Re: Ares Launch support

"Brian Thorn" <bthorn64@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ob7la2l61kob0d6t4jtki8g4ea348ok04r@xxxxxxxxxx
On Tue, 04 Jul 2006 12:44:55 -0400, Snoopyto <snoopyto@xxxxxxx> wrote:

With the annoucement of the Ares vehicles and such, what are is Nasa
anticipating on using for launch facilities. Will they use the the
LC39 complex?

Ares 5 is definitely planned for launch from Complex 39. Its size and
shape is dictated by the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Ares 1, because construction needs to begin before the Shuttle is
retired (i.e., before the Shuttle is done with Complex 39) is a little
more in flux. NASA is weighing several options...

Overhaul Pad 39B for Ares 1 beginning in 2007.
Build a new Pad 39C for Ares 1.
Covert Launch Complex 40 (former Titan III/IV) for Ares 1.

Overhauling Pad B would be the cheapest method, but would most
interfere with Shuttle operations, particularly the desire for a
rescue launch capability for the 2008 Hubble mission (STS-125).

Pad 39C would be much more expensive, but could be tailor-made for
Ares 1, which might reduce operational costs. It would probably be
located inland, between 39A and 39B, instead of north of 39B where a
third pad for Apollo was once planned.

Pad 40 makes use of a currently vacant launch facility, but is rather
farther from the Complex 39 infrastructure NASA wants to use to cut
development costs.

Secondly with the vehicles being designed as they are, do ya'll think
they will ever use the vandenberg facilites for manned launches?

No. Had NASA chosen an EELV (Delta IV or Atlas 5) to launch CEV, it
might have been pretty easy to do, (Delta IV is flying from the old
Shuttle pad at Vandenberg) but they didn't.

Brian

On top of that, I can't really think of much you'd be able to do with the
resulting orbit (polar/near polar) from Vandenberg. (Maybe I'm just not
thinking out of the box?)


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Ares Launch support
    ... anticipating on using for launch facilities. ... Ares 5 is definitely planned for launch from Complex 39. ... Overhaul Pad 39B for Ares 1 beginning in 2007. ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: Flexible Path? What?
    ... :>: simplifying ground handling and launch preparations. ... Dumping Ares I ... :>and less capability for direct cargo missions. ... ....and there go the cost savings. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Flexible Path? What?
    ... Dumping Ares I ... for lunar missions is difficult to understand. ... If your Orion has a Launch Escape System, ... before getting to the humongous cost and risk... ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: OT Shuttle pads
    ... There's a gate over there where the main island starts. ... BTW, from up there, the launch pad is way to the left of the ... on all the maps. ... Even Google maps shows the southernmost 39 pad as A. ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • About Augustine Final Report
    ... In its selection of a crew launch system, ... premium on crew safety, and the Ares I ... But if the SRB of Ares I fails the crew has no "abort capability ... abort a Moon mission with some billion $ still in orbit if there is no proof ...
    (sci.space.policy)