NASA's New Launch Systems May Include the Return of the Space Tug

[Emperor_Norton_II]

...continuing from last week's article on the proposed and nigh-mythical Shuttle replacement:

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1057

NASA planners are finalizing the configuration for the next generation cargo heavy lift launch vehicles with announcement of its basic configuration due during the week of 15 August. An integral part of these studies includes upper stages and other hardware needed to move payloads once they are in space.

As is the case in concepts being developed for crew transport - using the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) (see "NASA's New CEV Launcher to Maximize Use of Space Shuttle Components"), the ideas NASA has been considering for more than a year reach back to Apollo era concepts, and use derived versions of existing space shuttle hardware - all mixed with 21st century mission requirements and technology.

Space Tugs

One of the upper stage options under consideration includes a familiar concept from early in the space station program. According to study documents obtained by the authors, several configurations of shuttle-derived vehicles (SDV) include flight use of an Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV). OMVs are known by a more generic, common name: "space tugs".

The space tug concept goes back decades and was part of the original Space Station Freedom (SSF) program, which issued a contract to TRW to develop the reusable spacecraft. The original plan was to use the OMV to retrieve payloads and satellites such as the Hubble Space Telescope and bring them to SSF for repair work. The OMV was also to service a series of two free flying space platforms that were to accompany the manned station base.

Read The Rest, if for nothing else than an idea of what kind of ideas are going through Mike Griffin's head as he tries to turn politics into something worthwhile.

[Spinzonner]

1. As the history of the Shuttle has demonstrated

Any good design will be nickle-and-dimed by the COngress and Administration until they have to be scaled back and compromised into compromised and fragile kludges which end up, in practice, as being more expensive than the original discarded designs that were micromanaged into oblivion.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon wastes money hand-over-fist and can't account for a trillion dollars or so.

[BrightKnight]

2. cheaper, safer and more environmentally friendly

There have to environmental issues with these things. They don't exactly have catalytic converters.

Perhaps there is a cheaper, safer and more environmentally friendly way to put people and cargo in space.

It is time to move beyond Sputnik technology.

[Emperor_Norton_II]

3. Oh, I could think of a few ideas...

We could always use one of these.

[beam me up scottie]

4. When we launch that

bad boy, could we give Fox news reporters exclusive up close coverage?
:evilgrin:

[Emperor_Norton_II]

5. What, and damage the environment?

Don't be silly. ;)