Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Rgclark on 29/05/2012 15:17:49
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New post to my blog:
The Coming SSTO's.
http://exoscientist.blogspot.com/2012/05/coming-sstos.html
Bob Clark
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Heh, welcome to the forum Bob, although possibly you should post this in the 'scientific facts section?'
I'm not familiar with SSTO's myself?
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It always helps if you define your abbreviations early, just in case not everyone is familiar with the terminology.
Single State to Orbit (SSTO)
Perhaps not quite the same, but what I would like to see would be more recycling of structures. So, if the International Space Station needed a tube 300 feet long, 30 feet in diameter, then send up a Saturn V, and convert the fuel tanks to usable space. Hydrogen and Oxygen would leave essentially no residual in the tanks.
What could have been built with all the discarded shuttle tanks?
One could build a capsule that is extremely cramped until it reaches orbit, after which a former tank would be opened for use as extended crew quarters. Of course, anything pre-positioned in the tank would have to be resistant to the liquid oxygen/hydrogen or other fuel atmosphere.
Everything, of course, is a cost/weight issue. Shuttle tanks are built with a lithium alloy to save a about 7000 pounds over the already reduced lightweight tanks. It is all about every pound that can be delivered to orbit. Although, it is a good point that one should always consider dollars per pound in orbit.