Re: How can Boeing and LockMart compete with SpaceX?

On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:19:17 GMT, fairwater@xxxxxxxxx (Derek Lyons)
wrote:


Remember that Apollo 8 went to the Moon instead of being just another LEO test
after Von Braun said "there's very little difference between Lunar orbit and
Earth orbit".

In that, Von Braun is quite wrong - the thermal environment is
different, the radiation environment is different, the communications
and operations enviroment, ditto... The difference may not have
mattered much for Von Braun's boosters, but it make a heck of a lot of
difference for the payload.

I don't think von Braun actually said that anyway. He said something
to the affect of "once you decide to put men on it [Saturn V], it
doesn't matter where it goes."

Brian
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: How can Boeing and LockMart compete with SpaceX?
    ... after Von Braun said "there's very little difference between Lunar orbit and ... Von Braun is quite wrong - the thermal environment is ... first stage uses the same engine as the Falcon 9/F9H. ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: How can Boeing and LockMart compete with SpaceX?
    ... after Von Braun said "there's very little difference between Lunar orbit and ... Von Braun is quite wrong - the thermal environment is ... to the affect of "once you decide to put men on it [Saturn V], ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)