Author Topic: Hercules - NASA SACD single-stage reusable lander for Mars concept (Read 7614 times)

ThePonjaX · « **on:** 03/16/2020 03:14 am »

Hi. I'm started these thread here because I don't know where to put it and I couldn't find a post about these in the forum.
Please moderator put on on the appropriate place.

I saw these before on reddit and it call my attention:

https://sacd.larc.nasa.gov/vab/vab-projects/hercules/

Some interesting characteristics:
- reusable
- lunch and land vertically
- abort system included

and
the engines aren't on the bottom of vehicle. A very interesting choice, which enables some interesting possibilities as show in the video.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #1 on:** 03/24/2020 10:14 pm »

The main engines ARE on the bottom; they’re just not used for terminal landing. This avoids problems with excavating a crater under your rocket.

Coastal Ron · « **Reply #2 on:** 03/24/2020 10:50 pm »

Wow, something from NASA that makes sense!

Which probably means it has no chance of being developed, but I do like it. It looks like an evolution of ULA's ACES Lunar Lander design, and I like the improvements.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #3 on:** 03/26/2020 03:15 am »

Quote from: Coastal Ron on 03/24/2020 10:50 pm

Wow, something from NASA that makes sense!

Which probably means it has no chance of being developed, but I do like it. It looks like an evolution of ULA's ACES Lunar Lander design, and I like the improvements.

i don’t think it has anything to do with the ACES lander design.

This lander design is a good 5 years old.

Coastal Ron · « **Reply #4 on:** 03/26/2020 05:00 am »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 03/26/2020 03:15 am

Quote from: Coastal Ron on 03/24/2020 10:50 pm
Wow, something from NASA that makes sense!

Which probably means it has no chance of being developed, but I do like it. It looks like an evolution of ULA's ACES Lunar Lander design, and I like the improvements.
i don’t think it has anything to do with the ACES lander design.

This lander design is a good 5 years old.

Well ACES has been around for at least 10 years, and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Rocket Science · « **Reply #5 on:** 03/26/2020 05:30 am »

Those nose landing engines were what I proposed for StarShip oh so long ago...

Robotbeat · « **Reply #6 on:** 03/26/2020 02:09 pm »

Quote from: Coastal Ron on 03/26/2020 05:00 am

Quote from: Robotbeat on 03/26/2020 03:15 am
Quote from: Coastal Ron on 03/24/2020 10:50 pm
Wow, something from NASA that makes sense!

Which probably means it has no chance of being developed, but I do like it. It looks like an evolution of ULA's ACES Lunar Lander design, and I like the improvements.
i don’t think it has anything to do with the ACES lander design.

This lander design is a good 5 years old.

Well ACES has been around for at least 10 years, and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

It has nothing to do with the ACES lander.

Rocket Science · « **Reply #7 on:** 04/01/2020 04:42 pm »

Interesting escape system...

GWH · « **Reply #8 on:** 04/01/2020 06:29 pm »

If one browses through some of the old ITS speculation threads they will find this exact concept proposed by various posters.

It's the correct solution to the correct problem -how to build iterations of hardware to the final goal of landing on Mars. No weird 3 stage lunar lander. No reliance on long transits and SEP for human transport.

How much delta V would just the main propulsion element have? Probably enough to take Orion to Gateway and the Gateway elements for assembly in a dual launch scenario. Exactly what would be needed INSTEAD of building a super heavy lift system like SLS.

This is what it looks like when the means to do something align with the end goal. It's also the same reason it looks more than a little like Starship.

Rocket Science · « **Reply #9 on:** 04/02/2020 04:54 pm »

The more I look at this the more I see it has a BO vibe to it... IMHO...

Robotbeat · « **Reply #10 on:** 05/14/2020 01:43 pm »

Bump in context of lunar Starship having similar landing style with the high mounted thrusters.

RanulfC · « **Reply #11 on:** 10/01/2020 02:43 pm »

Bump again to include a link to "Atomic Rockets" Lander/Hercules section which includes links to all the open papers on the concept (as well as the "ISRU-to-the-Wall" study group)
http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/excursion.php#hercules

There have also been several class and collage related projects such as this thesis on:
"Atmospheric Entry Performance of the Hercules Single-Stage Reusable Vehicle at Earth"
https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6994&context=utk_gradthes

As well as another, (behind a paywall or membership):
"Subscale Demonstration and Validation of the Hercules Lunar and Mars Ascent, Descent, and Entry Vehicle"
https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2020-2015

And a Space Review article on the entire concept which is designed to rapidly enable ISRU and Mars, (and the Moon) base build up and orbital infrastructure:
"Enabling a Mars settlement strategy with the Hercules reusable Mars lander"
https://www.thespacereview.com/article/3085/1

Randy