Since SpaceX is now invoking crossfeed in one of its systems, perhaps the solution for the future of Falcon 1 is to use crossfeed on it, as well.The current Falcon 1 first stage is far too small for the new Merlin 1D engine; rather than stretch the tanks, another approach would be to contain additional prop in drop tanks. The drop tank propellant would be fed to the main engine during the first minutes of flight, and then the tanks would be jettisoned, leaving a first stage with 90 percent of its internal propellant.The drop tank could be a torus, similar to that used by Briz-M.
Falcon 1 Heavy
Instead of drop tanks or cross feed, why not just make it a little wider? Instead of the current 1.7M width, they can make it 2m or there abouts. A little extra width will pick-up a lot of extra fuel carring capacity.
Quote from: R.Simko on 08/10/2011 05:10 pmInstead of drop tanks or cross feed, why not just make it a little wider? Instead of the current 1.7M width, they can make it 2m or there abouts. A little extra width will pick-up a lot of extra fuel carring capacity. Tooling for wider diameter tankage is expensive.