Print Page - Interesting Spaceflight Links

There's some interest in this old rocket idea, and lots of good ideas buried in it and it's kin.

Didn't find anything specific about it in the archives, but thanks in advance for any pointers or other links or article sources.
The ultimate BDB was the Sea Dragon design of Aerojet (web.wt.net/~markgoll/rse10.htm) Mark Goll

detailed discussion of design philosophy:
Sea-Launched Space Booster Studies (www.spacecityone.com/genastro/leocheap_ch9.htm) Air University Press

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know, no discussion -but this part is important, and I've seen snippets of this paradigm change in design philosophy elsewhere on ES boards, and this seems to be the source.
Reposted from a repost of a passage from the book "Great Mambo Chickens and the Transhuman Condition"
http://lists.firedrake.org/gzg/199610/msg00114.html
...
I said to myself, We've been tilting at windmills all this time! Â If all rockets cost the same to make, why try to improve the payload-to-weight ratio? Â If you want more payload, make the rocket bigger."
... About the only thing that *did* vary directly with a rocket's size was the cost of the raw materials that went into making it, but raw materials constituted only *2 percent* of the total cost of a rocket...
...
So if all this was true, if engineering, lab tests, documentation and so forth didn't determine a launch vehicle's price tag, *what did*? Essentially, three things: parts count, design margins, and innovation.
Other things being equal, the more parts a machine had, the more it was going to cost. The more you wanted it to approach perfection, the more expensive it would end up being. And finally, the newer and more pioneering the design, the more you'd end up paying for it.
...
"Make it big, make it simple, make it reusable. Don't push the state of the art, and don't make it any more reliable than it has to be.
And *never* mix people and cargo... For people you can have a very small vehicle on which you lavish all your attention; everything else is cargo, and for this all you need is a Big Dumb Booster."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winged vs. Ballistic Recovery of Reusable Space Launch Vehicles (www.spacecoretech.org/coretech2000/Papers/Systems/recover%20reuseable%20launch%20vehicles.html) R.Truax

From the excellent Encyclopedia Astronautica
http://astronautix.com/lvs/searagon.htm
http://astronautix.com/lvfam/truax.htm

excellent site with all sorts of stuff about Shuttle concepts and alternate designs which were proposed
a few which are relevant:
CHRYSLER â€œS.E.R.V.â€ [PHASE-Aâ€™ SHUTTLE] [1971] (www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld034.htm)
NASA-JSC S.P.S. LAUNCH VEHICLES [1976] (www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld042.htm)
BOEING â€œLEOâ€VTVL SSTO [1976] (www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld043.htm)
BOEING 2-STAGE VTVL â€œHLLVâ€ [1976] (www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/sld044.htm)
Main site (www.abo.fi/~mlindroo/SpaceLVs/Slides/index.htm) Marcus Lindroos

As I feel that the support for NASA and its fine work, by the public could be improved, I have designed and now have online my attempt to gather all supporters in one place that support NASA and Spaceflight in the form of a new Message Board/Forum titled http://com4.runboard.com/bspaceflightsupportforums (http://com4.runboard.com/bspaceflightsupportforums)
There are forums available to merely express your support as well as threads about Future Launches, News, R&D, Science, and a Question and Answer forum for those that want information about Spaceflight.

You can register if you want, or just post 1 message for automatic registration.

Spaceflight Support Forums (http://com4.runboard.com/bspaceflightsupportforums)

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
(AIAA - www.aiaa.org )

Good site for those who are seriously interested in basics of aerospace propulsion, rockets (missiles), and mission design

Some titles you might find interesting (as of Apr 13, 2004 and subject to change):

Hypersonic Aerothermodynamics
http://www.aiaa.org/store/storeproductdetail.cfm?id=272

Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion
http://www.aiaa.org/store/storeproductdetail.cfm?id=11

Inlets for Supersonic Missiles
http://www.aiaa.org/store/storeproductdetail.cfm?id=261

Space Transportation: A Systems Approach to Analysis and Design
http://www.aiaa.org/store/storeproductdetail.cfm?id=622

Space Vehicle Design, Second Edition
http://www.aiaa.org/store/storeproductdetail.cfm?id=1107

Space Vehicle Dynamics and Control
http://www.aiaa.org/store/storeproductdetail.cfm?id=521

Spacecraft Mission Design
http://www.aiaa.org/store/storeproductdetail.cfm?id=523

Spacecraft Propulsion
http://www.aiaa.org/store/storeproductdetail.cfm?id=281

Structural Dynamics in Aeronautical Engineering
http://www.aiaa.org/store/storeproductdetail.cfm?id=575

and there's lots more
http://www.aiaa.org/publications/index.hfm?pub=0 (then click on books)

or go straight to books:

AIAA Education Series (browse titles)
http://www.aiaa.org/store/books.cfm?luSeriesID=1

Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics (browse titles)
http://www.aiaa.org/store/books.cfm?luSeriesID=9

General Interest Publications (Historical and general)
http://www.aiaa.org/store/books.cfm?luSeriesID=7

Case Studies (Written by aerospace designers)
http://www.aiaa.org/store/books.cfm?luSeriesID=4

If a link is bad, go to main or store and try from there.

