The Automated Shuttle can Regain the Commercial launch Market

Credit: Don Nelson nasaproblems.com


A Space Transportation plan for the 21st Century
“To get somewhere... we have to know where we’re going!”

NASA MUST HAVE A FEASIBLE AND REALISTIC LONG SPACE TRANSPORTATION RANGE PLAN! WITHOUT A PLAN THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO STAGNATE!

The next generation space transportation scenario must be based on the low earth orbit delivery capability of the automated Space Shuttle II (a new launch concept with the shuttle external configuration) and the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles. This is the only viable concept that can provide a feasible and realistic launch system in the foreseeable future. Its development is a mandatory requirement to provide a safe human transportation system. Key to this plan is the long range roadmap that provides direction to NASA and the aerospace community.
The space transportation plan for the 21st century must be developed as an evolutionary process for "space based" vehicles. The development schedule will accelerate or decrease as the needs for exploration requirements dictate. The space transportation system must be based on automated operations. Robotics will determine the human role in space exploration.



Space Based Transportation Plan

1.) Must be capable of carrying a payload to a geosynchronous transfer orbit or of placing a payload directly into geosynchronous orbit. It would place and retrieve payloads in geosynchronous orbits, transfer materials to and from space station and space platforms, retrieve reusable space hardware, and deorbit expended space debris.
2.) Have the capability to store propellants on-orbit for a duration that provides adequate mission performance margins. This duration will be defined by the launch frequency capability of the automated Space Shuttle II or supporting launch vehicles such as the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELV).
3.) Be designed for on-orbit payload transfers, consumables replenishment, and maintenance.
4.) Be designed with the goal of being a baseline configuration for a space based lunar transfer vehicle.
5.) Serve as an orbiting test bed facility for next generation deep space propulsion systems.

Justifications:
1.) Space based vehicles are the logical and mandatory requirement in the establishment of a baseline concept for a cost efficient advanced space transportation systems. A space based vehicle concept would initiate the ground work for a permanent deep space transportation system. Lifetime of these vehicles would be expected to be 10 to 20 years and therefore would significantly reduce the cost of deep space transportation.
2.) Development of space based vehicles provides an exciting and meaningful endeavor for NASA and its contractor employees.
3.) Space based vehicles will reduce the increasing orbital debris problem.
4.) The low earth orbit payload delivery capability of the commercial Space Shuttle and EELV’s would be significantly increased. (The inert weight of the expendable upper stage would not have to be orbited and would be available as payload weight.)
5.) Provides a test platform for testing and recovering hazardous advance concept space engines (nuclear, toxic, etc. ).
6.) Of particular interest is the capability to provide affordable access to unmanned space commercial laboratories and space manufacturing facilities.

Comments:
1.) It is not realistic to believe that the space based upper stage program can be developed without government support. However, the government (NASA and the DOD) must not be the operator of the flight system for commercial applications.
2.) The Defense Advanced Research Projects agency (DARPA) is already considering a space based autonomous space transporter and robotics orbiter (ASTRO) to transfer propellant from orbiting fuel dumps to spy satellites.

NASA Studied Crew Escape Systems
There are three significant problems in the design of any launch vehicle escape system: weight, fireball, and high speed dynamic and thermal problems. None of the studied NASA escape systems solved all these problems.
Extraction: Overhead hatch is blown open and compressed gas thrusts a rocket mounted to the rear of the seat out of the orbiter. Once clear the rocket fires and pulls the astronaut free.
Problems: No fireball protection. No high Mach number protection.
Ejection: Seats are similar to those in fighter jets. The hatch is blown and compressed gas catapults the seated astronaut out. Then a rocket takes over to clear the engines plume.
Problems: No fireball protection. No high Mach number protection. Added weight of 3,700 pounds violates the forward center of gravity limit (65.0% FRL , Sta. 1076.6) .
Escape Capsule: Booster sever the forward fuselage from the orbiter. Parachute stabilizes the 48,000 pound fuselage but does little to slow it down.
Problems: Added weight of 8400 pounds violates the forward center of gravity limit.
TO INSTALL ANY SHUTTLE CREW ESCAPE SYSTEM WEIGHT MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE CREW COMPARTMENT! NASA HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT MANAGEMENT IGNORED THIS REQUIREMENT!! THEIR STUDIES WERE BIASED TO FAIL!!!
Ref.: AP dated 1/26/2001

Crew Escape Pods Concepts
Crew escape pods were proposed for the Hermes Space Plane. Escape pods solve the fireball, launch pad, and "survivable" high speed ejection problems.



 

The shuttle weight issue must be resolved by removing the piloting functions to provide weight margin for the pods (~ 3,700 pounds). For the Shuttle II the weigh is 700 pounds per pod for four pods. There is no shuttle mission that cannot be conducted by four astronauts.
The pods provide protection for all phases of flight. At launch pad and lower altitudes escapes, a ballute deploys to slow the pod for parachute deploy. The pod’s life support system provides on-orbit safe haven in the event the cabin pressure is breached. Target lifetime for life support is 20 days to allow for on-orbit rescue. Pods are to located behind the nose cone heat shield wake to reduce excessive thermal loads in the event of a Columbia type entry failure. The pod is also equipped with a heat shield system. The pod must be a “smart pod” ... it must have knowledge of the environment.
The crew escape pod is the key to reducing the shuttle operations cost and providing safe access to space for the astronauts. To install the pods requires weight be removed from the cabin area or the forward center of gravity limit would be violated. The only function in the cabin area that is not required for flight operation is the piloting function. All piloting functions can be automated. Automated flight has been conducted for all phase of flight operation. Removing the piloting subsystems ( commander and pilot weight, their seats, forward flight deck displays and control systems, escape pole, forward windows, etc. ) provides a weight margin of nearly 3,700 pounds that can be used to install the escape pods.
The reduced operations cost will be covered in the following charts. This concept is identified as Shuttle II.
The Space Shuttle II with Crew Escape Pods concept is realistic and feasible... It is a new manned launch vehicle operations concept. It's only major roadblock is the steadfast objection of NASA’s spaceflight management to carrying astronauts on automated space vehicles. This is an inbred management policy that has stagnated this nation's human space programs for far too long!

NOTE: Reducing flight operations cost by automating is the answer!!!

The shuttle pilot training facilities will be closed. All flight monitoring will be conducted from the KSC flight control center. Personnel to operated the automated launch system has been estimated to be in the 7,000 range. Estimated saving is approximately $1 billion per year. Addition saving can be expected from the technology development program.
This launch vehicle concept is adaptable to a private commercial operator.
Employees can be transferred from boring operations jobs to space research projects.
In the event the Shuttle II concept does not save a single dime... It will save a shuttle crew!!!!

The automated Shuttle can regain the commercial launch market!

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Space Based…  Space Tug to Space Cruiser

The first step to a “Star Trek Enterprise” space cruiser is the unmanned space based tug. NASA’s future is in the development of these space based vehicles to be operated by the commercial sector…not in obsolete heavy lift launch vehicles.