Okayz hear me out. Figuring out how to cut big fuel and oxidiser lines without causing a big fireball in the process is difficult. It’s well worth the additional 75% landing mass, which can also be used for aerocapture. The trick is to then use dense propellants and build a bigger helicopter to keep dry tank weight down for mid air capture. (Or use an AN-225 after we rebuild one.)
Mad-Maxwell on
I really like the idea. A really simple yet effective way of cost reduction. I would like to know the stress the connection between booster and engine has to be withstanded.
Zhukov-74 on
ULA would be better off designing a new rocket with reusability in mind.
Vulcan Centaur is a brand new rocket so designing a new launch vehicle would be difficult to accept but i don’t think they have much of a choice.
Ariane 6 has the same issue but instead of them trying to figure out a way to repurpose the Vulcain 2.1 core stage they are focusing on a new design more akin to Falcon 9.
3 Comments
Okayz hear me out. Figuring out how to cut big fuel and oxidiser lines without causing a big fireball in the process is difficult. It’s well worth the additional 75% landing mass, which can also be used for aerocapture. The trick is to then use dense propellants and build a bigger helicopter to keep dry tank weight down for mid air capture. (Or use an AN-225 after we rebuild one.)
I really like the idea. A really simple yet effective way of cost reduction. I would like to know the stress the connection between booster and engine has to be withstanded.
ULA would be better off designing a new rocket with reusability in mind.
Vulcan Centaur is a brand new rocket so designing a new launch vehicle would be difficult to accept but i don’t think they have much of a choice.
Ariane 6 has the same issue but instead of them trying to figure out a way to repurpose the Vulcain 2.1 core stage they are focusing on a new design more akin to Falcon 9.