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0 pointsquux16y ago0 comments

IIRC Nasa seriously investigated building a vehicle like this, but found that SSMEs were way too expensive for use in a disposable rocket. There are other engines that will do the job and are much cheaper.

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3 comments · 1 top-level

rbanffy16y ago· 2 in thread

True. The SSMEs are more complex and expensive than disposable engines.

IIRC there is no large cargo vehicle in the current NASA plans. That's a bit sad. I won't be able to take my son to watch a shuttle launch and it's very likely he won't be able to take his kids to watch anything the same size.

InclinedPlane16y ago

Why do you imagine that NASA is the only entity capable of such a thing?

rbanffy16y ago

I don't see much demand for launchers that large. While the LEO payload capacity of a shuttle is large, comparable to, say, a Delta IV Heavy or the largest (not yet flown, AFAIK) Angara, the total vehicle weight is much larger. A shuttle launch is equivalent of hauling 100 tons to LEO (30 of payload and 70 of shuttle).

That's some serious fireworks.

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