Nasa, Ares and the gratuitous Monty Python joke

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SUMMARY

NASA is currently facing significant challenges with its Ares program, particularly with the Ares-I being too small for its intended payload and the Ares-V being too heavy for the existing crawlerway infrastructure. Concerns have been raised about the potential for roadway collapse, which could jeopardize the Ares launch vehicle. The discussion highlights the historical context of the Saturn V designs, which were destroyed in the 1970s, and critiques the financial management of reusable versus disposable launch systems. The Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP) is underway with 22 projects aimed at addressing these issues.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of NASA's Ares program and its objectives
  • Familiarity with the Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP)
  • Knowledge of the Saturn V rocket and its historical significance
  • Awareness of launch vehicle infrastructure challenges, such as crawlerways
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the current status and specifications of NASA's Ares-I and Ares-V rockets
  • Examine the findings of the interim report on the ETDP released on April 10, 2008
  • Investigate the engineering challenges associated with launch vehicle infrastructure
  • Explore the economic implications of reusable versus disposable rocket systems
USEFUL FOR

Aerospace engineers, NASA project managers, space policy analysts, and anyone interested in the challenges of modern space exploration and launch vehicle development.

mgb_phys
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Nasa is facing more problems with it's Shuttle replacement. following Ares-I being too small to lift anything the Ares-V looks like it is too heavy for the road to the launchpad.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/08/21/314931/nasa-faces-budget-busting-crawlerway-rebuild-for-ares-v.html

There is a concern that a collapsing roadway might cause the Ares to - fall over burn down and then sink into the swamp.
(And they said I were mad to build a space centre on a swamp...)
 
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Obviously time to get the ouija board out to consult dear old Wernher...

Pity they destroyed the designs for the Saturn V back in the 70s...

"Oh, we'll never need those ever again"...:smile:
 
zeitghost said:
Pity they destroyed the designs for the Saturn V back in the 70s...

:biggrin: It is an ex-rocket! :biggrin:​

Ay'up mgb_phys! :smile:

Swamp? :approve: That were luxury!:rolleyes:

We 'ad to build our space centre inside a collapsed mine-shaft three miles under t'North Sea! o:)
 
This thread should be renamed "Nasa, Ares, and the gratuitous use of duct tape."
Seriously though, the only reason they got rid of the Saturn V rockets was they weren't expensive enough. Oh and they wouldn't carry military satellites back down to earth.

Only the government could make something reusable much more expensive than something disposable.
 
chayced said:
Only the government could make something reusable much more expensive than something disposable.

Things that are reusable normally are more expensive than disposable ones. :wink:

CS
 
stewartcs said:
Things that are reusable normally are more expensive than disposable ones. :wink:
Yes, the trick with the shuttle was making each reuse cost more than a disposable one!
 
FYI -

http://sites.nationalacademies.org/deps/DEPS_041874

Division on Engineering and Physical Science
Space - Reports and Report Summaries

Review of NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program: An Interim Report (ASEB)

Released 04.10.2008

To meet the objectives of the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE), NASA must develop a wide array of enabling technologies. For this purpose, NASA established the Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP). Currently, ETDP has 22 projects underway. In the report accompanying the House-passed version of the FY2007 appropriations bill, the agency was directed to request from the NRC an independent assessment of the ETDP. This interim report provides an assessment of each of the 22 projects including a quality rating, an analysis of how effectively the research is being carried out, and the degree to which the research is aligned with the VSE. To the extent possible, the identification and discussion of various cross-cutting issues are also presented. Those issues will be explored and discussed in more detail in the final report.
Perhaps the final report was just released.
 
mgb_phys said:
There is a concern that a collapsing roadway might cause the Ares to - fall over burn down and then sink into the swamp.
(And they said I were mad to build a space centre on a swamp...)
I found nothing gratuitous about that. It pertained to the topic and it was damned funny.

...But the 4th rocket...