Re: Is Crew Launch Vehicle Too Big?


"Brian Thorn" <bthorn64@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8u1bl1dnkp8bdj5kh0nb3bvumjmn3roasb@xxxxxxxxxx
> On Tue, 18 Oct 2005 09:45:39 -0400, "Jeff Findley"
> <jeff.findley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >> Um... the lunar missions *do* use more than one launch...
> >
> >Only to launch the CEV. The only "assembly" done in LEO is docking the
CEV
> >to the lander. That's little different than launching the CSM on top of
the
> >Saturn V then docking with the LEM. This approach does absolutely
nothing
> >to prepare NASA for the harder problem of assembling the hardware for a
Mars
> >mission in LEO.
>
> Hasn't ISS already done that, even if construction were to end today?

I don't think so. There is still a lot of work to do in this area. In
particular, there was too much EVA required on ISS (even after much work was
done to reduce the number of EVA hours required). EVA suits are still
running at such low pressure that they require O2 prebreathe. We really
need advanced EVA suits to better support not only EVA's in LEO, but EVA's
on the moon and Mars as well.

> Why saddle the lunar program was complicated orbital assembly and the
> need for error-free frequent launches, the very thing reviled about
> ISS?

You make my point for me. NASA still has a lot to do in this area.

> >This approach does nothing to help the commercial launch
> >industry (it deprives the industry of a potential market). This approach
is
> >not the best way to open up space.
>
> Agreed, but then again perhaps the best course is for NASA to turn ISS
> completely over to commercial operators (at least, the US segment) and
> leave NASA to the lunar program.

That would fail. The Russians tried to do that with Mir and failed
miserably, so what would be different about ISS? It's core module, likely
the weakest link, is still Russian.

> Again, why saddle the lunar program
> with complications it doesn't need? Meanwhile, ISS resupply and even
> expansion are perfect jobs for the startups.
>
> >This approach is the best way to preserve NASA and contractor jobs
>
> Critics keep saying that, and NASA Watch keeps reporting about about
> huge job cuts at the Cape coming as Shuttle is scaled down to 2
> flights a year... or less.

But that would likely keep enough of a workforce to launch sticks and
SDHLV's for two (baselined) lunar missions per year. Either ISS assembly is
going to stop completely, leaving it in a sad state and the international
partners out in the cold, or CEV and the stick are going to get the shaft.
In today's economic climate, it's extremely unlikely that NASA will get the
budget increase it needs to keep assembling ISS with the shuttle and start
development of the CEV and the stick.

What I want to know is if NASA drops development of the stick, will it have
the budget to keep assembling ISS until 2010 and develop the CEV for launch
on EELV's? I don't despise NASA's plan to have it's own crew vehicle (a
modest capsule) nearly as much as I despise its plans to maintain its own
low flight rate, high overhead cost, launch vehicles.

Jeff
--
Remove icky phrase from email address to get a valid address.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Shuttle replacement on the boards?
    ... NASA is still working on what they want CEV to be. ... CEV will launch on either Atlas 5 or Delta IV, ... neighboring Pad 40 after Titan IV retires, Delta IV by building a pad ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: next shuutle flight fall 2006
    ... > like the shuttle fleet activity is going to consist of a single test ... > launch per year. ... allowable levels and NASA has a probable cause for most of them and solid ... No. ISS "Assembly Complete" is effectively "whatever configuration ISS ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: Shuttle going bye-bye?
    ... >> Ore reconfigure the modules for EELV launch? ... Again this can be handled through an orbital CEV. ... Just strap down your ISS module for launch somehow and blast it into ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: NASA Picks In-Line (Maybe)
    ... the fastest way to fly a CEV is to shrink ... it a bit and launch it on on-the-shelf EELVs. ... If instead of compressed, they slip as NASA ... manned programs are wont to do, ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: How to be immune from budget cuts
    ... If congress and the Administration required NASA to use ... CEV is, after all, still a proposed vehicle. ... This would help the commercial launch ...
    (sci.space.policy)
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