Re: USAF Heavy Lifter?
- From: Damon Hill <damonunoseisuno@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2005 15:16:15 -0500
"Tom Cuddihy" <tom.cuddihy@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:1128107055.680465.110910@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
>
> Damon Hill wrote:
>> Michael Gallagher <mikejoe7g@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in
>> news:4loqj1h3h3lfh7642jjmnalk4ljfgln7qs@xxxxxxx:
>>
>> > I found the March SPACEFLIGHT and there was a brief item in there
>> > saying NASA and the US Airforce would both have to submit new plans
>> > for heavy lifters. Obvioulsy, the shuttle-derived boosters for
>> > Constellation are NASA's boosters. Any word on what the Air Force
>> > wants to do? Just curious.
>>
>> EELV-derived, I would imagine. The existing Heavy versions
>> have good upgrade potential without requiring major changes
>> to the launch facilities.
>>
>> Question is, what heavy payloads would the Air Force want to
>> launch that existing Delta IV Heavy vehicle can't already
>> handle? NASA's obviously made their choice, and there's no
>> indication of what commercial payloads would need beyond
>> bigger comsats.
>
> Most likely the eventual goal will be SHF and EHF based 802.16 links
> from small antennas. That will require even bigger antennas on orbit.
> we're talking 100 feet across or more. Any way you cut it those are
> going to require BIG boosters to get there.
What payload weights are we talking about then? I don't think
volume is a problem, but aside from the big antennas (which are
highly foldable and reasonably light weight for their size), I
wonder what the power requirements are? That'll determine PV array
size/weight and transmitter/battery weights. Ion propulsion for
station keeping is already standard and there'll be lots of power
with those big PV arrays, enough that the ion thrusters might even
handle GTO to GEO insertion.
Military comsats are probably going to be heavier because they'll
have some degree of hardening against possible hostile countermeasures,
short of actual armor plating.
The EELVs can be fairly promptly upgraded with larger upper stages with
more powerful engines (MB-60 has apparently just been tested at full
power and the RL60 appears to be waiting for a full production
go-ahead). Other changes would require more development, but
LockMart/Boeing would be happy to provide the services if demanded.
Will SpaceX be able to catch up in time to offer their services?
--Damon
.
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