Re: lifting body / winged CEV


Steve wrote:
> So I don't know if this is the right group but whatever.
>
> So I've been reading speculation on the CEV's shape, and I got to
> wondering. If it where a winged or lifting body design, how would
you
> attach a LEM? I would imagine that the configuration would be along
the
> lines of Apollo, with some type of SM in the back, with the lunar
> module in the front. If you were to attach it to some kind of
docking
> port on the nose of the CEV, wouldn't the presence of the docking
> hardware make reentry difficult? ( like seams and stuff). And if you
> didn't attack the LEM to the nose, where would you put it, if you
> stuck it on top, would it get torqued off or something?

The configuration is To Be Determined right now.
At present, contractors are preparing to compete
for a chance to build the boilerplate Crew Exploration
Vehicle (CEV) component. The "Lunar Surface Access
Module" (LSAM) and "Earth Departure Stage" (EDS) would
be developed for "Spiral 2" of the Constellation
Program. Spiral 2 won't happen for years, and then
only if some future Administration/Congress approves
the funding.

Among the many unknowns is what the CEV Launch Vehicle
(CEVLV) is going to be. If CEVLV is tailored for Low
Earth Orbit (LEO) CEV missions (Spiral 1 requirement),
then if seems likely that a Spiral 2 CEV would be
launched separately from the LSAM/EDS components, to
perform an Earth Orbit Rendezvous type mission. EDS/LSAM
could be launched in pieces by several existing "Heavy"
boosters, or all at once by one really big new launch
vehicle. The new NASA administrator is said to favor
the latter approach, but the final decision will all
come down to cost and funding.

For an overview, read Attachment J-1 at the following link.
"http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/sol.cgi?acqid=113638";

- Ed Kyle

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: What is the Crew Exploration Vehicle supposed to be?
    ... That's partly because the CEV is not yet very well defined. ... not a *launch vehicle*. ... >passenger transport and heavy cargo. ... A launch vehicle which is reliable enough ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Death Sentence for the Hubble?
    ... to your vehicle because it's cheaper. ... We have to show investors through many baby steps that as launch costs drop, ... NASA may want to keep ...
    (sci.astro)
  • Re: Death Sentence for the Hubble?
    ... to your vehicle because it's cheaper. ... We have to show investors through many baby steps that as launch costs drop, ... NASA may want to keep ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: FAA Blue Origin environmental assessment
    ... "Because Blue Origen's launch vehicle would ascend and descend ... RLVs carrying space flight participants on suborbital, ... The propulsion module ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: ...Nasa/Griffin LYING about Public Support for Moon/Mars Missions!
    ... of the vehicle, could provide benefits if done carefully. ... 10x the cost of an aircraft, and 5,000x the price of a container ship. ... launches, $10 million cost per launch for the vehicle. ... to orbit at a cost of $7.5 billion. ...
    (sci.space.policy)