Nov 24, 2023DARPA studied modifying the current external tank design to be able to carry low-density payloads in a 25 or 35 ft (7.6 or 10.6 m) diameter fairing where the oxygen tank was currently. The Shuttle on average would only fly 66% of its payload capability but at nearly 100% of its payload volume. The external tank payload fairing would solve this problem. The oxygen tank would be redesigned as a cylindrical tank rather than conical and the clamshell payload fairing would be mounted directly on it. In this configuration, the orbiter would launch without any payload. These studies were eventually abandoned due to the fact that the new aerodynamic profile would make a Return to Launch Site (RTLS) maneuver impossible.
Kliper Spaceplane: ESA-Russia Collaboration that never MaterializedHazegrayart5 Dec 2023The Kliper spaceplane was a proposed Russian reusable spacecraft intended for crewed missions to low Earth orbit (LEO), the Moon, and potentially Mars. Developed by RSC Energia, it aimed to be a successor to the Soyuz spacecraft and capable of transporting both crew and cargo to space.Key features and concepts associated with the Kliper spaceplane included:Reusability: Designed to be partially reusable, enabling multiple flights after refurbishment similar to the Space Shuttle program.Crew Capacity: Planned to accommodate up to six cosmonauts for missions to the International Space Station (ISS) or other orbital missions.Launch Vehicle: Intended to be launched atop a variety of rockets, including the Soyuz-2 and Angara rockets, depending on mission requirements.Mission Capabilities: Envisioned for missions to the ISS, lunar expeditions, and potentially Mars missions, providing a versatile platform for various space exploration endeavors.Landing System: Planned to return to Earth autonomously, with the ability to land on conventional runways, similar to the Space Shuttle, reducing the reliance on ocean landings.The Kliper project generated significant interest and anticipation, but it faced funding challenges and shifts in priorities within the Russian space program. Ultimately, the project was shelved in the mid-2000s in favor of other initiatives, such as the continued use and development of Soyuz spacecraft and modules for the ISS missions.Despite its discontinuation, the Kliper concept and its design elements have contributed to discussions and ideas surrounding future crewed spaceflight and reusable spacecraft within the Russian space industry.The Soyuz-3 concept, as described from the information available, seems to incorporate several key technical details:First Stage:Comprised of four conical strap-on boosters.Equipped with a modified version of the RD-120 engine, borrowed from the operational Zenit-2 rocket.Second Stage (Core/Sustainer Stage):Borrowed body dimensions from the Avrora project.Top section had a cylindrical shape with a constant diameter (different from previous conical shapes).Carried the NK-33 engine, inherited from the ill-fated N1 rocket of the 1960s Moon Race.The scale model lacked the RD-110P steering engine on the 2nd stage.Third Stage:Developed from scratch.Equipped with four RD-0146E engines.Utilized cryogenically cooled liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants.The basic concept of the engine was also intended for upper stages of the Proton-M and Angara launch vehicles.These specifications indicate a mix of heritage technology and new developments, combining engines from previous projects like the N1 and Zenit rockets with new designs for the third stage. The use of cryogenic propellants in the third stage suggests a focus on achieving higher performance. (Клипер, English: Clipper) was an early-2000s proposed partially-reusable crewed spacecraft concept by RSC Energia. Due to lack of funding from the ESA and RSA, the project was indefinitely postponed by 2006.Designed primarily to replace the Soyuz spacecraft, Kliper was proposed in two versions: as a pure lifting body design and as spaceplane with small wings. In either case, the craft would have been able to glide into the atmosphere at an angle that produces much less stress on the human occupants than the current Soyuz. Kliper was intended to be designed to be able to carry up to six people and to perform ferry services between Earth and the International Space Station.Presumably Soyouz 2-3 would have been able to launch the Kliper without wings and without the service module (working with the module Parom), whereas Soyouz 3 would have been used for the winged and autonomous heavier version (capable of docking to the station by its own).Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.comTrack: The Time by MusicAreahttps://tunetank.com/track/3935-the-t..."Soyuz TMA" (https://skfb.ly/oupxS) by TwilightSparkleX is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b....
