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http://www.space.com/businesstechnology … tails.html
I was reading this site article when it came to me. WTF. Why are we even attempting this, because there isn't a better way??? Instead of using all this shuttle tech that is going to have to be completely overhauled, and according to the critics in the aforementioned article, may not work right anyway.
If this the model that NASA wants to use, "Apollo on 'roids", fine, whatever. but why doesn't NASA dump some $$$ into SpaceX and shoot for using the Falcon 9 or whatever number they would be up to that would have the lifting capacity?
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Sorry but had posted this link to this article in this thread Post central for information on CEV IV - Before thread #3 melts down earlier in the day on page 5 of all comments.
As for just giving money to untested rocket designs, it just will not happen as Griffin has already indicated.
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Thats right, there probobly isn't a better way
The NASA plan, until I hear different, is the best solution available for an exploration-motive space program. It gets us back to the Moon with enough payload to set up shop perminantly, gives us a heavy lifter powerful enough for Mars, and (for the moment) keeps Congress sufficently happy.
The problem with AltSpace is two fold, first is their reliability and the second is the scope of their capability: the latter, AltSpace has not had enough sucess nor has enough credibility for NASA to take a risk on them. Of all the AltSpace companies, it seems that only one or two will even survive to build an orbital launcher, and their rockets can't even lift a single tonne to orbit, and hasn't flown a single time. It is simply premature to think about trusting in them.
Just imagine the feeding frenzy if you offerd $1Bn to develop a Delta-IV HLV class medium launcher, all the little companies would be falling over themselves trying to promise lower and lower costs, and frankly I don't think any of them but maybe Elon have what it takes. And Elon's little dinky rocket, last I checked, is still sitting on the pad... the Falcon-IX is what is termed "vaporware."
And the capability... even the vaunted tripple-core Falcon-IX won't be a whole lot more powerful then the Delta-IV HLV, which is itself 1/5th the payload of the big SDV.
[i]"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those that do not have it." - George Bernard Shaw[/i]
[i]The glass is at 50% of capacity[/i]
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Point taken, thanks for the feedback.
Do you envision the current plan as being successful, despite the problems that the critics are pointing out?
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