Basics of Space Flight

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/

"Basics of Space Flight is a training module designed primarily to help JPL operations people identify the range of concepts associated with deep space missions, and grasp the relationships these concepts exhibit. It also enjoys popularity among high school and college students, as well as faculty, and people everywhere who are interested in interplanetary space flight.

This website attempts to offer a broad scope, but limited depth, as a background for further investigation; many other resources are available, of course, for delving into each of the topics related here. Indeed, any one of these topics can involve a lifelong career of specialization. This module's purpose is met if the participant learns the scope of concepts that apply to interplanetary space exploration and the relationships among them. "

Some links on rockets

http://www.fact-index.com/t/th/thor__rocket_.html

http://mix.msfc.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/MSFC-9902050.html - In this 1962 artist's concept , a proposed Nova rocket, shown at right, is compared to a Saturn C-1, left, and a Saturn C-5, center. The Marshall Space Flight Center directed studies of Nova configuration from 1960 to 1962 as a means of achieving a marned lunar landing with a direct flight to the Moon. Various configurations of the vehicle were examined, the largest being a five-stage vehicle using eight F-1 engines in the first stage. Although the program was effectively cancelled in 1962 when NASA planners selected the lunar-orbital rendezvous mode, the proposed F-1 engine was eventually used to propel the first stage of the Saturn V launch vehicle in the Apollo Program.

An interesting book -

Understanding Space : An Introduction to Astronautics, 4th Edition

Jerry Jon Sellers, United States Air Force Academy
William J. Astore, U.S. Air Force Academy & Int'L Space U.
Robert B. Giffen, U.S. Air Force Academy & Int'L Space U.
Wiley J Larson, U.S. Air Force Academy & Int'L Space U.

Desription: An introductory text in astronautics. It contains historical background and a discussion of space missions, space environment, orbits, atmospheric entry, spacecraft design, spacecraft subsystems, and space operations. It features section reviews summarizing key concepts, terms, and equations, and is extensively illustrated with many photos, figures, and examples Space law, politics,and economics This is a truly user-friendly, full-color text focused on understanding concepts and practical applications but written in a down-to-earth, engaging manner that painlessly helps you understand complex topics. It is laid out with multi-color highlights for key terms and ideas, reinforced with detailed example problems, and supported by detailed section reviews summarizing key concepts, terms, and equations.

Table of Contents

Space missions
History of space
Orbits and interplanetary trajectories
Atmospheric re-entry
Space system engineering
Spacecraft subsystems
Sapce operations and support
Economics of space
Satellite communications

800 pages

Could not find a price for the 4th ed, but earlier editions 2nd, 3rd run about $50-$66.

National and International Space Agencies

Argentina - Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales
http://www.conae.gov.ar/

Brazil - National Institute for Space Research
http://www.cnes.fr/

Canada - Canadian Space Agency
http://www.space.gc.ca/welcomee.html

Europe - European Space Agency
http://www.esrin.esa.it/

France - Centre Nationale d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES)
http://www.cnes.fr/ (French)
English - http://www.cnes.fr/html/_455_.php

Germany - Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt
http://www.dlr.de/
http://www.dlr.de/en/desktopdefault.aspx - English
http://bilddb.rb.kp.dlr.de/deutsch/rubrik.asp?qryRubrik=2 (pics)

Italy - Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI)
http://www.asi.it/

Japan - NASDA
http://www.nasda.go.jp/index_e.html

Russian Space Agency
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/rsa/rsa.html

Sweden - Sweden Space Corporation(SSC)
http://www.ssc.se/

United Kingdom - British National Space Centre
http://www.open.gov.uk/bnsc/bnschome.htm

United Nations - Office for Outer Space Affairs ???
http://www.un.or.at/OOSA_Kiosk/

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html

Japanese Lauch Vehicles

http://www.jaxa.jp/missions/projects/rockets/index_e.html

On October 1, 2003, ISAS, NAL and NASDA were merged into one independent administrative institution: the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The Kakuda Space Propulsion Center (KSPC) leads research and development in rocket engines, which are the hearts of the vehicles that carry satellites into outer space. Since the Kakuda Space Propulsion Laboratory (the former National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan) merged with the Kakuda Propulsion Center (the former National Space Development Agency), the KSPC has played an important role in improving rocket engines.

