Posted on 12/08/2005 11:51:15 AM PST by BenLurkin
Alliant Techsystems Inc. has been selected as the prime contractor for the first-stage propulsion system for a new NASA shuttle. Edina-based Alliant will design, develop, test and evaluate the system, which will use solid fuel instead of liquid fuel. Solid fuel is considered less volatile.
The value of the new contract has not been set.
Alliant (NYSE: ATK - News) also makes the solid-fuel rocket boosters for the shuttle. That deal brings the company $370 million annually.
The shuttles are scheduled to be retired in 2010, but the solid-fuel boosters will be used on new replacement vehicles.
space ping
I assume they're talking about the "Crew Exploration Vehicle" (CEV), which isn't really a shuttle, but more of an "Apollo, Mark II".....
They may plan on using it as a shuttle booster since the plan is to transfer shuttle technology wherever possible to the replacement vehicles. Still, I was under the impression the last shuttle flight was going to be the last launch for that white elephant.
No, it is a reusable, capsule-shaped shuttle system. It's not an "Apollo Mk. II" any more than an F-14 is a naval F-15.
I didn't realize Alliant had their hands in this kind of stuff. I know they make gunpowder, so making solid-fuel rockets seems logical.
Looks like the launch vehicle on the right is a throwback to the Mercury-Redstone era. Only more powerful.
It does. Tried and true. That seems to be what NASA is aiming for. What's interesting about the stack on the right is that that's the manned launch vehicle. It's interesting that NASA is relying upon a solid fuel first stage. More reliable, I guess.
That would be the old Thiokol we used to know, wouldn't it? The first stage of the single-stick CEV launcher is a solid made of segments like the Shuttle strap-ons, and the second stage will be liquid fueled.
"... More reliable, I guess..."
It would be more reliable. There would be no need for fuel tanks, fuel lines, fuel pumps, or engines with thousands of individual parts. Going the solid route, that instantly saves a buttload of weight by not having all those things mentioned. Plus, solid fuel boosters pack more bang for the buck, so I've heard. It makes for a safer, more reliable launch system. I wonder what the G loads will be since solids can't be throttled. Perhaps the loads will be like the Gemini/Titan launch vehicle. I'd love to find that out myself. One drawback to this concept is that a launch will loss a lot of the oooh-and ahhh factor. Just won't be as impressive as the Saturn V or space Shuttle. I wouldn't turn down a ticket for a ride, though.
Looking forward to seeing this whole package make its debut.
It is Thiokol.
Using solid booster for the first stage seems daring to me for some reason.
It seems to me that the solids burn a little rough, that when the strap-ons are jettisoned from the Shuttle the ride gets a lot smoother. No doubt the engineers are doing something about that, but the ride will still be less than smooth.
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