Spaceplanes - Cases for and Against

[Eric Mc]

Beati Dogu said:

Following the Challenger disaster they added a drogue chute to the Shuttle as a safety feature. Interesting that the X-37B has one too.

It had originally been intended that the Orbiters would have a drag chute. However, they decided that the weight of the chute and the release mechanism would be saved so that they could carry more payload. They thought that using the split rudder as a speedbrake would be sufficient.

However, a number of early Shuttle landings experienced serious damage to brake discs and (on one occasion) an exploding tyre.

When the programme was examined after the Challenger accident, it was decided that perhaps a drag chute was a good idea after all and all the orbiters were retro fitted, apart from Endeavour which, as the replacement for Challenger, had a drag chute fitted from when it was built.

[Eric Mc]

Nobody was.

The interesting thing is that a few weeks ago there was a lot of fuss and hoo ha raised when NOTAMS were issued for the Cape Canaveral area - which led everybody to believe that the X-37 was going to land at Cape Canaveral then. Nothing happened and the DoD said it was an exercise.

Now, when it ACTUALLY happens, no NOTAMs were issued.

Is that not a bit dangerous?

[Eric Mc]

Sneaky.

[Eric Mc]

Recoverable 1st stage.

Recoverable payload.

We're nearly there.

[Eric Mc]

I know.

Recoverable is one thing, reusable is another.

SpaceX has only flown one Dragon capsule into orbit twice - so they are beginning to achieve resuability with the capsule. I don't know how many missions each Dragon will undertake once reusability becomes the norm.

The X-37 has been reusable from the start and I would expect that it has a theoretically fairly unlimited life as a reusable vehicle.

[Eric Mc]

I would assume that the base heatshield of the Dragon capsule needs to be replaced after each mission. Maybe someone can clarify if this is the case?

[Eric Mc]

Einion Yrth said:

The PICA-X TPS was designed to be reflown, this was back in 2013 though and I've not heard whether that remains the intention; we shall see.

The one they have re-flown - did it use its original heatshield or a replacement one?

[Eric Mc]

Einion Yrth said:

Eric Mc said:

Einion Yrth said:

The PICA-X TPS was designed to be reflown, this was back in 2013 though and I've not heard whether that remains the intention; we shall see.

The one they have re-flown - did it use its original heatshield or a replacement one?

It would be reasonable to infer from my post, that I don't know.

I wasn't asking you specifically. It was a general question to anyone who might know.

The Orion craft was intended to have what they call a multi-use "monolithic" heatshield. However, its heatshield has to withstand much higher heating than a spacecraft endures re-entering from earth orbit. As a result, the test flight of Orion in December 2014 used an ablative heatshild using Apollo style technology. The sides of the Orion, which experience much less heat than the base, uses silica tiles based on those used on the Shuttle.

[Eric Mc]

The new Boeing XS-1 - which is going to be called the Phantom Express -





Essentially, it is a winged flyback booster with an expendable payload booster mounted on the back.

Reminds me somewhat of some of the earliest Space Shuttle concepts -

[Eric Mc]

I suppose with modern materials wings aren't as heavy as they used to be.

[Eric Mc]

Can't see how the XS-1 as it currently is configured could recover any satellites already in orbit. The winged booster would not be capable of orbital velocity, so it cannot catch up, rendezvous and dock with an orbiting satellite

When placing a satellite INTO orbit, the satellite obtains its orbital velocity from the upper stage rocket attached to the satellite.

The winged booster also has no capacity for a payload bay. It's essentially a set of fuel tanks with wings and an undercarriage.

[Eric Mc]

MartG said:

Eric Mc said:

Can't see how the XS-1 as it currently is configured could recover any satellites already in orbit.

I guess it would need the payload to be a recoverable capsule, or maybe an X-37 type vehicle

That would be good - and a final realisation of the very first fully recoverable Space Shuttle concepts -

[Eric Mc]

Sad in a way but they always seemed the most likely to struggle. Weren't they the guys who were building the Lynx - and which Lynx deoderant were running a "Space Cadet" promotion?

That's obviously dead in the water now - if it wasn't already.