CEV "Stick booster" to use SLC 40 launch site?

Herb Schaltegger wrote:
On Mon, 1 Aug 2005 14:24:16 -0500, Derek Lyons wrote
(in article ):

The real problem however is the VAB - whose interior cannot be swapped
out easily. Can it be made generic?

/me Ponders a three part solution, custom MLP + custom MST + a
swappable VAB 'liner'. The last two might be combined into one with
the VAB interfaces (in each bay) made 'generic'.

Along those lines, how much of the VAB is actually in use right now?
Even for Saturn-Apollo, all four of them were not fitted out, correct?
Might a particular bay or bays be devoted to each of the specific
vehicles as part of the new spacecraft/launcher architecture?


Two VAB bays are outfitted for shuttle stacking.
One additional VAB bay (on the west side) is set
up to serve as a "storm shelter" where stacked
or partially stacked vehicles can be temporarily
stored. External Tanks are, or at least were,
stored in the upper reaches of the place in
areas that are not used for the shorter than
Saturn Space Shuttle.

For Apollo, three bays were fitted out. One of
them was only used a couple of times.

- Ed Kyle

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 18:04:48 -0500, "gb"
wrote:

IF NASA finalizes the decision to use a modified Shuttle solid booster (24
ton requirement) for the Crew Exploration Vehicle, or CEV -- instead of a
derivative of the current Atlas V or Delta 4 boosters -- would SLC40 be the
logical launch facility to "retrofit" for such launches?

No, evidently they plan to design and build a new Mobile Launch
Platform for LC-39 that would serve both Stick and the new Heavy Lift
SDLV.

Since I have not been near SLC 40/41 since 1996 ... I do not believe that
the four-bay Vertical Integration Building (VIB) at the south end of the ITL
complex -- was used for Atlas V retrofit. Could the VIB be usable for
"stick" launch assembly?

I don't think its tall enough for a Stick.

Brian

"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
...

"Greg D. Moore (Strider)" wrote in
message
nk.net...
Not if you do it right. Make the pads generic, make the MLPs specific.

Keep at least 3 MLPs, perhaps build a 4th.

This would seem to be the way to go. Since "the stick" would be so much
smaller than the heavy cargo lifter, it seems like you'd want to at least
attempt to keep as much of the stick's specific hardware on the MLP.

Actually I'd recommend keeping the MLP and pad "generic."

Let the Stick use the same hole on the MLP as a full SHLDV would use.

"Derek Lyons" wrote in message
...
"Jeff Findley" wrote:


"Greg D. Moore (Strider)" wrote in
message
ink.net...
Not if you do it right. Make the pads generic, make the MLPs specific.

Keep at least 3 MLPs, perhaps build a 4th.

This would seem to be the way to go. Since "the stick" would be so much
smaller than the heavy cargo lifter, it seems like you'd want to at least
attempt to keep as much of the stick's specific hardware on the MLP.

While 'specific' MLP's and MST's (mobile service towers) are the way
to go at first blush - it seems to me that it can get expensive (both
in aquisition and maintenance) fairly quickly.

The real problem however is the VAB - whose interior cannot be swapped
out easily. Can it be made generic?

/me Ponders a three part solution, custom MLP + custom MST + a
swappable VAB 'liner'. The last two might be combined into one with
the VAB interfaces (in each bay) made 'generic'.

Again really all you need is one set of work platforms that can reach the
top of the Stick and use that to service the 2nd stage and the CEV.

Everything else you keep planeform with where an SRB for the HL vehicle
would go.



D.
--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.

-Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.
Oct 5th, 2004 JDL

In article , Brian Thorn
wrote:

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 18:04:48 -0500, "gb"
wrote:

IF NASA finalizes the decision to use a modified Shuttle solid booster (24
ton requirement) for the Crew Exploration Vehicle, or CEV -- instead of a
derivative of the current Atlas V or Delta 4 boosters -- would SLC40 be the
logical launch facility to "retrofit" for such launches?

No, evidently they plan to design and build a new Mobile Launch
Platform for LC-39 that would serve both Stick and the new Heavy Lift
SDLV.

Since I have not been near SLC 40/41 since 1996 ... I do not believe that
the four-bay Vertical Integration Building (VIB) at the south end of the ITL
complex -- was used for Atlas V retrofit. Could the VIB be usable for
"stick" launch assembly?

I don't think its tall enough for a Stick...

Just as a slightly-related aside, speaking of "the Stick"...did anyone
else here check out the new concept art for the proposed CEV launch
vehicles, take a look at the single-SRB-mounted concept and think "whoa,
now that's the ****in' mother of all bottle rockets!"?

I'm also wondering how many KSC/Thikol engineers are checking out that
concept and being transported back to their youth, and their old Estes
solid rocket kits.

--
"All over, people changing their votes,
along with their overcoats;
if Adolf Hitler flew in today,
they'd send a limousine anyway!" --the clash.
__________________________________________________ _________________
Mike Flugennock, flugennock at sinkers dot org
Mike Flugennock's Mikey'zine, dubya dubya dubya dot sinkers dot org

Mike Flugennock wrote:

Just as a slightly-related aside, speaking of "the Stick"...did anyone
else here check out the new concept art for the proposed CEV launch
vehicles, take a look at the single-SRB-mounted concept and think "whoa,
now that's the ****in' mother of all bottle rockets!"?

I'm also wondering how many KSC/Thikol engineers are checking out that
concept and being transported back to their youth, and their old Estes
solid rocket kits.



It bears an uncanny resemblence to the core stage of a Russian Soyuz
rocket with the upper stage and spacecraft attached:
http://www.marscenter.it/images/rocket.jpg
http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/model...d%20Stage.html

Pat

On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 12:03:36 -0500, Pat Flannery
wrote:

It bears an uncanny resemblence to the core stage of a Russian Soyuz
rocket with the upper stage and spacecraft attached:
http://www.marscenter.it/images/rocket.jpg
http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/model...d%20Stage.html

I knew it reminded me of something!