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To: RS
Don’t think that big or small matters very much as long as you have a way to get thenm there, right ?

Sure, but if you've already built big rockets it's a lot easier to convert those to throw small objects into orbit than it is to build an entirely new rocket.

I've allways thought that clustering proven designs was a pretty good idea on their part.

They worked with what they had. However there's a big weight penalty, eventually limiting how heavy a "something" you can toss, and costing lots more in fuel and rocket components. Still those big clustered rockets are what is still used to loft the larger components of the Space Station. We take up the bulky but not so heavy stuff in the shuttle. They take up the not so bulky consumables, along with fresh "lifeboats" every so often.

38 posted on 07/26/2007 8:53:49 PM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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To: El Gato

Not sure your point ... the Saturn 5 was a cluster, and the shuttle uses the boosters and 3 main engines.


40 posted on 07/26/2007 10:03:36 PM PDT by RS ("I took the drugs because I liked them and I found excuses to take them, so I'm not weaseling.")
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