The main mission of the KSPC is the development and testing of liquid-fuel rocket engines to be installed in rockets such as the H-IIA. Construction of the High Altitude Test Stand, for test firing in a quasi-space environment, is currently in progress. The KSPC is also developing reusable rocket engines for reusable space-transportation systems of the future, and an air-breathing combined-cycle engine which will be used during atmospheric flights. The research is being conducted by simulation in the High Enthalpy Shock Tunnel.

http://www.jaxa.jp/about/centers/kspc/index_e.html :1thumbup

Center for Space Studies

Quote

El Centro de Estudios Espaciales (CEE) de la Universidad de Chile, está ubicado en 33º 09' latitud sur y 70º 40' longitud oeste y desde 1959 ofrece servicios de telemetría, rastreo y telecomando para misiones espaciales.

The Center for Space Studies (CEE) of the Universidad de Chile, is located at 33º 09' South latitude and 70º 40' longitude West and offers ground support services to space missions since 1959.

El CEE es líder nacional en el desarrollo de aplicaciones de tecnologías derivadas de la actividad espacial, ofreciendo soluciones en el manejo de recursos territoriales y en estudios de compatibilidad electromagnética.

National leader in the development of applications related to space technology, the CEE offer solutions in territorial management and studies of electromagnetic compatibilities.

Nuestra amplia experiencia, el respaldo institucional de la mayor universidad del país y su experiencia de 30 años como estación NASA avalan la alta calidad de los servicios que ofrecemos.

You can count on our vast experience, the institutional endorsement to the main state university of the country and our experience of 30 years as a NASA station.

El Centro de Estudios Espaciales (CEE) ofrece el mejor nivel de eficiencia a misiones espaciales que requieran cobertura desde esta región del mundo. Su privilegiada ubicación, su equipamiento adecuado, un experimentado y flexible equipo de trabajo son sus grandes fortalezas a la hora de atender las necesidades de sus clientes.

The Center for Space Studies offers the best level of efficiency in its support to space missions that require coverage in this region of the world. Our privileged location, suitable equipment, experienced and flexible personnel are our main strengths at the time of satisfying your needs.

http://www.cee.uchile.cl/public/home.html
http://www.cee.uchile.cl/public/nuestroCentro_en.html

http://www.unispace3.co.cl/cee.html

:koala

CISAS: Centro Interdipartimentale Studi ed Attività Spaziali
http://cisas.unipd.it/CISAS_home.html

Quote

CISAS includes 37 members, most of them active in Space Research since the early days. Among them there are members of the promoting Departments and also of the Psychology Institute and of the Structures Institute.

Beyond the Faculty members the Centre can profit from the collaboration of nearly 20 people, including departments technical staff and graduate fellows and from the facilities and infrastructures made available by the same departments.

For the near future dedicated infrastructures have been planned.

The foundation of CISAS rests on that tradition in Space Research matured within the University over the last 30 years and initiated by Professor Giuseppe Colombo.

Purpose of CISAS is to promote, coordinate and perform studies, research and space activities which can develop interdisciplinary education and collaboration among people involved in Basic Sciences, Applied Research and industrial realisation.

http://cisas.unipd.it/cisas_activities.html
CISAS Activities
Over the last few years the domain of Space Research within CISAS has included mainly the follow-up of initiatives undertaken prior to its foundation. So a number of space Instruments for approved missions have been designed, developed at engineering model level and tested; and software developments for the reductions of data transmitted by satellites have been performed and utilisation of those data is in progress. In addition some new undertakings have been attempted in preparing for the future with encouraging perspectives notwithstanding the fate of some mission proposals now placed on a slow track. Here you find a brief description of these activities.

Design of space instruments for approved missions

Design and testing of the Ultraviolet Coronal Spectrometer (UVCS) on the ESA Solar Mission SOHO and realisation of the laboratory model of the UVCS grating;
Spectroheliometers for sub orbital flights (originally proposed also for S/L precursor flights to the International Space Station);
Engineering and thermal model, QM and FM of the Planetary Fourier Spectrometers (PFS) for the Russian MARS 96 and Mars Express;
Thermomechanical analysis and verification of the Visible Imaging Spectrometer VIMS for the NASA Mission CASSINI to Saturn.
Design and management (at European level) of the Huygens Atmosphere Structure Instruments (HASI) for the ESA HUYGENS probe to Titan on CASSINI mission;
Realisation of a GPS satellite Station in Padova;
Thermomechanical analysis design and Thermal B/B realization of VIRTIS spectrometer for the ESA ROSETTA Mission
Thermomechanical analysis and design of WAC of OSIRIS camera for the ESA ROSETTA Mission.

