Re: the "Spencer Launcher"


Henry Spencer wrote:
> In article <1132929835.298284.58100@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> Will McLean <mclean1382@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> >> I thought about that, but I don't see it. The Stick requires an all-new
> >> second stage, developed essentially from scratch...
> >
> >Yet structurally, the Stick second stage is essentially a shortened
> >Delta IV with a different engine.
>
> Except that it's completely different -- different diameter, different
> length, different engine, different environment. Oh yes, and man-rating
> Delta IV would be oh-so-hard but the Stick second stage will be easy.
> Uh huh.
>

It doesn't need to be a different diameter. A number of Stick designs
have quoted the same diameter as the Delta IV core for the upper stage.

> >> >...significantly more changes than the NASA SDHLV baseline. ATK
> >> >was estimating that as a ten year job, given adequate funding.
> >> ATK is hardly a disinterested source, since they've been lobbying really
> >> hard for the Stick for quite a while now.
> >
> >Sure. Also their heavy lift versions, also using their engines. You
> >would expect their bias, when decribing any SDHLV, to be to
> >underestimate development time, not the reverse.
>
> Almost everyone involved -- except Congress -- benefits from longer
> development, not shorter.
>

And the taxpayers. But nobody benefits from *admitting* that
development will be longer for their design.


> >"A develop only one launcher" strategy would be to their advantage, if
> >the one launcher was some sort of SDHLV. They'd sell four motors rather
> >than three per lunar mission.
>
> But they'd only get paid for one lot of development. Producing 1/3 more
> motors is not that much more lucrative.
> --


Is it plausible that ATK expects that they will be paid to develop the
complete vehicle? Have they ever gotten that sort of contract?


Will McLean

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: GRIFFINS DRIVE FOR SHUTTLE-DERIVED
    ... > launch vehicle for manned CEV ... Includes new LH2 second stage powered ... engine out capability needed due to man rating. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Full Falcon 1.3 launch video up
    ... start the seperation procedure and ignite the second stage after an x ... want to shut down in a more controlled fashion. ... You would obviously first send a control signal to the liquid engine to shut ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Briefing on SRB based CEV at NPS with Scott Horowitz
    ... >> thrust is not all that important. ... a stage optimized for TLI does not have ... the thrust to be a second stage, while something with enough thrust to be ... a second stage has excessive engine and structure mass for the TLI role. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: the "Spencer Launcher"
    ... >> second stage, developed essentially from scratch... ... length, different engine, different environment. ... >>>...significantly more changes than the NASA SDHLV baseline. ... motors is not that much more lucrative. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Stick Second Stage and Delta IV
    ... SRB/SSME "Stick" vehicle has a second stage ... diameter of the Delta IV Common Booster ...
    (sci.space.policy)