... 2017... By that time, the man rated EELV should own the LEO sky.
Switching to the SSME for our baseline does not imply any change at this time regarding using the J-2X verses the RL-10 or even an RL-60 option. At this moment the J-2X remains our baseline, although discussions are on-going.
And could a crash design program using all that stimulus package money be put into action to get a basic J130 test vehicle flying within a year?
What I will say about the Rebuttal right now is that we have already decided to release it in sections, because we don't want to have to wait any more for the few sections which are holding us up so much.So we're going to release about 75% of the rebuttal ASAP, including the real core issues which we have with NASA's claims. We will then follow this core document up with extra appendices just as soon as they can be completed. That will at least get 75% of our complaints aired publicly.That will simply have to do for now because we have another big project which is needed for May which is going to start requiring another concerted effort from us all.Ross.
I think a J-130 X (with a dummy core stage, like Ares-IX has a dummy upper stage) could be ready in a year, and even that would be pretty cool.
Quote from: guru on 03/29/2009 01:06 pmI think a J-130 X (with a dummy core stage, like Ares-IX has a dummy upper stage) could be ready in a year, and even that would be pretty cool.Stick some thermal sensors in the fake thrust skirt and the mission would even return some useful data, such as the thermal environment under the ET during RSRM burn. That way, the degree to which RS-68 would need to be upgraded to operate on a Jupiter could be calculated.
CECE is derived from the RL-10 one probably could even call it an RL-10 variant but I think they completely reworked the injector design and turbo pump.
Quote from: Patchouli on 03/29/2009 02:07 amCECE is derived from the RL-10 one probably could even call it an RL-10 variant but I think they completely reworked the injector design and turbo pump.So, is this the human-rated RL10 Ross was talking about or is that a separate development?
It wouldn't even have the same thermal environment because the core stage is a dummy.
Also to my surprise a methane fuel option though I'd hate to see how many an ERV would need to get off Mars then again it can't be any worse then Falcon 9.
The 'team' meeting in Florida (KSC area) over the weekend & flying back home. Big project for May. [1]. Getting the rebuttal out soon. That speaks volumes in of itself.
Quote from: robertross on 03/29/2009 02:30 pmThe 'team' meeting in Florida (KSC area) over the weekend & flying back home. Big project for May. [1]. Getting the rebuttal out soon. That speaks volumes in of itself. We don't want to let a too-big impression come from that. The "Team" meeting was a social opportunity for a few of the team to get together in the KSC area with anyone else that wanted to meet any of us, share a small meal, have a beer and just say hi. It was not an "official" working meeting of any kind. That happened earlier in the day.
Does this mean you intend to stick with the current 2 engine JUS, or the smaller 1 engine configuration (J-231 type) you mentioned earlier?
And our analysis goes on to show that some other (lower-thrust but higher Isp) engine options become possible too, like the clusters of RL-10's or RL-60's.Ross.