So, with the current pad and a bunch of upgrades, they can reach precisely 53 tonnes to LEO. Gee, I wonder where that number came from...
The "Super-Heavy" with 4x RS-68 on three 8-meter cores looks rather impressive too...
9) Still no figure for vacuum thrust of the RS-68A. I do look forward to the additional couple of percent that is almost certain to show up after multiple flights.
Isn't RS-68A supposed to be 800klbs of thrust in vacuum?
ULA is now in the process of updating their website's user and product document and is to be fully updated by the end of the year according to the person I recently talked to. The Atlas V and Delta IV product cards have been replaced on ULA with a new 2013 Updated Technical Summary. The new ULA DIV user guide ("The Delta IV Launch Services User’s Guide has been cleared for public release by the Chief, Office of Security Review, Department of Defense, as stated in letter 13-S-1948, dated June 04, 2013.") has now been released to the public. The new ULA AV user guide is expected to be released to the public by late 2013 upon the receipt by ULA that the Atlas V Launch Services User’s Guide has been cleared for public release by the Chief, Office of Security Review, Department of Defense. People have been asking for these so here you go. I will add the new ULA links and PDFs as they become available.
Note 1: AV RL-10 info supposedly now reflects RL-10C (aka RL-10C-2) only
Note 2: DIV RL-10 info supposedly now reflects RL-10B-2 (also known as unmodified RL-10C or RL-10C-1) only
Note 3: DIV CBC Engine info supposedly now reflects RS-68A only
Where did these notes come from? I didn't see them in any of the links, but maybe I missed them.
So, with the current pad and a bunch of upgrades, they can reach precisely 53 tonnes to LEO. Gee, I wonder where that number came from...
I wonder! Of course, the difference it it will probably get double the mass to GTO as FH.
The "Super-Heavy" with 4x RS-68 on three 8-meter cores looks rather impressive too...
I like the version with three RS-68's on each. If you were to put that on say a 6m core, or 6.5m core (and be a little taller) , then it could fit through the VAB doors. So it wouldn't need a new pad. Not sure how wide of diameter the tooling at Decatur could actually do. Would any core over 5m require new tooling? Or could existing tooling go up to a larger diameter? Say 5.5m or 6m?
What's the maximum diameter before new tooling is needed in Decatur?
Impressive. Perhaps LC-39A for any Delta Super Heavy?
1) The base Delta IV took a massive hit in performance.
3.3% less to LEO, about 7.4% less to GTO. Significant, but I don't think I would call it "massive". Offsetting the loss, of course, is the presumed cost savings of a "common" core.
I wonder too if those original performance goals were ever actually achieved.
- Ed Kyle
The original estimates for GTO are in the old 2007 Guide.
Medium now 9,280 estimated 10,500 minus 1,120 lbs
It went from outperforming an Atlas 401 to well under.
I do not expect any to be sold.
Using the 5,4 since it is the new standard design.
The numbers for the 5,4 are now 15,190 estimated 15,100 plus 90 lbs.
This would seem to indicate most changes are from new standard design.
9) Still no figure for vacuum thrust of the RS-68A. I do look forward to the additional couple of percent that is almost certain to show up after multiple flights.
Isn't RS-68A supposed to be 800klbs of thrust in vacuum?
I am just looking for official confirmation.
I wonder! Of course, the difference it it will probably get double the mass to GTO as FH.
20mt to C3 see above paper.
It also lists the improvements.
Note it has only one MB-60 on the upper stage so ACES could increase this.
4) ACES has gone from 90,000 lbs fuel to 110,000lbs since the 2010 Atlas Guide. It is also the same height as the current 5 m upper stage.
Wow, if used as ICPS 2 (ACPS??), that could push getting on for 40t through TLI from a block 1 SLS (0.92 PMF is quoted). No advanced boosters or upper stage reqd, just block 1 with RSRMV. Not far off Block 1B performance, for less outlay.
The Boeing paper suggested block "2B" (core + DUUS + advanced boosters) could push ~60t through TLI - just right for this to be delivered fully-fuelled to EML as the payload. Imagine the payload that could push from EML to Mars.
I wonder if it's the basis for the 5m CPS mentioned in
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/sls-pdr-evolved-rocket-dual-upper-stage/?
While the Evolvability Report is nothing more than a technical evaluation for decision makers – and does not represent any actual decisions by NASA for future SLS development – it does provide an interesting insight into SLS’ growth options.
Option 1 begins with development of the Advanced Boosters, followed by the use of the J-2X Upper Stage, the increase to five RS-25E engines on the Core Stage, prior to the addition of a five meter diameter Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (CPS).
(My highlight)
cheers, Martin
ULA is now in the process of updating their website's user and product document and is to be fully updated by the end of the year according to the person I recently talked to. The Atlas V and Delta IV product cards have been replaced on ULA with a new 2013 Updated Technical Summary. The new ULA DIV user guide ("The Delta IV Launch Services User’s Guide has been cleared for public release by the Chief, Office of Security Review, Department of Defense, as stated in letter 13-S-1948, dated June 04, 2013.") has now been released to the public. The new ULA AV user guide is expected to be released to the public by late 2013 upon the receipt by ULA that the Atlas V Launch Services User’s Guide has been cleared for public release by the Chief, Office of Security Review, Department of Defense. People have been asking for these so here you go. I will add the new ULA links and PDFs as they become available.
Note 1: AV RL-10 info supposedly now reflects RL-10C (aka RL-10C-2) only
Note 2: DIV RL-10 info supposedly now reflects RL-10B-2 (also known as unmodified RL-10C or RL-10C-1) only
Note 3: DIV CBC Engine info supposedly now reflects RS-68A only
Where did these notes come from? I didn't see them in any of the links, but maybe I missed them.
Thanks for pointing that out since I made a couple of mistakes that I failed to catch and later correct. I have now updated my first post to show the correct information. I also updated the same post with better wording and I added my specific references as additional notes and I also added two quotes from the references I used.
You can jump to my updated post here:
POST LINK:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32176.msg1065250#msg1065250
