Post space ferry concepts here!

[baktothemoon]

After seeing a good space ferry concept in another thread I've decided to create a thread just for these concepts. Post whatever ideas you have, just has to have the majority stay in space. I'll have mine here soon.

 

[hk8900]

The "Ferry" you refer to is the EDV or the LTV?<br />thanks

 

[baktothemoon]

LTV.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Remember this one. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

I would like to cross the Bigelow Mooncruiser with this one, for longer range trips, like hunting for asteroids to mine. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[baktothemoon]

This is a preliminary sketch of what my ferry exterior looks like. I should have more detailed drawings of the components and the overall system later.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

What kind of propulsion will it have? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[webtaz99]

[sarcasm] Are you saying there's more to designing a rocket than drawing a picture? [/sarcasm] <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[baktothemoon]

"What kind of propulsion will it have?"<br /><br />Nuclear, four NTR modules surrounding a central core with four ion engines attached to the sides of the core. The core propulsion module is one of my ideas and is entirely conceptual but I designed it anyway. I should have it posted soon.

 

[baktothemoon]

Here's the Command Module.

 

[baktothemoon]

Here is the Habitation Module, it should support a crew of ten to fifteen.

 

[baktothemoon]

This is the Service Module.

 

[baktothemoon]

Propulsion Module<br />This drive system is entirely conceptual and is a thought that I had decided to draw out. This propulsion system would use fission to propel the vehicle. The electric jacks would compress the rod of enriched uranium. This would be a much smaller version of the conditions that are experienced in an atomic bomb. The purpose of this would be to accelerate the rate of fission so that the rod is expended in several minutes rather than a few milliseconds as in a bomb. The resulting plasma from the fission would push against the blast plate, providing thrust. To prevent the engine structure from melting there would be a heat sink to draw away the excess heat produced by the reaction and disperse it into space. To protect the crew from radiation the two bulkheads on each side of the heat sink would have extra radiation shielding, the rest of the crew compartments of the vehicle would have standard radiation shielding. If the reaction got out of control the reaction mass would merely be ejected through the opening in the blast plate and the NTR’s would be fired to put some distance between it and the vehicle. If the primary propulsion module failed entirely then the NTR’s would carry the vehicle back to Earth. Both propulsion modules would be refueled robotically in Earth orbit at a spacedock.<br />

 

[Boris_Badenov]

That is an awesome design. I especially like the engine. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[baktothemoon]

Thanks, do you think it could work? By the way, you would use the CaLV to lift the pieces into orbit. It would transit between one of Bigelow's stations and the destination. To ferry crew to and from the station I would use a Quickreach rocket with a CXV.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Stop thinking NASA ships. They need to throw everything away to keep the money flowing.<br /> The surface to LEO transport you will want to use will be SpaceX or an equivalent company. <br /> Go to this website to look for help on your engine design. http://www.nuclearspace.com/ <br /> I have been able to get good advice from here.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[baktothemoon]

I have been there before, that is why I opted for NGCR engines over chemical. I got the idea for the main propulsion module from trying to tame down project Orion. I choose the CaLV and CXV because they are systems that will be operational soon. My next choices would be a Falcon 9 and a Dragon or Dreamchaser.<br /><br />BTW, how do you change the title of a thread? I want to see if I can get more people to discuss this by having a more appealing title.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

“BTW, how do you change the title of a thread? I want to see if I can get more people to discuss this by having a more appealing title.”<br /><br /> I don’t think you can. Ask Calliarcale.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[crossovermaniac]

If these space ferries are being ran by a private company, I don't think the government will allow the propulsion system to be nuclear-powered. I hate to say this, you may be stuck with chemical rockets.

 

[enigma10]

We could always use Oreos.<br /><br />Link:<br />http://www.popsci.com/popsci/how20/600152d7d441b010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"<font color="#333399">An organism at war with itself is a doomed organism." - Carl Sagan</font></em> </div>

 

[j05h]

> I choose the CaLV and CXV because they are systems that will be operational soon. My next choices would be a Falcon 9 and a Dragon or Dreamchaser.<br /><br />Falcon9/Dragon is closer to flight than CaLV, by almost a decade. CxV and Dreamchaser are in various states of "go". <br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[baktothemoon]

"If these space ferries are being ran by a private company, I don't think the government will allow the propulsion system to be nuclear-powered."<br /><br />They might allow it since I would have it be a cooperative project with NASA. Just have NASA build the nuke engines, that way the government stays happy.

 

[crossovermaniac]

That would depend who is in control of Congress and the White House. Democrats are too beholden to the environmentalists to allow a private company to use a nuclear-powered rocket.

 

[baktothemoon]

Good thing that I'm a republican.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

OMG, thats a scream!!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>