It's neat to see him do that one. Kliper was interesting when it was first proposed, but then it joined a long list of Russian Soyuz replacements that never happened.Has he done Hermes yet? That seems like a rather obvious one.
No Hermes so far, unfortunately. Agree it would make sense.
SpaceX STARSHIP, Blue Origin NEW GLENN, ULA VULCAN CENTAUR, Relativity Space TERRAN R, Landspace ZHUQUE-2, Rocket Lab NEUTRON, Relativity Space TERRAN 1,ESA Ariane Group THEMIS, Stoke Space The possibilities of employing methane as a fuel for rockets have the potential to radically overhaul the space industry in multifarious ways. Primarily, as aforementioned, methane embodies a more ecologically friendly fuel source than traditional rocket fuels. If implemented, the utilization of methane-powered rockets has the capability of reducing the carbon footprint of space exploration, which has heretofore been an industry notorious for its pollutant output. Secondly, methane has greater accessibility than certain other rocket fuels, such as liquid hydrogen. Methane is derived from a plethora of sources, ranging from natural gas to renewable sources such as biomass and waste. This denotes that the production and distribution of methane as a rocket fuel can be more stable and less dependent on particular geographic locations. Thirdly, the potential for methane-powered rockets to be more efficient and cost-effective than traditional rockets is a plausible reality. Due to its increased density relative to hydrogen, methane can be stored in smaller tanks and requires less insulation to maintain a suitable temperature. This can lead to decreased launch costs and facilitate the execution of more frequent space missions. Finally, the possibilities of methane-powered rockets afford the potential for lengthier and more ambitious space missions, notably to destinations like Mars. Methane can be synthesized on Mars utilizing the planet's abundant carbon dioxide atmosphere and water ice. Consequently, methane-powered rockets could potentially refuel and return to Earth or proceed to other destinations in the solar system. Taken together, the implementation of methane as a rocket fuel holds the promise of a revolutionary transformation within the space industry. It can potentially make space exploration more sustainable, cost-effective, and ambitious than ever before.
The Russian Winged Orbital Launch Vehicle, a visionary project by the Soviet Air Force, aimed for a horizontal takeoff/horizontal landing, reusable space launch system akin to conventional aircraft. Developed by Mikoyan from 1960 to 1976, it featured a reusable hypersonic air-breathing booster, two expendable rocket stages, and the Spiral manned spaceplane. Hindered by inadequate government funding, it only reached subscale flight tests by the mid-1970s. Development ceased in 1976, giving way to the Buran, a Soviet version of the U.S. space shuttle. However, the concept saw a resurgence in the 1980s as the MAKS spaceplane, embodying technological evolution and human perseverance in aerospace innovation.
Jan 31, 2024In July 1960, Mikhail Yangel's OKB-586 design bureau, based in the city of Dnepropetrovsk Ukraine proposed the development of a rocket capable of carrying 40 tons into low Earth orbit, filling the gap between Korolev's N-1 (75 tons) and Chelomei's UR-500 (20 tons). Named R-56 with industrial designation 8K68, its preliminary design saw the liftoff weight increase from 1,200 to 1,400 tons.On May 22, 1963, the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the Soviet Ministers of the USSR authorized the experimental project (EP) for the R-56 rocket. Its potential applications included delivering geostationary satellites, lunar and planetary probes, manned circumlunar expeditions, and lunar surface supply missions.During conceptual design, KB Yuzhnoe explored three configurations for the R-56:Four modules: Each module with a 3.8-meter diameter for rail transportation.Seven-module: Each module with a 3-meter diameter, similar to the R-36 missile.One-module: Booster stages with a 6.5-meter diameter, necessitating waterway transportation.Despite the need for significant upgrades to production facilities and new means of stage delivery from the manufacturer to launch sites in Dnepropetrovsk, KB Yuzhnoe chose the one-module configuration.
