Document acquired - in-depth SDLV and CEV plans and images

[shuttle_rtf]

Once I stopped drooling over the PC upon aquiring this, I've published a document with so much info I don't think I should babble on via here about it too much.<br /><br />http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?id=3474<br /><br />I didn't want us to write an article, there's simply too much to talk about - and I didn't want to do it in parts, as this needs to go on in its entirity. <br /><br />We've done an introduction there and posted the whole document on the forum, along with all the images (linked on the bottom of the article).<br /><br />Hope you enjoy.

 

[spacefire]

OMG check out the side mounted SDLV with the capsule on top -and an Apollo style escape tower.<br />NASA is funny-in a sad way though. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[spacester]

Wow! Chris, it looks like you've scooped everyone else on the planet on the biggest story in space. Very very cool. Pretty exciting times we live in, don't you think? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacefire]

40 years and we get the 'Shuturn V'. How gay! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[shuttle_rtf]

It's exciting times for sure - and thanks.<br /><br />I'm an unashamed Shuttle Orbiter fan, but when you see the "Magnum" and the "Longfellow" next to a Saturn V, heck! Amazing.

 

[yurkin]

Very Very Cool<br /><br />But in all fairness calling the Longfellow a Shuttle Derived LV is really stretching the definition. Mainly because it uses a 4 RS-68 as opposed to SSME. Its got a different ET, a 2nd stage and nothing close to an orbiter.

 

[lunatio_gordin]

That's really great info. thanks a million for getting it all together and sharing. <br />I'm wondering though, if they make a side mount SDLV, could they put the foam on the inside, with a little redesigning, or would that make it no longer man-rated?

 

[arobie]

*Jaw drops*<br />. . .<br />(Skims introduction article. . .)<br />. . .<br />(Skims first forum page. . .)<br />. . . <br />(Skims second forum page. . .)<br />. . .<br />(Skims third forum page. . .)<br />. . .<br />(Walks outside to stare at tonights half-Moon. . .)<br />. . .<br />(Walks back inside and sits at the computer. . .)<br />. . .<br />Ok, it closes again. . .<br /><br />That is friggin awesome Chris!!<br /><br />Nice, very nice job aquiring the documents and pictures!<br /><br />I'll read through it in depth later, but for now, I'm going back outside to stare at the Moon. . .<br /><br />*Jaw drops again. . .*

 

[le3119]

The "longfellow"? Where do they get these names? How about the "Lewis & Clark" or "Conenstoga-X"? Alright, I'm being annoying, in response to this great news. When will we see these LVs in action?

 

[arobie]

dim and golden in the swampy humidity. . .<br /><br />You must be looking at the same Moon I'm looking at. Down here is south Louisiana, the Moon is definitely golden tonight, and now that the foggy hazy look to the sky has faded away, the Moon has brightened up, not to mention moved to shine right though my window on me as I type about going to it.<br /><br />WE ARE GOING!

 

[lunatio_gordin]

Well, i certainly hope they wouldn't use a sidemounted booster to launch the CEV, but...

 

[rogers_buck]

Way cool. Thank you for posting this. I am a bit upset that they missed the back to back ETs and SRBs with two SSME pods under the ETs. By dead reckoning that would lift >300klbs. I even drew a picture...<br /><br />But what the hell, I'll take the Long Fellow!

 

[rogers_buck]

Oh come now. Nothing like standing on the bridge of your sidemount capsule with the foam hitting you in the face and the wind in your hair. At least they won't abort the launch if it is raining in Madagascar. Don't know how usefull the escape tower would be if the SRB O-ring lets go...

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Well I can't sleep <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />Thanks for the kind words, and I'm hoping to get more from the MSFC side of things soon...so it's part one of an on-going story.

 

[cuddlyrocket]

Fascinating! (I've read it four times already. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> )<br /><br />The logic of a SDLV seems inescapable. I thinks it's almost certain that we're going to get one or more of these. (I should imagine they'll start with the medium-lift CEV launcher, as this will maintain US manned access to space earliest.)<br /><br />I agree that it's disappointing that NASA is not going for the next Great Leap Forward. However, the trouble with GLFs is that they're always risky and nearly always highly expensive. With the current state of the US space programme, and given recent and non-so-recent NASA history, what that programme needs at this time are relatively low-risk developments that can be afforded within the current budget (or near to) and that give a series of near-term 'successes'.

 

[franson_space]

I've read it five times!

 

[john_316]

<br />I think the sight is pretty good...<br /><br />I enjoy the pics...<br /><br />Like it alot...<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[tmccort]

<br />Uh.<br /><br />Wow.<br /><br />Nice work Shuttle_RTF

 

[wvbraun]

Great scoop, Shuttle_RTF! <br /><br />Do you know when these documents were written, i.e. how close they are to the final version of the relevant part in the 60 day study (ESAS)?

 

[henryhallam]

Impressive sleuthing, Chris, and a good read. Thank you.

 

[spd405]

Very intresting read...<br /><br />The basic side mounted cargo carrier idea has been floating around for a long time now - what are the reasons for it not being developed sooner?

 

[dreada5]

Nice work Shuttle_RTF!!<br /><br />I wonder if space.com will post a story soon, lol!! Does anyone know when NASA was suppposed to make an official announcment?<br /><br />Well, that's next week's off-work reading time all nicely booked up! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[spd405]

Rockwell wanted way too much money to build the engine compartment. I believe that originall killed the Shuttle-C <br /><br /><br />What makes the current study different from the previous studies??

 

[slipstream]

> Do you know when these documents were written, i.e. how close they are to the final version of the relevant part in the 60 day study (ESAS)? <br /><br />This seems to be an exact contents of "Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicle (SDLV) Capabilities Overview for Presentation at the AIAA 1st Exploration Conference" AIAA-2005-2564, so then those docs are dated January 2005

 

[shuttle_rtf]

Thanks again all.<br /><br />Slip...no, it was a meeting past that.<br /><br /> />For Presentation at the AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference<br />Tucson, Arizona July 10 - 13, 2005<