DARPA can have a shuttle and a heavy launch system for all of our future space vehicle needs... A refined design that repurposes the external fuel tank for a module of a new stations to orbit various locations and a flexible design that can accommodate a shuttle orbiter or other type of spacecraft or module into orbit would be a practical design.. We have all kinds of data from over 130 shuttle missions to space and there has been many studies on improvements to the shuttle.. Now is the time to move forward with proven technologies with a versatile design.. One such launch of a launch system would give us in orbit laboratory volume equaling the International Space Station...
Space Shuttle STS-122 Atlantis Space Station Assembly ISS-1E Columbus Lab 2008 NASA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8akgPBjkL-Y
Thought provoking video, 1 minute... Demonstrating space shuttle hardware being repurposed for a new flexible heavy lift launch system....
DARPA and other space agencies understanding the value of a reusable space plane could do well to think about a flexible architecture system that provides for a myriad of uses.. All the hardware and equipment is still available to build a heavy launch system like the one depicted in the video to accommodate a shuttle orbiter or other type of large space module.. Also worth looking at is the repurpose of the external fuel tank in orbit for the multitude of spaceflight and space exploration aspirations.. These large hermetic vessels could provide valuable internal volume to future spacecraft and orbital platforms.. If designed right from the beginning to be repurposed in space for a secondary role the design and build should be straight forward.. Significant launch cost savings can be made by making better use of the payload that we launch...If it goes up, it stays up! There are so many worthy space missions that will require hardware in orbit.. Space mining, space based solar power, A large spacecraft like the NAUTILUS design, orbital platforms above the Earth, Moon, Mars, Europa, Venus, Titan, all great concept missions to better mankind and all requiring hardware and equipment in space.. DARPA is designing a space plane.. NASA is designing a deep space habitat to orbit the moon.. Lets think more broadly, addressing more needs with one system... Lets design a heavy launch system that can interchange it's payload between a space shuttle orbiter and a space module.. A system designed from the start to have it's components like the external fuel tank repurposed to build the necessary space infrastructure for a bright future of scientific and technological triumphs...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68v_IrZz3NA
A better way to develop DARPA's space plane would be to look at the proven design of the shuttle's and bring into account many of the design augmentations of the system that were proposed over the years..
The Space Island concept study proposed re-purposing the external fuel tank in orbit for various other secondary uses..
Various other studies proposed that the space shuttle launch system also be able to accommodate a large module type payload in-place of the space shuttle orbiter..
Now is our chance to get it right..
One of the major concepts of design within NASA is Mission Forward Architecture.. Which means developments today will find more uses tomorrow. So if DARPA designs a shuttle system based on the proven design we will have a shuttle and a heavy launch system!.. The ability to launch a shuttle or a large space module as the need arises will serve the space community well.. When launched the external fuel tanks can be kept in orbit to serve a secondary purpose..
If it goes up, it stays up!
The components are still all in production!.. The J2X shuttle main engines are still available. The external fuel tank is available.. It just morphed it's self into the first stage of the SLS.. The solid rocket boosters are in production.. We can make a far better design today..
The space shuttle was a heavy launch system!.. People seem to forget to take into account the mass of the shuttle orbiter it's self when talking about payload capacity... All the pieces are in place.. Lets make a flexible multipurpose system that incorporates all of the best design principals we have devised over the years..
http://spacenews.com/reusable-space-plane-tops-darpas-budg…/
We are going to require more assets in space to achieve our goals. A Lunar orbiting platform has been suggested to be one such structure. It has been proposed that a construction methodology like that of the skylab would be an excellent choice.. We have seen the space shuttle with it's external fuel tank reach orbit.. The Space Launch System is built from space shuttle legacy designs and components.. There has been much speculation about using the shuttles external fuel tanks for various structures in space.. So I'm curious about what size of a module can we get to orbit. I propose a design from the SLS that would make use of the exhausted fuel tank of perhaps the second stage if not the first stage.. One launch would give us a hermetic structure in space with adequate internal volume to house the necessary equipment for an orbiting station for the Moon, Earth, Mars, Venus, Europa... If the goal of the design was to put the largest module in orbit.. One that would provide enough volume for crew and equipment which would follow on successive launches.. We could design the rocket in a way that we could access the exhausted fuel tanks and make use of that internal volume for working space for the station.. In a way I'm proposing a flying gas tank.. Then once it reaches orbit we make use of the empty tank for accommodating the required crew and equipment.. How large of a craft could we get to space? I would infer a very large vessel.. It would not surprise me if there are already dozens of concept designs for this kind of thing floating around out there.. Pun intended.. What are your thoughts people?..
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html
The Space Island Group Homepage...
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