Feb 14, 2024The Boeing doublebody, winged booster, known as Model 832-40made use of a Dyna-Soar glider as the crew module and escape capsule.Powered by twin clusters made up of 4 Rocketdyne J-2B rocket engines for vertical boost and 3 hydrogen-fueled, General Electric MF239C Turbofan engines for horizontal flight and landing. Designed for use with a variety of upper stages Source
ReNova SSTO Rocket Concept Developed by Martin3 Mar 2024The rocket engines are arranged in a ring around the major diameter of a STO.The hydrogen tanks form what is , in effect, a a large plug, with a toroidal oxygen tank mounted forward.. The rockets are enclosed in an air duct equipped with adjustable inlets. A jettisonable shroud extends the mixing area down stream of the rockets. The conical payload fairing serves as an inlet spike during accent through the atmosphere. The air enter through the inlet, mixes with the rocket exhaust, is heated and expands past the plug-shaped aft body, thus contributing additional thrust. The mixing shroud is jettisoned and the inlets are closed after leaving the atmosphere
Aug 30, 2022Gateway is a critical part of NASA’s deep space exploration plans, along with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Orion spacecraft and human landing system. As astronauts prepare for missions to the lunar surface, they will need deliveries of critical pressurized and unpressurized cargo, science experience and supplies, such as sample collection materials and other items. In March 2020, NASA awarded SpaceX as the first U.S. commercial provider under the Gateway Logistics Services contract to deliver cargo and other supplies to the lunar outpost on the SpaceX Dragon XL logistics module.The agency’s powerful Space Launch System rocket will launch four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for their multi-day journey to lunar orbit. There, two crew members will transfer to the SpaceX human landing system (HLS) for the final leg of their journey to the surface of the Moon. After approximately a week exploring the surface, they will board the lander for their short trip back to orbit where they will return to Orion and their colleagues before heading back to Earth.NASA’s Artemis program will land astronauts on the Moon and reveal new knowledge about the Moon, Earth and our origins in the solar system. At the Moon, NASA and its partners will gain the experience necessary to mount a historic human mission to Mars.Gateway model credit: Andreas Engevoldandreas93609.artstation.com
Apr 2, 2024The Energia Vulkan design was the largest of the Energia concepts with eight Zenit booster rockets and an Energia-M core as the upper stage, the Vulkan (which shared the name with another Soviet heavy lift rocket that was cancelled years earlier) configuration was initially projected to launch up to 200 metric tonnes into 200 km orbit with inclination 50.7°The development of the Vulkan and the refurbishment of Universal Test Stand and Launch Pad at site 250 for its launches was in progress between 1990–1993 and abandoned soon after due to a lack of funds and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Apr 10, 2024The Saturn MLV was a proposed concept family of rockets, intended as a follow-on to the Saturn V. MLV stands for "Modified Launch Vehicle".Vehicle configurations representative of several alternative uprating methods were specified by the Marshall Space Flight Center for initial studies.Proposed modificationsThrust uprating and modifying of the five F-1 rocket engines used in the first S-IC stage, and corresponding increases in propellant tank capacities.Addition of a sixth F-1 engine in the S-IC stage, as an alternative to engine uprating, plus increased propellant capacities.Use of UA1205 solid rocket boosters derived from the Titan IIIC vehicle.Additional J-2 engines in the S-II stage, ~131 s increased upper stage propellant capacities.Improved or advanced upper stage engines, such as the HG-3, plus increased propellant capacities.The baseline Saturn MLV would incorporate these changes from the Saturn V vehicle. The Saturn IC first stage would have been stretched 240 inches (610 cm) with 2,500,000 kg (5,600,000 lb) of propellant and five new F-1A engines; the S-II second stage would have been stretched 41 inches (100 cm) with 450,000 kg (1,000,000 lb) of propellant and five J-2 engines; the S-IVB third stage would have been strengthened, but with a standard 100,000 kg (230,000 lb) of propellant, and one J-2 engine. Nuclear propulsion in the third stage and toroidal J-2 engines in the second and third stages were also investigated.
Would it still fit the VAB?
Quote from: Kansan52 on 04/10/2024 05:44 pmWould it still fit the VAB?The one in the video would have. It's some 24 feet taller than the Saturn V, so 387 feet tall. The VAB doors are 456 feet tall, having been sized to accommodate the Nova.
