14 May
2010
14 May
'10
5:14 p.m.
Christian Kennedy wrote:
I have always favored a piggy back shuttle/transport into space.
I favor say 3000 lbs into space, with a re-usable shuttle. From
there you bootstrap yourself into space. Then again I figured we
would have flying cars by 2001. :)
Ben.
PS. Only one pilot, two is not going make it safer.
Vehicle/tonnes
to LEO Shuttle/24.4 Delta IV Heavy/22.9
Delta IV heavy is 22.5 metric tons to 51.6 degree LEO, 21.5 metric
tons to 90 degree LEO, 10.75 metric tons to GTO (1500 m/s to GEO) or
12.5 metric tons to GTO (1800 m/s to GEO).
STS is 24.4 metric tons to 28.5 degree LEO, 12.5 metric tons to 90
degree LEO, 2.27 tons to GEO.
Compared to the big boys of the EELV family the STS is a wimp,
largely because it's so damn massive in terms of dead weight.