-------------------- "I am an almost extinct breed, an old-fashioned gentleman, which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-bitch when it suits me." --Jubal Harshaw
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
So they do; the Lockheed Martin one is worst, IMO, triple stacked?!?! What were the designers taking?
-------------------- "I am an almost extinct breed, an old-fashioned gentleman, which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-bitch when it suits me." --Jubal Harshaw
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
I'd say that one has the best-looking actual shuttle, myself. And why is "triple-stacking" such an inherently bad thing? Looks like all they did was move the solid-fuel boosters from the sides to the bottom.
Registered: Mar 1999
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-------------------- "You are a terrible human, Ritten." Magnus "Urgh, you are a sick sick person..." Austin Powers A leek too, pretty much a negi.....
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
What the hell happened to the full-size version of the VentureStar?
-------------------- "Lotta people go through life doing things badly. Racing's important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting."
-Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney, LeMans
Registered: Mar 1999
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Cartman
just made by the Presbyterian Church
Member # 256
posted
Cancelled for "budgetary reasons".
Why is triple-stacking such a bad thing? Because it's basically old whine in new bags, and also horribly inefficient.
Only a re-usable SSTO (single stage to orbit) vehicle can bring about the desperately needed changes that all space agencies dream of... like dramatically reduced launch cost.
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted
Call me cynical, but I suspect that engineers might know a bit more about spacecraft, than, oh, John Q Poster.
Registered: Mar 1999
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"Three different sections means three different craft that could go wrong, it's common sense."
So? You either have three different craft that can go bad, or three sections of one craft that can go bad. What's the difference?
Registered: Mar 1999
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quote:Originally posted by Sol System: Call me cynical, but I suspect that engineers might know a bit more about spacecraft, than, oh, John Q Poster.
I don't think people are saying they're bad spacecraft; just that they look ugly.
Actually, certain elements of the NG one look like the X-35...
NASA is predicting 2012 for the first flight; I'd say around then, although if anything it'll be a couple of years late. Anyone know how many of these they're gonna buy? What are everyone's thoughts on the future of the space programmes anyway?
-------------------- "I am an almost extinct breed, an old-fashioned gentleman, which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-bitch when it suits me." --Jubal Harshaw
Registered: Feb 2002
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Alpha Centauri
Usually seen somewhere in the Southern skies
Member # 338
posted
Planned for launch in 2012? Knowing NASA, that would probably become 2020.
I like Boeing's.
quote:Anyone know how many of these they're gonna buy?
I guess that NASA would order at least more than four of these craft. Since launch costs are greatly reduced, they could afford that.
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
How 'bout one of each, for a little variety?
-------------------- "This is why you people think I'm so unknowable. You don't listen!" - God, "God, the Devil and Bob"
Registered: Mar 1999
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