an X33 type vehicle minus orbital insertion propulsion atop an expendable or
one of its heavy derivatives?

Dave

(note redacted newsgroups)