S
spacefire
Guest
Assuming we want to use as much existing technology as possible, this is how I would see a successor to the shuttle:<br />Lifting body orbiter(of course) <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />, reuses the SSMEs for the sake of commonality. LOH-LOX tanks are inside the orbiter. Having an external tank that can shed pieces coming almost in contact with the tiles obvioulsy was a very wrong design.<br />The SRBs can be used, being attached to the sides of the orbiter.<br />Because of it's lower weight loading during landing-more empty volume because of the internal fuel tanks- a landing profile similar to that of the current Orbiter can be achieved.<br />I see this design as a logical successor to the Shuttle and a step towards SSTO. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>