New Mars Forums

The shuttles wouldn't actually be used for flying as tangible spacecraft from LEO to MTO. They would merely be components of a much larger spaceship if you combine them. Yes, all three. They would form a multi-lateral command/service module system for storing supplies, life support, flight crew, additional components; ect.  A propulsion module using Delta 2 rockets would form the primary drive from earth to Mars.  Using about 12 altogether, they would be mounted behind the shuttle combination that is connected in a "Y" shape configuration of extension modules and braces.   It would be fired in a sequence of 4 boosters at a time to gain enough velocity amplified by the next sequence to propel the vessel out of earth orbit.  The shuttles would use their engines, a total of 192 in all for rotation and attitude adjustments in flight and for putting the vehicle in MTO.  It would then deposit a Martian Lander Vehicle docked to the ship to land as many as 4 astronauts or cosmonauts if you prefer.  Just a thought.

Within the next 3 years the three remaining space shuttles are due to be retired from service, yet with still nearly have half of their life left over, perhaps each with a flight capability of at least 35 more missions if they were to ever be used.  So instead of just sticking them somewhere in a  museum for our viewing pleasure, why not utilize them for an all purpose interplanetary transportation system for ferrying other spacecraft between earth and our closest neighboring planets, primarily Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, maybe even the Keiper belt!  The ITS or "space ferry" as it would be known, could be a very cost effective and highly affordable solution to getting us to Mars and beyond and in a much shorter amount of time than what is proposed, sometime after 2030!  How about 2015, instead?
     It's quite simple. Engineers would remove redundant systems aboard each shuttle (including the landing gear) and replace them with newer components and equipment suited for the new use, or simply to reduce weight and mass.  Then each shuttle would be fitted with new manufactured connection modules and braces that could even be carried in the cargo bays to be fully assembled in orbit, perhaps while docked at the ISS.  Each shuttle would then be launched by its' regular method however, all three would be simultaneous and then rendevous in low earth orbit together, where they would permanently open their bay doors to extend their modules that would ultimately connect to one another making one massively compounded command/flight system vehicle.  The shuttles would thus fuse into one ship.
     Each of the shuttle modules would face heat shields outward as the upper decks face towards each other in a "Y" shaped connection, a three way link to one epicenter connector brace which would act as an intersection for crew members moving from one shuttle to the next as they might need.  It would also, give them one impecable view and an instant observation point to monitor the entire vehicle in flight.
     Next comes the booster assembly/service module unit, also built and launched from earth that would rendevous with the command/flight system via the epicenter connector brace locking it permanently together while functioning as the primary propulsion drive for the entire vessel.  As multiple booster rockets would still be needed to provide enough specific impulse to generate escape velocity from earth orbit and into an intra-solar flight to the more outlying planets from the sun, I would recommend using the Delta rockets used in launching satellites into interplanetary trajectories, as they too, are highly economical and easy to assemble.  Once they are fired into orbit they would exhaust their fuel, however they would be carrying an additional reserve in their payload compartments instead of satellite/probes, so once they were "captured" or manuevered into place and attached to the booster assembly/service module these Delta rockets could be permanently reused as the new drive engines, already refueled with far less labor required.  12 rockets would be needed for this to work, though.
     Upon completion of the vessel assembly, the newly commissioned space ferry could be taken out for trial runs for a multitude of tests.  Perhaps the moon might make a good test run.  Prior to vehicle launch the shuttles in unison would fire their attitude jets causing the entire ship to rotate in place clockwise, thus generating centrifugal gravity that would be vital to the health of the crew onboard.  This spinning effect would also act to keep the ship on a smooth and firm flight path much like the barrel role used on unmanned spacecraft.  The shuttles would then fire their main engines to maneuver the vessel away from the ISS and into earth orbit, even to possibly exploit the slingshot momentum that could be used to hurl it out onto an intra-solar flight.
     When the ship is ready for application of the main drive a countdown commences.  Then, four Delta boosters are fired in sequence pushing the ship past 8000 mph.  As they exhaust their fuel, yet remaining permanently attached for later use, another four boosters fire pushing the ship past 16,000 mph!  Finally, the remaining four are fired. This pushes the ship past 32,000 mph and the vessel is successfully in flight under its' own steam and onto the moon!  At this speed the ship can pretty much fly anywhere in the solar system, although rather slowly, but we'll work on that some other time in the future.  At least it's optimum for getting us safely to Mars.
     A flight to the moon could be achieved in under 2 days.  The power moving the vessel is strong enough to also carry manned flight modules that would be launched and later retrieved in flight or in orbit of the destined planet, thus carrying the first crews to Mars and beyond!  Whereas, each shuttle was built to hold seven people giving our new ship a capacity for 21, only seven to ten would ever be needed on any flight therefore conserving food and supplies as well as, life support to make for a more endurable journey.  Additional components like solar arrays, extra food/life support and precious communication equipment could be housed aboard, not to mention scientific research devices.
     As for the cost, it may be feasable to accomplish all of this for under $15,000,000,000, give or take a few million.  Much less than what is required to send only one pre-planned mission to Mars or to build a settlement on the moon.  Constructing this should take no longer than 3 to 5 years to complete, as most of the elements have already been built.  What's best about all of this?... it's reusable!  We could use it over on future missions for at least the better part of 15 years as long as we treat it right. We could begin a new era in manned space travel by simply continuing on the life span of the existing shuttle fleet and saving billions of dollars and time over the years while achieving the ultimate goal of putting people on other worlds.

     So,... How about it?