ESA Post-Europa Launch Vehicle
A/N: Sorry for the delay everyone, but real life has a habit of doing that to you. But I'm ready to add a new segment here now.
Anyways. I think I've sorted out the Manned Spacecraft that TTL ESA will be using for a good 20+ years, which I think I'll be naming Solaris - thanks for the suggestion Archibald . So now I can turn attention to the Launch Vehicle that's going to be putting it into orbit in the first place. For this, I'm looking at making 10,000Kg to a 225 x 225 Km LEO at 51.6 degrees inclination the base payload for Manned Flight.
Now I've selected a simple TSTO design that can send a manned payload into such an orbit using only LOX/Kerosene propellants - if only just, and about 11,000Kg of unmanned payload to the same orbit - in it's base form. And while the 2nd stage engines should be fairly simple for ESA to build, I suspect that the much more powerful 1st stage engines will be the pacing item. So assuming a start date of around 1980, having it ready by 1988 or thereabouts seems plausible - the same development time as for the OTL Ariane 5.
Next are the performance upgrade options, where there is a lot to play with. My personal preferance is the Common Core Booster (CCB) system where another pair of 1st stages flank the 1st stage for the ultimate performance augmentation of the family, with a series of smaller solid and liquid rocket boosters to fill the interim payload options. Since greater payload capability is what the whole launch vehicle is about - on top of Manned Spaceflight Capability - it makes perfect sense to pre-design it to handle the extra loads right from the outset. LOX/LH2 upper stages will feature as well, for the MEO, HEO, GTO, TLI, TMI, TVI & TJI flights.
The final note for the time being. ESA Manned flights to Mir Space Station. I have every intention of making this happen since I plan on having it all ready by no later than the early 1990s.
All I need now is a name for the new family of launch vehicles. Suggestions anyone?
A/N: Sorry for the delay everyone, but real life has a habit of doing that to you. But I'm ready to add a new segment here now.
Anyways. I think I've sorted out the Manned Spacecraft that TTL ESA will be using for a good 20+ years, which I think I'll be naming Solaris - thanks for the suggestion Archibald . So now I can turn attention to the Launch Vehicle that's going to be putting it into orbit in the first place. For this, I'm looking at making 10,000Kg to a 225 x 225 Km LEO at 51.6 degrees inclination the base payload for Manned Flight.
Now I've selected a simple TSTO design that can send a manned payload into such an orbit using only LOX/Kerosene propellants - if only just, and about 11,000Kg of unmanned payload to the same orbit - in it's base form. And while the 2nd stage engines should be fairly simple for ESA to build, I suspect that the much more powerful 1st stage engines will be the pacing item. So assuming a start date of around 1980, having it ready by 1988 or thereabouts seems plausible - the same development time as for the OTL Ariane 5.
Next are the performance upgrade options, where there is a lot to play with. My personal preferance is the Common Core Booster (CCB) system where another pair of 1st stages flank the 1st stage for the ultimate performance augmentation of the family, with a series of smaller solid and liquid rocket boosters to fill the interim payload options. Since greater payload capability is what the whole launch vehicle is about - on top of Manned Spaceflight Capability - it makes perfect sense to pre-design it to handle the extra loads right from the outset. LOX/LH2 upper stages will feature as well, for the MEO, HEO, GTO, TLI, TMI, TVI & TJI flights.
The final note for the time being. ESA Manned flights to Mir Space Station. I have every intention of making this happen since I plan on having it all ready by no later than the early 1990s.
All I need now is a name for the new family of launch vehicles. Suggestions anyone?