T
tdamskov
Guest
I know the ULV studies aim towards being able to boost very heavy loads into space, but they will be very, very expensive. Hauling heavy payloads into space is important for human exploration where large exploration craft can be pre-fabricated on Earth instead of assembled on orbit (where human workforce is exceedingly expensive and difficult). But for deep space probes something else might be needed to keep budgets and mission times reasonable.<br /><br />My idea is to haul fuel tanks into space, strapping them on to the probe thereby allowing very high deltas and short mission times. After all, the assembled craft will be have to boost a 1-2 tonne probe and the fuel along, with no atmospheric drag.<br /><br />I have been wondering if any studies on automatic or human remote assisted assembly of such a craft have been conducted? I know the recent automatic docking systems explored by the US military were only a partial success.<br /><br />Can anyone calculate what mission times / speeds would be available if one were to launch a 2 tonne probe with x tonnes worth of fuel from LEO? (let's just assume that's 6 cheap launches with e.g. the Zenit booster). Cost? What's the smartest and cheapest way be to strap on fuel tanks to an orbiting spacecraft? What shape would they be? How would they connect to the primary craft? Solid or liquid fuel? Engines?<br /><br />I'm also assuming that if techniques for automatic docking/assembly are developed, they would be useful for sending fuel tanks to e.g. Mars orbit for rendezvouz with a space probe or a human expedition?<br />