External tank side pods

[pmn1]

How large could a cargo pod that could be fitted to the side of a STS external tank be without and with modifications to the launch facilities? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bdewoody]

Why would you want to put anything there? The ET doesn't achieve orbit so any pod attached wouldn't get there either. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[tomnackid]

Actually the ET does attain orbital velocity. The shuttle has to perform a special maneuver to put the tank on a reentry course in the south pacific (used to be t he Indian Ocean). The tank would have to be modified extensively (big bucks) to mount anything on the side opposite the orbiter. A few years back some folks were looking into the idea of mounting cargo pod on the bottom of a tank that would go into orbit with it. The idea was that the pod would contain equipment need to keep an ET safely on orbit and turn it into a large space station. NASA was not interested in any plans that required modifying any part of the STS but they did say they would put an (unmodified) ET into orbit for any company that could prove they had the means to keep it in orbit safely.

 

[qso1]

bdewoody:<br />Why would you want to put anything there? The ET doesn't achieve orbit so any pod attached wouldn't get there either.<br /><br />Me:<br />The one thing I'd put there is the one thing that could be most useful. I once looked into a concept for my graphic novels that I originally conceptualized for standard shuttle orbiter ET configs but later adapted to SDVs.<br /><br />A small rocket attached to the low portion ot the tank opposite the orbiter or SDV element that would boost the ET into a stable orbit. The rocket would go up as dead weight until the optimal time for firing which would probably be after ET separation. It would serve the same function as the orbiter OMS pods by placing ETs into stable orbits.<br /><br />The SRBs would be lengthened by a few feet to provide additional propellant which would entail separation at higher altitude. It probably wouldn't work but I'm using the idea for SDVs in my graphic novels. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[publiusr]

<p>www.space3islandgroup.com&nbsp;&nbsp;for more on ET uses.</p>

 

[qso1]

<p><font color="#800080"> Actually the ET does attain orbital velocity.</font></p><p>Can you point me to the link where it says the shuttle attains orbital velocity? I dug around and have not been able to find one.</p><p>http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-shuttle2.htm</p><p>http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/sts/profile.html</p><p>http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/</p><p>http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/images/mission_profile_2.jpg</p><p>http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/mission_profile.html#mission_profile</p><p>Exceprt below from above link:</p><p>Approximately eight minutes after launch and just short of orbital velocity, the three space shuttle engines are shut down (main engine cutoff), and the external tank is jettisoned on command from the orbiter. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

I described a rocket mounted to the opposite side of the ET for placing it in a stable orbit, heres an image. Kinda tough to see but is the white segmented object with a little engine sticking from it. Mounted to the ET of an SDV concept I used in my graphic.<br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/14/11/2ed2b3fe-a10b-4584-ab7f-0b85d01e445b.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[Cygnus_X_1]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Actually the ET does attain orbital velocity. The shuttle has to perform a special maneuver to put the tank on a reentry course in the south pacific (used to be t he Indian Ocean). The tank would have to be modified extensively (big bucks) to mount anything on the side opposite the orbiter. A few years back some folks were looking into the idea of mounting cargo pod on the bottom of a tank that would go into orbit with it. The idea was that the pod would contain equipment need to keep an ET safely on orbit and turn it into a large space station. NASA was not interested in any plans that required modifying any part of the STS but they did say they would put an (unmodified) ET into orbit for any company that could prove they had the means to keep it in orbit safely. <br /> Posted by tomnackid</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It does not attain orbital velocity and the shuttle does not do a special maneuver. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[KosmicHero]

The space island group had an interesting idea until the VSE announced the shuttle's retiring.&nbsp; I recall watching a presentation by these guys at a conference a few years back and the first and only question after was "so what are you going to do, now the shuttle is retiring?" and their answer was "probably have to come up with another idea".&nbsp; <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> kosmichero.wordpress.com </div>

 

[qso1]

<p>Somehow I'm not surprised. SIG has been so heaviliy involved in looking for ways to utilize ETs on orbit, having the shuttle retired on them is a little like having the rug pulled out from under them.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>