Read My Lips - the blog

To Infinity and Beyond!

Owen of Boots and Sabres points to a story about a new concept in space vehicle being developed by NASA: "a stripped-down four-seater." [story has picture]. Owen discusses a need for NASA to develop a fleet of varied vehicles to assist in different missions:

1) A heavy cargo replacement for the Space Shuttle. The Space Shuttle has been upgraded many times since its original manufacture, but it’s time to start fresh with new technology and new designs. The Space Shuttle fleet was designed to last 10 years and we’ve used it for 30. Retire the fleet with honor and let’s move forward. This craft is for large payloads that require human interaction.

2) A light craft for carrying people and some basic supplies into space. This could be the 4-man craft they are working on now. It can be used for replacing personnel on the Space Station and orbital repair missions, assuming there isn’t a lot needed in the way of parts.

3) A heavy craft for launching unmanned satellites into orbit. I think the current rocket fleet is working fine for this. We can put satellites into space and supply the Space Station with great accuracy and efficiency with the rocket fleet. Keep it up.

4) A light craft for launching small payloads into space. I think that this would probably be a craft launched from a high altitude plane. It can be used for small supply missions and for sending parts. It could be used in combination with craft #2 for repair missions. It could also be used for small, unexpected supply missions.

5) A deeper space experimental craft. I envision a small, unmanned craft, loaded with instruments, that launches from – and returns to – the Space Station. A reusable craft of this sort could be used repeatedly at minimal cost. Perhaps even a small fleet of them. They could do things like: explore passing comets, survey the moon, survey the closer planets, find and examine other Earth-orbit crafts, etc. It could be used to pretty much explore anything that it can reach and return in the space of a couple of years, but mostly for closer missions.

I suppose I am thinking a bit differently. I see us needing several ships along the lines of the Andromeda Ascendant, a large fleet of X-wing fighters, and a plethora of Delta flyers. You add to this fleet a few of Buzz Lightyear's self contained suits with rocket packs and I think NASA would be well outfitted. Oh, for large cargo hauls, I think Sea/Land containers would be easily towable if necessary.