Re: Titan express

From: Henry Spencer (henry_at_spsystems.net)
Date: 07/05/04 

Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2004 20:54:51 GMT

In article <vbjor1-b3v.ln1@lungold.cox-internet.com>,
Phil Fraering <pgf@AUTO> wrote:
>>>How would major new technology help getting there faster?
>>Better propulsion is what I was thinking of...
>
>There's another solution possible: using a cheaper-per-pound launch
>vehicle (eg. using a Proton for what would normally be a Delta-II
>class payload) would allow a faster trajectory with the same weight
>spacecraft, just using old-fashioned chemical upper stages.

Yes, *unless* you are already at the top end of available launchers...
which I rather expect such a mission would be (although I haven't done the
numbers to verify it). If you're already on an Atlas V Heavy, switching
to a Proton isn't going to do much good.

The only way to up the ante with chemical rockets at that point is orbital
assembly. (Mind you, there *was* a proposal to do orbital assembly of a
three-stage IUS to launch Cassini...) 

-- 
"Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend."    |   Henry Spencer
                                -- George Herbert       | henry@spsystems.net