NASA Goddard: The #LUVOIR space telescope concept can indeed fly on Starship!

[ThePonjaX]

https://twitter.com/NASAGoddard/status/1116310431969239040


"We asked and @SpaceX checked. The #LUVOIR space telescope concept can indeed fly on Starship! (graphic used by permission)"


Seems some at Nasa are considering the Starship 

[envy887]

Assuming that's a SpaceX graphic, it would seem the Chomper is alive and well.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

For those like me not familiar with LUVOIR (Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor):

https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/luvoir/

The Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR) is a concept for a highly capable, multi-wavelength space observatory with ambitious science goals. This mission would enable great leaps forward in a broad range of science, from the epoch of reionization, through galaxy formation and evolution, star and planet formation, to solar system remote sensing. LUVOIR also has the major goal of characterizing a wide range of exoplanets, including those that might be habitable - or even inhabited.

LUVOIR is one of four Decadal Survey Mission Concept Studies initiated in Jan 2016. The study will extend over three years and will be executed by the Goddard Space Flight Center, under the leadership of a Science and Technology Definition Team (STDT) drawn from the community.

Tweeted image from OP attached.

[ThePonjaX]

Assuming that's a SpaceX graphic, it would seem the Chomper is alive and well.

Yes, because it's the only way to get out the telescope. The Chomper is too cool.

I know it's just a graphic for now but I'd love to have more detail about the request.

[RotoSequence]

Based on the mirror segments, it looks like the LUVOIR-B configuration fits in Starship:

https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/luvoir/design/

The 15 meter LUVOIR-A would be a significantly bigger instrument. I wonder if it fits?

[zack]

Seems like they could also fit LUVOIR-A:

https://twitter.com/starkspace/status/1116336743584759810

[M.E.T.]

If Luvour A struggles to fit in Starship how was it ever going to fit into SLS Block 2? Or does SLS Block 2 have a larger cargo volume than Starship?

[RotoSequence]

If Luvour A struggles to fit in Starship how was it ever going to fit into SLS Block 2? Or does SLS Block 2 have a larger cargo volume than Starship?

SLS' payload fairing has more cargo volume.

[intelati]

If Luvour A struggles to fit in Starship how was it ever going to fit into SLS Block 2? Or does SLS Block 2 have a larger cargo volume than Starship?

From reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/98y48w/cargo_bfrs_fairing_may_be_problematic_for_bigger/

From appearances, it looks like the BFR's cargo space has been improved since this post. I have not seen any estimates for the cargo hold for comparison to existing or proposed fairings.

[ncb1397]

If Luvour A struggles to fit in Starship how was it ever going to fit into SLS Block 2? Or does SLS Block 2 have a larger cargo volume than Starship?

SLS' payload fairing has more cargo volume.

1800 cubic meters vs >1000 cubic meters, 10 meter diameter vs 9 meter diameter and no cargo bay doors.

[M.E.T.]

If Luvoir is supposed to launch in 2039 then 9m Starship will likely be retired by then and replaced by 12m Starship in any case.

[intelati]

If Luvoir is supposed to launch in 2039 then 9m Starship will likely be retired by then and replaced by 12m Starship in any case.

You can't design for a non-material rocket. I consider the 12m Starship to be less than paper at this point.

[niwax]

If it doesn't fit, they can always do a super guppy.

[M.E.T.]

Does Starship’s nose have to taper so sharply? Is a stubbier nose version at all feasible? That would presumably increase the length of the 9m diameter section of the cargo bay, allowing for more practically usable volume.

[meekGee]

If Luvoir is supposed to launch in 2039 then 9m Starship will likely be retired by then and replaced by 12m Starship in any case.

You can't design for a non-material rocket. I consider the 12m Starship to be less than paper at this point.

Since the telescope wants to fly 20 years from now, are you saying they need to rely on a 20-year old rocket?

[M.E.T.]

If Luvoir is supposed to launch in 2039 then 9m Starship will likely be retired by then and replaced by 12m Starship in any case.

You can't design for a non-material rocket. I consider the 12m Starship to be less than paper at this point.

Since the telescope wants to fly 20 years from now, are you saying they need to rely on a 20-year old rocket?

The irony being that it was originally intended for SLS Block 2 which in itself is a paper rocket which might in fact never fly, and certainly not in the near future. So how do the designers get around that dilemma?

[intelati]

If Luvoir is supposed to launch in 2039 then 9m Starship will likely be retired by then and replaced by 12m Starship in any case.

You can't design for a non-material rocket. I consider the 12m Starship to be less than paper at this point.

Since the telescope wants to fly 20 years from now, are you saying they need to rely on a 20-year old rocket?

I'm saying you can't design for a rocket that only exists in the minds. Fairings are usually similar across families, so when you design for something that exists now (or in the final stages of planning [New Glenn, SLS...]) and if the future rockets match those requirements, then you're just fine. I mean hell, from this one render, I believe the 9m BFR chomper renders have changed in the year it has been public.

[whitelancer64]

If Luvoir is supposed to launch in 2039 then 9m Starship will likely be retired by then and replaced by 12m Starship in any case.

You can't design for a non-material rocket. I consider the 12m Starship to be less than paper at this point.

Since the telescope wants to fly 20 years from now, are you saying they need to rely on a 20-year old rocket?

BFR / Spaceship won't be 20 years old when it is launched, because the rocket hasn't even been built and flown yet. It's possible it would be BFR / Spacexhip v3.0 Block 8 at that time :p

[RedLineTrain]

If Luvoir is supposed to launch in 2039 then 9m Starship will likely be retired by then and replaced by 12m Starship in any case.

You can't design for a non-material rocket. I consider the 12m Starship to be less than paper at this point.

Since the telescope wants to fly 20 years from now, are you saying they need to rely on a 20-year old rocket?

I'm saying you can't design for a rocket that only exists in the minds. Fairings are usually similar across families, so when you design for something that exists now (or in the final stages of planning [New Glenn, SLS...]) and if the future rockets match those requirements, then you're just fine. I mean hell, from this one render, I believe the 9m BFR chomper renders have changed in the year it has been public.

As far as I know, LUVOIR isn't being designed yet.  It is in the concept phase.

Starship is every bit as real as New Glenn.

[intelati]

As far as I know, LUVOIR isn't being designed yet.  It is in the concept phase.

Even better then.

If you conceptualize a design for a 12m fairing and it never exists you're stuck with a bum design and have to start over. If you design for a 9m chomper and the 12m variant exists 30 years from now, who really cares? You have room no matter what.