DLR Institutes & Facilities -
http://www.dlr.de/en/Desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-82/

German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW)

DLR Libraries

German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD)

DLR-Finance Department

DLR Flight Operations

DLR Air Transport and Airport Research

DLR-Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology

DLR-Institute of Aeroelasticity

DLR-Institute of Propulsion Technology

DLR-Institute of Propulsion Technology

DLR-Institute of Structures and Design

DLR-Institute of Vehicle Concepts

DLR-Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems

DLR-Institute of Flight Guidance

DLR Institute of Flight Systems

DLR-Microwaves and Radar Institute

DLR-Institute of Communications and Navigation

DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine

DLR-Applied Remote Sensing Cluster

DLR-Institute of Atmospheric Physics

DLR-Institute of Planetary Research

DLR-Space Propulsion

DLR Institute for Space Simulation

DLR-Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics

DLR-Institute of Technical Physics

DLR-Institute of Technical Thermodynamics

DLR-Institute of Combustion Technology

DLR-Institute of Transport Research

DLR-Institute of Transportation Systems

DLR-Institute of Materials Research

DLR-Department of Aviation and Space Psychology

DLR Optical Information Systems

DLR Personal and Right

DLR Project Management Agency

DLR Quality and Product Assurance Department

DLR - German Space Agency

DLR Space Operations and Astronaut Training

DLR Simulation and Software Technology (SISTEC)

DLR-Technology Marketing

DLR Corporate Development and External Relations

T-Systems Solutions for Research GmbH

ZEUS-Center for Solidification of Undercooled Melts

Youth and Student Programs
http://www.dlr.de/en/Desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-633/1052_read-1446/ (in English)
http://www.dlr.de/de/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-633/1052_read-1446/ (auf Deutsch)

Andrews Space - http://www.andrews-space.com/

NASA Exploration Systems

Andrews Space has been involved in all elements of NASA's Exploration Program since it was announced in January 2004.

http://www.andrews-space.com/content-main.php?subsection=MTMx

Quote

Andrews Space, Inc. was founded in 1999 to be a catalyst in the commercialization and development of space. The company is an affordable integrator of aerospace systems and developer of advanced space technologies.

Marian Joh, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, as well as Chairman of the Board of Andrews Space, Inc. (Andrews) has been selected as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Pacific Northwest. According to Ernst & Young, the awards program was designed to recognize outstanding entrepreneurs on a regional, national and global level who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses.

http://www.andrews-space.com/news.php?subsection=MjEz

Publications - http://www.andrews-space.com/news.php?subsection=MTc5

Quote

AIAA Space 2005 Solar Electric Tug

AIAA Space 2005 Comparison of VTHL and HTHL Hybrid RLV's

IAC 2003 ACES- Propulsion Technology For Next Generation Space Transportation

AIAA JPC 2003 Progress On ACES - Technology For Next Generation Space Transportation

AIAA JPC 2003 Mini MagOrion: A Pulsed Nuclear Rocket for Crewed Solar System Exploration

AIAA JPC 2003 Interstellar Transportation using Today's Physics

AIAA JPC 2003 Experimental Results of A Vortex Tube Air Separator

AIAA JPC 2003 A Comparison of Horizontal Takeoff RLVs For NGLT

JPL ASPW 2002 Mini-Mag Orion: Micro Fission Powered Orion Rocket

SAS 2002 2nd Generation RLV and Markets Overview

AIAA JPC 2002 Airport-to-Orbit: The Economics of Horizontal RLV Systems

A History of Satellites and Robotic Space Missions (http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/space_missions/unmanned_table.html&edu=high)

Quote

Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system covering the Earth and Space sciences for use by the general public. Windows to the Universe has been in development since 1995. Our goal is to build an internet site that includes a rich array of documents, including images, movies, animations, and data sets, that explore the Earth and Space sciences and the historical and cultural ties between science, exploration, and the human experience. Our site is appropriate for use in libraries, museums, schools, homes, and the workplace. Students and teachers may find the site especially helpful in their studying (and teaching!) Earth and Space sciences. Because we have users of all ages, the site is written in three reading levels approximating elementary, middle school and high school reading levels. These levels may be chosen by using the upper button bar of each page of the main site.

Everything Science Forum

Everything Space => Space Flight and Exploration => Topic started by: archiebald on July 09, 2002, 04:37:00 AM