Vandenberg and Ares?

[willpittenger]

Do you see Vandenberg launching either version of Ares? I assume if they did, it would be cargo only and into a polar orbit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[propforce]

You'll have to ask yourself this question "what would a polar orbit accomplish from a space exploration point of view?". <br /><br />Another word, since our near term is going back to the Moon, how would a launch from Vandenberg an advantage to the Moon orbit as oppose to launching from Cape Canveral? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[willpittenger]

I figured someone might see an advantage to the Ares over other launchers for the stuff that Vandenberg already launches. I did not expect them to launch something directly related to NASA's programs. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>

 

[PistolPete]

Not only no, but hell no!<br /><br />First of all, after the SLC-6/Shuttle SNAFU I doubt that the Air Force would want to touch another NASA joint project with a 10 ft pole. Billions of dollars down the drain.<br /><br />There is absolutely no reason to use the Ares I or V rockets from Vandenberg. The Ares I can lift a proposed 24,500 kg payload into LEO. The Delta IV Heavy can lift a 25,800 kg payload into the same orbit. So why would anyone want to spend billions of dollars to build a new launch pad for a rocket that can deliver less payload that the current LVs at twice the price?<br /><br />As for the Ares V, unless you can find a reason for launching a Skylab-sized space station into polar orbit, then there is no reason for it at Vandenberg. Besides, SLC-6 (the former Shuttle launch pad ad Vandenberg) is now being used by Boeing for the Delta IV, so that means that yet another multi-billion dollar launch pad will have to be built. So Ares at Vandenberg has about a snowball's chance in hell of ever seeing fruition. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em>So, again we are defeated. This victory belongs to the farmers, not us.</em></p><p><strong>-Kambei Shimada from the movie Seven Samurai</strong></p> </div>

 

[josh_simonson]

I could see Aries V launching a 'rods from god' kind of platform, but it wouldn't have to go to a polar orbit to be able to reach most worthy targets.

 

[PistolPete]

A "rods from god" platform wouldn't require that much rocket. And I wouldn't recommend building one big enough to fill a rocket that big. It's not wise to put all of your eggs in one basket like that. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em>So, again we are defeated. This victory belongs to the farmers, not us.</em></p><p><strong>-Kambei Shimada from the movie Seven Samurai</strong></p> </div>

 

[lampblack]

Rods from God wouldn't make much sense in any case. The Chinese would just shoot it out of the sky -- along with the accompanying multi-billion-dollar investment. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[docm]

The Chinese have demonstrated the ability to shoot down a decrepit weather satellite that was a sitting duck. I would hope that a rods-from-god platform would be a launch-on-need device and, to a degree, maneuverable. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[josh_simonson]

It'd be an act of war to shoot it down. They wouldn't dare. They can mollest their own satelites all they want, but when it comes to someone elses, that's another story.

 

[vulture2]

>>The Ares I can lift a proposed 24,500 kg payload into LEO. The Delta IV Heavy can lift a 25,800 kg payload into the same orbit.<br /><br />I believe the payloads you give for the Ares and Delta IV are the numbers in pounds, not kilograms. But I agree that since there is already an operational Delta IV pad at Vandenberg the DOD would certainly not pay for the immense infrastructure needed to support the Ares.<br /><br />

 

[propforce]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>>>The Ares I can lift a proposed 24,500 kg payload into LEO. The Delta IV Heavy can lift a 25,800 kg payload into the same orbit. <br /><br />I believe the payloads you give for the Ares and Delta IV are the numbers in pounds, not kilograms.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />No. Pete is correct. It would be over 50,000 lbm on the Delta IV-H if it is in good 'ol english unit pound.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>