Re: Space Access Update #112 9/19/05

JRS: In article <1129233257.282240.200720@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
, dated Thu, 13 Oct 2005 12:54:17, seen in news:sci.space.policy, Len
<len@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> posted :
>
>One approach to shortening the schedule and reducing
>the funding requirements drastically--while staying
>on the basic path--might be
> ...


ISTM that, given a desire to develop some form of cheap access to space,
one should consider what useful forms of access there might be. That
means what? and where to? and reusable/one-shot?

The vehicle should be expendable, at least like pre-production versions
of small military aircraft should be; loss-of-vehicle is a setback but
not a disaster. But it should probably be reusable too.

"Where to" is easy enough : sufficiently-stable LEO starts at XXX km
(for manned LEO, reaching a Station and returning is wanted). GEO is
appreciably harder, escape more so; discount them initially.

"What" classifies as instruments, cargo (to somewhere), communications,
and personnel.

The correct number of crew for launch or re-entry is zero. Personnel
should be passengers. They can have authority over their transport, but
it should be that of a back-seater in a chauffeured limousine - policy
only, not driving.

For initial cheap personnel access, the correct number of passengers is
probably one, with enough supplies for a few days in a Station; or two,
with enough supplies for up & down; or one with associated cargo.

The mass needed for that seems enough for useful cargo, and more than
enough for some instrument/comms applications.

It could be useful to have an ISS-approved tug design : it is launched
attached to cargo into a near-ISS orbit (i.e. one guaranteed not to
endanger ISS if the tug fails to start) and will take the cargo to
eventual rendezvous with an ISS arm - maybe solar-electric drive.

--
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