Great article. But is AR saying that they finally achieved with the SSME what they set out to do 35 years ago? Borescoping, inspecting bolts, and the figuring out of the dry time of any moisture....this only can be accomplished now? After the program has long ended and the Orbiters are in museums? What might've been....
Has it been mentioned yet how this thing will get back to the launch site? Presumably it can't just glide back.
After deploying the upper stage, the booster is an unpowered glider. For lower speed deployments, it will flyback to a landing field at the launch site; for higher speed deployments that take it beyond range of a return to the launch site, it can land on runways downrange.
QuoteAfter deploying the upper stage, the booster is an unpowered glider. For lower speed deployments, it will flyback to a landing field at the launch site; for higher speed deployments that take it beyond range of a return to the launch site, it can land on runways downrange.
Quote from: sunworshipper on 07/21/2018 08:42 pmQuoteAfter deploying the upper stage, the booster is an unpowered glider. For lower speed deployments, it will flyback to a landing field at the launch site; for higher speed deployments that take it beyond range of a return to the launch site, it can land on runways downrange.So I guess it's mostly going to be gliding to downrange sites. I'm not sure what kind of launch would allow it to glide back to the launch site.
I'm probably just misunderstanding this thing's operations. I was imagining it launching on space shuttle like trajectories so it could glide back to land somewhere up the coast.Is the idea that it's going to be launching on more lofted trajectories so it's never very far downrange at separation?
Why not do a boost back maneuver?
Quote from: ncb1397 on 07/25/2018 01:48 amWhy not do a boost back maneuver?Probably because the AR-22 is not restartable.
Return to launch site (RTLS) was the first abort mode available and could be selected just after SRB jettison. The Shuttle would continue downrange to burn excess propellant, as well as pitch up to maintain vertical speed in aborts with an SSME failure. After burning sufficient propellant, the vehicle would be pitched all the way around and begin thrusting back towards the launch site
Quote from: ZachS09 on 07/25/2018 01:51 amQuote from: ncb1397 on 07/25/2018 01:48 amWhy not do a boost back maneuver?Probably because the AR-22 is not restartable.Why do you have to cut the engine off?
Why do you have to cut the engine off?Shuttle RTLS:<snip>
Quote from: ncb1397 on 07/25/2018 01:54 amWhy do you have to cut the engine off?Shuttle RTLS:<snip>Right, so you're gunna do staging with the SSME running?
Shuttle boosters staged with the SSMEs running. This is side mount, not top mount.
Quote from: QuantumG on 07/25/2018 02:00 amQuote from: ncb1397 on 07/25/2018 01:54 amWhy do you have to cut the engine off?Shuttle RTLS:<snip>Right, so you're gunna do staging with the SSME running?Shuttle boosters staged with the SSMEs running. This is side mount, not top mount.
Just a quick question. The Boeing Phantom Express spaceplane is designed to deliver an expendable upper stage carrying a small satellite into orbit for rapid and responsive space access. Could that expendable upper stage be replaced with, or carry, an X-37B vehicle, to allow true two-stage to orbit full reusability and some really interesting applications for the combination?
In quick searches, I couldn't find any information public that indicates the launch mass of the XS-1 second stage that carries the 3 klbm payload to orbit.
Quote from: mainmind on 08/26/2018 09:17 pmIn quick searches, I couldn't find any information public that indicates the launch mass of the XS-1 second stage that carries the 3 klbm payload to orbit. Several companies developing small launch vehicles have received DARPA study contracts for production of the second stage; it's an outsourced solution that hasn't yet been selected.