Ares V Evolution (Updated 7/31/08)

[gladiator1332]

Ed Kyle has a great evolution of the Ares V on his site, with data as the prime focus. I thought I would do the same for the graphical side of things.

As I have done in the past for Ares I, I will continue to update this evolution as more changes occur.

[Dyna-Soar]

Very nice.

[ShuttleDiscovery]

Is there a recent Ares I evolution picture, as couldn't find anything new last time I checked...

[Orbiter]

The Ares V is massive, taller than the Saturn V. If this goes up would be the Largest rocket ever built.

[edkyle99]

Good images!

In addition to my original Ares V page:  http://www.geocities.com/launchreport/ares5.html

I have also now broken out a separate writeup that attempts to trace a bit of Shuttle-Derived history, beginning in 1977.
http://www.geocities.com/launchreport/sdv.html

It is easy to find ideas very similar to "Stumpy" and "Direct" that were being studied even before the Shuttle development flights were completed.

 - Ed Kyle

[amaturespacecase]

Why is NASA bending over backwards to bulk up the Ares V but resisting almost all proposals to deal with Ares I shortfalls?

[MrTim]

Ed Kyle has a great evolution of the Ares V on his site, with data as the prime focus. I thought I would do the same for the graphical side of things.

As I have done in the past for Ares I, I will continue to update this evolution as more changes occur.

Nicely done, but I have a suggestion:
It might be handy for Ares V evolution images to include a same-scale SaturnV (I would suggest the Skylab stack as equivalent) and the Ares I evolution images to include a same-scale Saturn 1B.

[jeff.findley]

I like Mr. Tim's suggestion.  That would give a sense of scale relative to what NASA could do in the 60's.

[edkyle99]

Ed Kyle has a great evolution of the Ares V on his site, with data as the prime focus. I thought I would do the same for the graphical side of things.

As I have done in the past for Ares I, I will continue to update this evolution as more changes occur.

Nicely done, but I have a suggestion:
It might be handy for Ares V evolution images to include a same-scale SaturnV (I would suggest the Skylab stack as equivalent) and the Ares I evolution images to include a same-scale Saturn 1B.

The Saturn comparison is useful for those familiar with Saturn.  Another comparison, against a Shuttle stack, might be useful for those who have only known Shuttle. 

 - Ed Kyle

[Marsman]

Or you could do both

[renclod]

http://www.tallgeorge.com/projectconstellation.php
http://www.tallgeorge.com/images/projectconstellation/DerivedComponents_HiRes.jpg

[mike robel]

 Re: Ares V Evolution
« Reply #10 on: Today at 05:14:11 PM »
Reply with quote
http://www.tallgeorge.com/projectconstellation.php
http://www.tallgeorge.com/images/projectconstellation/DerivedComponents_HiRes.jpg

Interesting.  The bottom link gives the impression the RS-68 is derived from the F-1.

I think these diagrams should include the Delta IVH for the RS-68 lineage, which I suppose is related to the SSME (? via the STME?).

I guess the Ares V tankage has more in common with the ET than it does the S-1C or S-II, beyond its diameter?  Of course, you could claim that as a heritage factor from the Saturn V too...

[danielc56]

I think there are two Ares V revisions missing from that pic:

1) At one point the shroud was expanded to 10m, while the EDS remained 8m. It was discussed in this thread (link).

2) Also, there was an Ares V configuration that was uniformly 10m wide, but had 5 engines and 5-segment (not 5.5) SRBs. It was also a little shorter than the rightmost image.

Both these designs should go between the two rightmost images (Ares V 2006-2007 and Ares V 2008).

Thanks for creating this thread, gladiator1332!

danielc56

[sandrot]

[...] I guess the Ares V tankage has more in common with the ET than it does the S-1C or S-II, beyond its diameter?  Of course, you could claim that as a heritage factor from the Saturn V too...

Gotta see how LOX tank will look like to tell...

[Malderi]

Why is NASA bending over backwards to bulk up the Ares V but resisting almost all proposals to deal with Ares I shortfalls?

Probably because the Ares I is much farther along the design cycle, with hardware already been built, procedures developed, etc. The Ares V is still in pipe-dream-planning stages, and thus can be changed with minimal work lost. That's one of the main advantages, so far, of Constellation, in the staged approach to development - Ares V/Altair get a very, very long period of concept design studies, so lots of things can be decided. Ares I is probably an example of the other way - trying to go too fast into hardware design from a relatively quick concept study.