Space Forum / Space Policy / November 2005

From The Space Review:
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/502/1
--
Stephen Horgan

If large reuseable single stage to orbit rockets are going to be
economically feasible, then perhaps the engines only could be  returned -
separate the engines from the fuel tank/habitat - keep the fuel tank up in
orbit, and return the engine module to earth. Use a simple ...

Looks like Falcon 1 won't launch until at least early December.
With Christmas/New Year coming up, and more delays, and I wouldn't
be suprised to see it delayed until 2006.
According to Musk, "Nozzle Erosion", and the need to "complete

 If something exists "before" something else in the Universe it not only
existed back then it exists right now and it will always exist. The overall
Universe loses nothing and gains nothing. Therefore countless bangs
occurring at all times, countless crunches occurring at all ...

I'm trying to guesstimate the mass budget for a
Falcon 1.  Public information seems to be limited
at the moment, especially since SpaceX has
removed its Falcon 1 payload users guide from its

Assuming that Stick is the wave of the future, what robotic scientific
missions could get a ride on it if NASA were inclined to use it that
way?
Given the mass of CEV, I suspect some fairly interesting solar system

Truly we are living in strange times...
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/645815.html
Last update - 18:29 15/11/2005
Serbian official under investigation for renting Israeli spy satellite

Keep your eyes open Friday 11/25.  The timing
of the SpaceX Falcon 1 launch, if it occurs, might
have it's second stage and payload flying over the
continental U.S. (at latitudes below 39 degrees)

Over the months of lurking I have noticed a lot of flack aimed at NASA
coming from Americans here, and comments from them to the effect that
IMO NASA should have done this that and the other.  So I can't help
wondering if any of you lot have ever actually *worked* for NASA, and

Whats with the lame CEV windows on all the nasa drawings?
I understand the design will change a bit, but is there is technical
reason to need little tiny apollo style windows on this thing? Why cant
you build big windows like the shuttle has on a capsule?

I was wondering if anyone had any idea roughly what kind of performance
XCOR was getting out of their engines.  Obviously they are focussed on
ease of use and mostly sea level operation and it depends on the
details, but what kind of T/W and ISP ranges are they looking at?

In addition to drastically cutting back on our failed public school system
to finance lunar exploration projects, another resource is the great level
of jewelry that is hoarded in America & the world.
Let me explain this - based on U.S. sales of around $40 billion a year, I

JSC has built a CEV mockup.
"http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/138102main_jsc2005e42345.jpg"
"http://www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsystem/cev_mockup.html"
- Ed Kyle

see link here:
http://www.geocities.com/ngant17/moon2.htm

we know the parameters of geocentric orbit
but what are the parameters of lunar centric orbit?
where could you site an orbiting moon base so that it was stationary above
the surface?