NASA Unveils New Space Launch System
Discussion
NASA has announced the configuration of it's new heavy lift launcher:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-1491...
It has shuttle derived main stage with the same diameter as the shuttle external tank and with 5 SSMEs and 2 shuttle derived SRBs. The upper stage is an evolved Saturn 5 2nd/3rd stage engine - the J2-X. None of this comes as any great surprise. What did raise my eyebrows was that in the simulation vids, it's painted to look more like a Saturn than a Shuttle - black and white instead of orange.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-1491...
It has shuttle derived main stage with the same diameter as the shuttle external tank and with 5 SSMEs and 2 shuttle derived SRBs. The upper stage is an evolved Saturn 5 2nd/3rd stage engine - the J2-X. None of this comes as any great surprise. What did raise my eyebrows was that in the simulation vids, it's painted to look more like a Saturn than a Shuttle - black and white instead of orange.
Seems sensible enough, NASA are trying to cut costs as much as possible and using tried and tested reliable technology. the Saturn V stages have been around for 50 years.
I think NASA are leaving all the new and innovative stuff to private companies and to let them start and run their own projects, rather than then tendering for NASA contracts as per the past.
I think NASA are leaving all the new and innovative stuff to private companies and to let them start and run their own projects, rather than then tendering for NASA contracts as per the past.
Absolutely great news. NASA needs to establish what it intends to do over the next few years and this is the first step required.
The reason why the booster has a black and white pattern is because of the need to ascertain the "roll programme" manoeuver visually after launch. With the Shuttle, because of its asymetric configuration, the roll manoeuver was easy to discern. With a a more traditional rocket, checking that the roll has been carried out correctly is difficult unless you have an easy to identify visual pattern on the booster.
Obviously, all we are seeing at the mopment is an artist's impression. What it really will look like we won't know for a while.
Some interesting points though -
The entire liquid fueled part of the system uses liquid oxggen and liquid hydrogen, including the five engined first stage. The Saturn V first stage also had five engines but they burned the less efficient liquid oxygen-kerosene combination.
In its initial form, the new rocket will put 70 tonnes into low earth orbit. The Saturn V could put 100 tonnes into low earth orbit. However, the new booster will, when fully operational, be aiming to put 130 tonnes into low earth orbit.
The thrust rating of the first stage plus the two SRBs is 8.25 million pounds of thrust. This compares to 7.5 million pounds for teh Saturn V and just over 6 million pounds for the Shuttle. The upgraded version will have a thrust exceeding 9 million pounds.
These SRBs are 5 segment(rather than the Shuttle's 3 segment) so will burn for longer giving more thrust over a longer period. I presume they will also be fully recoverable and reusable. I doubt that the central core part of the rocket will be reuseable but it will be interesting to see where they go with that.
The reason why the booster has a black and white pattern is because of the need to ascertain the "roll programme" manoeuver visually after launch. With the Shuttle, because of its asymetric configuration, the roll manoeuver was easy to discern. With a a more traditional rocket, checking that the roll has been carried out correctly is difficult unless you have an easy to identify visual pattern on the booster.
Obviously, all we are seeing at the mopment is an artist's impression. What it really will look like we won't know for a while.
Some interesting points though -
The entire liquid fueled part of the system uses liquid oxggen and liquid hydrogen, including the five engined first stage. The Saturn V first stage also had five engines but they burned the less efficient liquid oxygen-kerosene combination.
In its initial form, the new rocket will put 70 tonnes into low earth orbit. The Saturn V could put 100 tonnes into low earth orbit. However, the new booster will, when fully operational, be aiming to put 130 tonnes into low earth orbit.
The thrust rating of the first stage plus the two SRBs is 8.25 million pounds of thrust. This compares to 7.5 million pounds for teh Saturn V and just over 6 million pounds for the Shuttle. The upgraded version will have a thrust exceeding 9 million pounds.
These SRBs are 5 segment(rather than the Shuttle's 3 segment) so will burn for longer giving more thrust over a longer period. I presume they will also be fully recoverable and reusable. I doubt that the central core part of the rocket will be reuseable but it will be interesting to see where they go with that.
Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 14th September 22:46
Simpo Two said:
Eric Mc said:
Possibly - but it has a definte purpose too
What was that?Skylab was black and white too (I made a model of it for A-level Art!)
HarryW said:
Eric Mc said:
Caruso said:
I strongly suspect the colour scheme of the simulation was intended to evoke the Apollo era.
Possibly - but it has a definte purpose too - which was the reason it was on the Saturn in the first place.Werner Von Braun's team came up with the idea in 1942
He used a variation on the Jupiter C/Redstone
And carried it through to the Saturn family
It's not too bad and ranks pretty well with systems such as Delta. There are a few interesting differences between the way this system works compared to the Shuttle and the Saturn V -
The Space Shuttle Main Engines were designed to be reuseable up to 100 times. I expect that this version of the engine will not be resuseable which means they should be able to operate them at higher thrust settings
The new rocket is essentially a two stage rocket with five Shuttle engines on stage one and on stage 2 a developed version of the Saturn V top stage J2 engine, also liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen powered together with two more powerful SRB strap-ons. It is essentially a four stage rocket rather than a three stage rocket.
The Saturn V used five lquid oxygen-kerosene F1 engines on stage 1. Stage 2 had five J2 liquid oxygen-liquid hydrogen engins and stage three had one J2 engine.
The Space Shuttle Main Engines were designed to be reuseable up to 100 times. I expect that this version of the engine will not be resuseable which means they should be able to operate them at higher thrust settings
The new rocket is essentially a two stage rocket with five Shuttle engines on stage one and on stage 2 a developed version of the Saturn V top stage J2 engine, also liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen powered together with two more powerful SRB strap-ons. It is essentially a four stage rocket rather than a three stage rocket.
The Saturn V used five lquid oxygen-kerosene F1 engines on stage 1. Stage 2 had five J2 liquid oxygen-liquid hydrogen engins and stage three had one J2 engine.
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