Spacecraft : Cargo class

[Phenix]

I would think that this spacecraft class would likely be the first selected to be build from a business perspective and preferably from a shipyard at the Asteroid belt.

This vessels will transit huge amount of refined resources to Earth''s Spaceport construction and to Mars for its orbital and ground base constructions. The vessel itself could be reconditionned as parts of the bases construction.

To operate at maximum income, those vessels would be fitted with mass propulsion.

[Phenix]

An Muti-Orbital Transfer Aerobaking Shuttle could be the most versatile and reusable cargo transport vehicle in the near term.

The following document explains the concept of how to build an LTVA in orbit :

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19940010973_1994010973.pdf

From my point of view, such vessel should be concieved with extremely strong aerodynamical structural design, withstanding high vibration, and hosting multiple modules could offer the most econimical and efficient transports to Earth multi-orbits using today available propulsion systems.

From L4 to Earth multi-orbits and back to L4, I woud forsee the following configuration:

From front to the back of the spacecraft, I suggest this possible modular design :

1) Large ablative saucer heat shield.
2) To Earth ocean aerodynamic glider cargo module being jettison along with ablative heat shield
3) Reusable spacecraft ablative front paraboloid heat shield
4) Reusable heat shielded spacecraft actuators module for attitude and orbital trajectory corrections.
5) Reusable heat shielded very big cargo module jettison to LEO (fuel and/or minerals and/or prefabs) with micro actuators for attitude and orbital trajectory corrections.
6) Reusable heat shielded very big cargo module jettison to HEO (fuel and/or minerals and/or prefabs) with micro actuators for attitude and orbital trajectory corrections.
7) Reusable manned, life-support, autopilot, teleoperation, guidance and navigation control room service module (Ejectable and profiled for emergency reentry, heat and radiation shielded).
8) Reusable solar power plant with retractable/deployable solar panels (heat and radiation shielded).
9) Reusable very long fuel tanks (heat and radiation shielded).
10) Reusable heat shielded spacecraft actuators module for attitude and orbital trajectory corrections.
11) Reusable propulsion system based on either on water steam or hydrogene and oxygene.

Note: Cargo modules 5) and 6) can be configured side by side or stock piled on needs.

[joertexas]

An Muti-Orbital Transfer Aerobaking Shuttle could be the most versatile and reusable cargo transport vehicle in the near term.

The following document explains the concept of how to build an LTVA in orbit :

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19940010973_1994010973.pdf

From my point of view, such vessel should be concieved with extremely strong aerodynamical structural design, withstanding high vibration, and hosting multiple modules could offer the most econimical and efficient transports to Earth multi-orbits using today available propulsion systems.

From L4 to Earth multi-orbits and back to L4, I woud forsee the following configuration:

From front to the back of the spacecraft, I suggest this possible modular design :

1) Large ablative saucer heat shield.
2) To Earth ocean aerodynamic glider cargo module being jettison along with ablative heat shield
3) Reusable spacecraft ablative front paraboloid heat shield
4) Reusable heat shielded spacecraft actuators module for attitude and orbital trajectory corrections.
5) Reusable heat shielded very big cargo module jettison to LEO (fuel and/or minerals and/or prefabs) with micro actuators for attitude and orbital trajectory corrections.
6) Reusable heat shielded very big cargo module jettison to HEO (fuel and/or minerals and/or prefabs) with micro actuators for attitude and orbital trajectory corrections.
7) Reusable manned, life-support, autopilot, teleoperation, guidance and navigation control room service module (Ejectable and profiled for emergency reentry, heat and radiation shielded).
8) Reusable solar power plant with retractable/deployable solar panels (heat and radiation shielded).
9) Reusable very long fuel tanks (heat and radiation shielded).
10) Reusable heat shielded spacecraft actuators module for attitude and orbital trajectory corrections.
11) Reusable propulsion system based on either on water steam or hydrogene and oxygene.

Note: Cargo modules 5) and 6) can be configured side by side or stock piled on needs.

Maybe way the heck off topic, but this is just too good to not pass along:

http://traveller.wikia.com/wiki/Personal_Reentry_Kit

See, the SciFi people have thought of most things, all we need to do is make them work.

JR

[Phenix]

Joe,
Yes that's a kind of emergency safety pods for spaceships and yes, I would like to see what the SciFi authors would come along with that kind of spacecraft may be something that would come to theater and hit hard the box office in the near term :D