CFE - 13/3/2007 2:50 AMThen again, the current Ares V design requires new crawlers and MLP's. Why not build in the option for four or six SRB's while we have the chance?
nobodyofconsequence - 13/3/2007 1:23 PMCouldn't one obviate the need for the development of Ares additional segment versions with 3 existing SRB's? Wouldn't that bring in the schedule and lower budget?
Jim - 13/3/2007 6:15 PMQuotenobodyofconsequence - 13/3/2007 1:23 PMCouldn't one obviate the need for the development of Ares additional segment versions with 3 existing SRB's? Wouldn't that bring in the schedule and lower budget?3 would be worse than 4. Pad, MLP, and VAB mods. 3 SRB attachment would be iffy
Jim - 13/3/2007 6:50 AMQuoteCFE - 13/3/2007 2:50 AMThen again, the current Ares V design requires new crawlers and MLP's. Why not build in the option for four or six SRB's while we have the chance?Ares V doesn't require new crawlers. The crawlers just new to be replaced. I believe Ares I gets the new MLP's and Ares V reuses the old oneThe pads can't handle 4 or 6 SRB's that is the real issue. Also there is no requirement for 4 or 6 SRB vehicles
Jim - 13/3/2007 5:15 PMQuotenobodyofconsequence - 13/3/2007 1:23 PMCouldn't one obviate the need for the development of Ares additional segment versions with 3 existing SRB's? Wouldn't that bring in the schedule and lower budget?3 would be worse than 4. Pad, MLP, and VAB mods. 3 SRB attachment would be iffy
aftercolumbia - 28/5/2007 5:25 PMQuoteJim - 13/3/2007 5:15 PM3 would be worse than 4. Pad, MLP, and VAB mods. 3 SRB attachment would be iffyI very much doubt that. The arrangement of the existing Shuttle stack is not too far removed from a 3*SRB plus inline core, actually: 2*3 million pound thrust SRBs on each side of the ET, and a 1.35 million pound thrust Orbiter orthogonal to the SRBs' situation.What could be a bit more of a boon to the 3 SRB edition of the Ares V is to size up the Ares V core diameter to the point where two boosters, placed 120deg apart, are the same distance apart as the two boosters on the Shuttle stack that we have. That way the same SRB flame trench could be used for those two. Alas, the SSME flame trench would have to be overhauled to handle the fourfold increase in thrust going through that side of the pad. Since the Ares V already has similar issues, I don't see that we are losing much.
Jim - 13/3/2007 5:15 PM3 would be worse than 4. Pad, MLP, and VAB mods. 3 SRB attachment would be iffy