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

"Dr John Stockton" <jrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:9maT1cISK9UDFwDi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 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.

I would add to this that the design should be capable of fast
prototyping and incremental development. Ideally this should be how one
accommodates vehicle loss or damage, not by building three identical
prototypes.

> "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.

With cheap LEO, LEO property built from earthly resources can be similar
in cost to beach front property, not a market stretch. There is a huge
and sufficient market there without even going further a field. More
than adequate to start the ball rolling.

> "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.

I would expect the space transport to require an unmanned pure cargo
operating capacity. I would also think it desirable that a passenger
with a laptop could link directly into the same space transport systems
as a ground controller, so to speak.

> 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.

I might stretch that to two passengers, some people do not like being
alone, especially if overwhelmed, injured, frail, young, etcetera. I
tend to use this to define the minimum optimal payload size for a
general purpose space transport.

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

100kg can carry enough Vectran for a habitat pressure vessel in the
500m^3 range. Airlocks, windows, extra shells, furnishings, etcetera,
would have to come up separately. Once there is a useful hanger space
with a large airlock, kitset assembly becomes much easier, obviously
this does not just apply to habitat modules.

> 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.

Even such a low ISP tug would be very useful.

Pete.


.

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