The Ares-Lite: Bettering the Ares 1 on its own ground.

[areslite]

Right now, NASA is pursuing the development of the Ares 1 launch vehicle, as no currently available booster can lift the as-proposed CEV into orbit, among other reasons. This new launcher will require several billion dollars to develop, and cost greatly to maintain production of throughout the next two decades, setting back the VSE by many years and creating a half decade long gap in NASA manned spaceflight.<br /><br />I put to you an alternative solution to getting this manned CEV into orbit, and fulfilling the other NASA manned spaceflight needs, that will not require the production of the 'indispensable' booster: developing instead a Crew Transfer Vehicle to be launched aboard the currently existing Atlas 5 401 booster, and launching the CEV as unmanned cargo without a Launch Escape System aboard a Delta 4 Heavy, to be manned in orbit by a separate CTV launch. I call this combined CTV/Atlas 5, as well as the general proposal, the Ares-Lite. <br /><br />What are NASA's manned spaceflight needs, and what is the best way to go about achieving them? Until a new heavy lifter is developed, an eventuality a decade away under the best estimates, NASA will not be undertaking any moon missions. So, then, NASA's manned spaceflight needs for the next decade are periodic launch services to the International Space Station, and in the decade after that, the ability to have a manned CEV as part of a moon mission.<br /><br />The Ares 1 attempts to fulfill these two needs with a jack of all trades spacecraft that can either send six men or women to the ISS, or sustain 4 on the flight to the moon and perform mission specific burns, in conjunction with creating and maintaining a separate specialized launcher line for this vehicle. This burdens the CEV with capabilities that will not necessarily be used, and requires the exorbitant expense of bringing online an otherwise useless vehicle.<br /><br />The Ares-Lite option splits these two missions up, and develops a separate vehicle to serv

 

[docm]

ULA/Dream Chaser as a stopgap makes more sense since their boosters are proven and much of DC's work is done, including a NASA designed modern TPS. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>