Re: Hey ! What Happened to INFLATABLE Space Modules ???

B1ackwater wrote:
On Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:10:58 -0500, kT <cosmic@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

B1ackwater wrote:
On Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:24:56 -0500, kT <cosmic@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

B1ackwater wrote:

On Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:56:49 -0500, kT <cosmic@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

B1ackwater wrote:

OK ... what ever happened with the idea of INFLATABLE modules
Another armchair space activist in America speaks his mind.
Just askin' a question.

What's the matter ... didn't want to hear that particular
money-saving corruption-slashing question ... ???
Not a problem. Usually, when I have a question, I ask the search bar. But to each his own, this is America, we do have freedoms here still.

For instance, when I type 'inflatable space modules' into the search bar, the first link is for Transhab, and many of the next dozen or so are for Bigelow Aerospace :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigelow_Aerospace
Yea ... they've got one small uninhabited inflata-something
in orbit right now. Great ... but why no more practical apps ?
Why no enthusiasm ? You can launch big things in compact form
so you don't NEED twelve-figure projects like the STS. The
reaction from governments and govt-contractors - a big yawn.
No, on the contrary, everybody is enthusiastic and interested in Mr. Big and his big bags. However, Mr. Big grossly underestimated his need for launch services to his big bags, and his need for a more advanced launch vehicle, which he himself will have to develop.

So much for "enthusiasm" ... especially from the abovementioned
politicians and govt contractors ..........

So everybody is waiting around for either Mr. Big himself to man rate the Atlas V, design and build a newer better launch vehicle (which I myself have done) create a hybrid (Atlas V core with a SpaceX upper stage for instance) or just wait for Elon Musk to finish developing his Falcon and Dragon module.

Hmmm ... what's the ratio of launch vehicles designed -vs-
launch vehicles actually put into service ?

100 to 1 I guess. Kind of like the 100/10/1 rule.

So, it's a waiting game. What are you doing while you are waiting?

I designed a reusable launch vehicle and submitted a COTS proposal.

Good for you. However I think the bloom is kinda off
'reusables' right now.

Now get this, what I designed was merely a demonstrator. I took the lightweight nosecone aeroshield, that you need for most of the flight anyways, and just figured out a way to use it as a cargo containing minimal reentry vehicle for the space shuttle main engine. In other words, you dock to the space station with the entire vehicle, nosecone core cryogenic tankage and engine, and then use astronauts and robotic arms to dismount and store the engine in the nosecone, for a simple water landing reentry back to earth, leaving a ton of hardware and residual fuel in space, hardware that you need to live ... in space!

I finessed the entire thing. My conscience is totally clear on this.

So I'll be docking to Bigelow's modules and we'll have huge star trek cruisers in very little time, serviced by SpaceX minimal spacecraft.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Hey ! What Happened to INFLATABLE Space Modules ???
    ... Another armchair space activist in America speaks his mind. ... Big grossly underestimated his need for launch services to his big bags, and his need for a more advanced launch vehicle, which he himself will have to develop. ... So everybody is waiting around for either Mr. ... Big himself to man rate the Atlas V, design and build a newer better launch vehicle create a hybrid or just wait for Elon Musk to finish developing his Falcon and Dragon module. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Hey ! What Happened to INFLATABLE Space Modules ???
    ... Another armchair space activist in America speaks his mind. ... Big himself to man rate the Atlas V, design and ... I designed a reusable launch vehicle and submitted a COTS proposal. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • NASAs Exploration Systems Progress Report - May 18, 2006
    ... NASA has chosen the RS-68 engine to power the core stage of the ... agency's heavy lift cargo launch vehicle intended to carry large ... Recent studies examining life-cycle cost showed the RS-68 is best ... NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington. ...
    (sci.space.news)
  • NASA Exploration Systems Progress Report - July 27, 2006
    ... NASA EXPLORATION SYSTEMS PROGRESS REPORT ... completed an early step in developing the upper-stage rocket engine ... that will be used in both the Ares I crew launch vehicle and the Ares ... requirements for use in designing the first new spacesuit for use on ...
    (sci.space.news)
  • Re: SSME vs. J2 / RS-68
    ... However, it seems to be for the whole launch vehicle, not just ... the engine. ...
    (sci.space.history)