The Crew Exploration Vehicle

[rsp1202]

"Where the heck is the bathroom?"<br />That's what the grillwork in the floor is for.

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">There's no CENTER seat! Where is Capt. Kirk (or will it be Capt. Xiange) going to sit? I want a center seat!</font>/i><br /><br />And it cannot have a seat belt. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /></i>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">"Where the heck is the bathroom?" <br />That's what the grillwork in the floor is for.</font>/i><br /><br />But that only works when you are under acceleration. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /></i>

 

[TheShadow]

How about a Winnebago? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><font size="1" color="#808080">Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men, the Shadow knows. </font></p> </div>

 

[josh_simonson]

>> "Where the heck is the bathroom?" <br />That's what the grillwork in the floor is for. <br /><br /> />But that only works when you are under acceleration. <br /><br /><br />They're all issued 1L coke bottles and a box of baggies. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[baktothemoon]

I'm sure a coed crew would find that fantastic.

 

[tomnackid]

Who was the NASA official during Apollo who got lambasted by the media for joking that NASA will finally be taking women on missions--as "recreational stores"?

 

[ascan1984]

Shuttle guy. Whay do the ksc/nasa guys think of this spacecraft. Especially from a launch preparation standpoint.

 

[barrykirk]

Kinda of like the space Winneabago from spaceballs?

 

[propforce]

That's interesting that you use a jet engine, an airbreathing engine, for space <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[john_316]

Oh yeah! The fun the excitment of an RV in space!!!!<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">That's interesting that you use a jet engine, an airbreathing engine, for space</font>/i><br /><br />What you don't see is the magnetic funnel directing ions into the engine's inlet, and then those ions are used to produce thrust. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /></i>

 

[barrykirk]

Love that image.

 

[ace5]

Anyone aware of any news about CEV developments?<br />

 

[propforce]

No inside development. The proposal is IN, no more B&P budget. Everyone get sent back to their "regular job" and await funding decision.<br /><br /><br /><br />ps- *Rumor Control* <br />For those who're looking for a job. Both Boeing and Lockheed will be posting jobs for CEV in Houston soon. Doesn't matter which team wins, most jobs will be in Houston. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[propforce]

S_G,<br /><br />Here're some more rumors, see if you have heard of the same?<br /><br />1) NASA's announcement on CEV award will most likely be delayed by 1 month, amazing coincide with the end of the government fiscal year.<br /><br />2) CEV contract will split into "several" pieces, so everyone gets a share of work. <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">2) CEV contract will split into "several" pieces, so everyone gets a share of work.</font>/i><br /><br />I always thought that was a relatively standard procedure on large aerospace contracts -- the winner gets to be prime, but the loser picks up a number of subcontracts. There are still winners and losers, but it isn't a winner takes all game.</i>

 

[drwayne]

There is also the dreaded leader-follower method, by which the follower can become the leader after the leader has slogged through the rancid bovine fecal material involved in the start of the program....<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[vt_hokie]

<i>F/A-18 comes to mind.</i><br /><br />Yeah, that was originally a Northrop design, right? (YF-17, if I remember correctly, which lost to the YF-16)

 

[drwayne]

Yes, it was based on the Cobra design. Which was unfortunate, as a weird AF spec on fuel fraction propogated into the F/A-18 - which led to some somewhat short legs.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

Made it bigger!<br /><br />I saw one of the Cobra prototypes at the USS Alabama museum by the way.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[trailrider]

Shuttle_guy,<br /><br />Change of subject... ASIDE from what we get through the media, have you heard anything definitive on the ET wind tunnel tests at Arnold? From the STORIES I've seen NASA "head shed" says there is no pressure to launch, but OTOH...they ARE probably NOT going to wait to make certain mods to the ICE (acronym?). Which alledgedly leaves some doubts as to the hazard to the crew should the Q get too high! Can you give us the straight skinny... without sticking "them" where management can drop an anvil on your...uh...neck or other body parts?<br /><br />Ad Luna! Ad Ares! Ad Astra! (How do you say this in Mandarin?)

 

[propforce]

Here's a related article from Av. Wk.<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p><br />News <br /> <br />Shuttle tunnel tests raise concerns, then hopes <br />Aerospace Daily & Defense Report <br />04/24/2006, page 06 <br /><br />Wind tunnel tests at the U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) are beginning to show that potential new foam problem areas on the shuttle external tank can be corrected with minor changes and minimal risk to a July launch schedule.<br /><br />The new concerns arose this month when modified tank foam components blew off an external tank mockup undergoing wind tunnel tests at AEDC.<br /><br />Engineers tweaked the design of the components, however, and later tests were favorable with no foam loss. Additional wind tunnel tests of that same external tank (ET) hardware over the next two-three weeks will determine if the modified version, of the already modified components, can be adopted for use on the next flight's tank.<br /><br />That in turn will have a domino effect on the final stacking plan for the shuttle vehicle elements for the second return-to-flight mission following the 2003 Columbia accident.<br /><br />Although the first return-to-flight mission, STS-114, was successful last summer, the flight had an unacceptable loss of foam off the hydrogen protuberance air load (PAL) ramp of its ET during ascent.<br /><br />Foam risk<br /><br />The several foot long PAL ramp has been used on all previous ETs to divert high-speed aerodynamic flow away from gaseous oxygen and hydrogen pressurization lines and a cable tray running down the side of the ET. After extensive computer analysis, engineers determined they could remove the PAL ramp entirely, deleting that particular foam risk.<br /><br />The 154-foot tank for the next flight is entering final processing at the Kennedy Space Center without the ramp, but several other points on the tank's exterior could still be modified here in just the next month.<br /><br />Win</p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[john_316]

Ok S_G since this is no longer a B&P budget is there anyway they are making designs for a CEV that would also take an Atlas V or Delta 4H into consideration? I imagine the stress tolerances are different but wont they need to test/redo all those tolerances for the CLV stack since in affect its a different vehicle then, not just a SRB?<br /><br />Thanx<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">The CEV has out grown the Delta IV and Atlas V. The booster will be a five segment SRB.</font>/i><br /><br />A wild vision popped into my head: two 4-segment (or maybe just 3-segment) SRBs strapped together with the CEV perched on top between the two. It would look a little like a sports car with two giant mufflers.</i>