Secret Space Shuttle Plot Revealed!

[saundby]

Picking up from this thread:
Space Shuttles Under Protective Order

It turns out things were being kept secret, to "protect negotiations":
Next Gen Shuttle-Capable vehicle interest as secret effort to save orbiters ends.

For the past several months, a plan to restart shuttle operations – funded by billions of dollars of secured non-government investment – was under evaluation with NASA and shuttle contractors prior to the secret effort ending last week. However, the group behind the effort have now switched their focus to a “Next Generation, Shuttle Capable” vehicle – with details to be announced next year.

...

For the past several months, a plan to restart shuttle operations – funded by billions of dollars of secured non-government investment – was under evaluation with NASA and shuttle contractors prior to the secret effort ending last week. However, the group behind the effort have now switched their focus to a “Next Generation, Shuttle Capable” vehicle – with details to be announced next year.

...

“During the past few months, a last ditch attempt to re-fly the Space Shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis under a truly commercial banner has finally come to an unworkable conclusion,” noted Mr. Holleran in a statement to NASASpaceflight.com.

“A group of space interested investors and technical and operational experts have been working quietly in the background with NASA and major Shuttle suppliers to look at the feasibility of operating the Shuttles commercially. Despite the best efforts of all involved it was simply too late.

“Much of the infrastructure has already been disassembled, or repurposed for SLS and opportunity is lost.”

Interesting stuff. Far more at the link.

 

[aramis]

I've known about that effort since at least as far back as october - and would have earlier if I'd not been busy moving and cleaning.

It was reported on for the restraining orders. Very little in Aerospace is truly kept secret. The industries involved are information leak prone.

The only news there is that the effort is ending.

 

[far-trader]

So, all that's missing now is an enterprising "junkman with a dream" who can pick up the bits for a song, hire some of the unemployed NASA folk, kitbash it together, et voila...

Salvage 1 becomes life imitating art.

...just daydreaming

 

[aramis]

So, all that's missing now is an enterprising "junkman with a dream" who can pick up the bits for a song, hire some of the unemployed NASA folk, kitbash it together, et voila...

Salvage 1 becomes life imitating art.

...just daydreaming

It really is just as well that the shuttle as it is is dead...

It's a suboptimal design, even for its mode. It was a great prototype, and a passable early shuttle, but we should have continued R&D after building 3 of them... not build 7 and quit the research.

A newer, lighter shuttle is far more appropriate, especially since the ceramic tiles are neither the best insulator nor the most durable, and require LOADS of inter-mission repairs.

 

[far-trader]

It really is just as well that the shuttle as it is is dead...

Quite. Though as I understood it the shuttle NASA got was not the one they wanted. Budget slashes meant compromise and suboptimal design from the start. They did well keeping it flying as long as they did with as little trouble as they had.

I have long wondered, had it been done right from the start how much better and longer it might have been. Now it feels like it's back to the drawing boards for a whole new design again, with no lessons learned or applied, no doubt to face another budget slash compromising whatever follows. Or just throw in the towel and leave it to the private sector.

 

[hunter]

So, all that's missing now is an enterprising "junkman with a dream" who can pick up the bits for a song, hire some of the unemployed NASA folk, kitbash it together, et voila...

Salvage 1 becomes life imitating art.

...just daydreaming

I remember that show, with Andy Griffith. I've mentioned it to others but everyone just gives me a blank stare when I do!

Restarting the shuttle program I don't think would have been a good idea. As Aramis pointed out, it is far from optimal. It never lived up to the hype. If I remember correctly they were supposed to fly at least once a month (or more) but never came close.

 

[BytePro]

Quite. Though as I understood it the shuttle NASA got was not the one they wanted. ...

A huge factor that is often overlooked is the relationship with the military (NASA's mission mandate includes elements of national security).

The military dictated certain key requirements that forced the design - notably the lift/return capacity and cargo dimensions (to support military satellites intended for the '70s and '80s). NASA took too long, what with pork-belly politics (esp. re: the tiles) and other things. Resulting in loss of military funding contributions and resources, which only further delayed the program as the military looked to other solutions. In the end, this also reduced the actual need for a shuttle - ISS became the predominate justification for continuing the program.

 

[Dragoner]

I remember that show, with Andy Griffith. I've mentioned it to others but everyone just gives me a blank stare when I do!

I remember, the "capsule" was a cement mixer drum off a concrete truck.

 

[aramis]

I remember, the "capsule" was a cement mixer drum off a concrete truck.

A concrete truck drum holds well more than 30psi... capped properly, it should make a decent hull...

 

[HiverLord]

A concrete truck drum holds well more than 30psi... capped properly, it should make a decent hull...

Hmmm... Damage the players' ship... engines still work... find a junkyard...

Add in upset locals, might have an adventure! have to find time to work on that. could be 'fun'. :rofl:

 

[MR TEK]

The burning question is,if they generated enough interest that they thought they could get the project funded, where does the group and the funding turn?

Given that they were serious enough that NASA actually delayed dissmantalling anything, that interest would not just evaporate with the failure to secure the shuttles.

Especially since I believe the article said that there was already significant funding committed if the project had succeeded.

I suspect we have not heard the last from this group.

 

[aramis]

The burning question is,if they generated enough interest that they thought they could get the project funded, where does the group and the funding turn?

Given that they were serious enough that NASA actually delayed dissmantalling anything, that interest would not just evaporate with the failure to secure the shuttles.

Especially since I believe the article said that there was already significant funding committed if the project had succeeded.

I suspect we have not heard the last from this group.

They decided that the next generation shuttle will be their pet project, and so can give up on the current shuttle class.

 

[Sir Brad]

Their is the Reusable Capsule plans out there.

at the top of the spacecraft is a Command/Crew Module that is a reusable space craft more along the lines of the old school Space Capsule,

Under that you stick the Mission Module(s), this could be a Lab, a Workshop (for Satellite Repair), Cargo or a Space Station Module and so on. Unless the Module is designed to stay up there the Mission Module is designed to be reusable and is De-orbited once it's job is done.

part of the proposal was the Capsules could be used as escape vehicles for the ISS and any future US space stations.

 

[aramis]

Their is the Reusable Capsule plans out there.

The Dragon Capsule by SpaceX... yep.

There also is continued work on White Knight 2 and SpaceShip 2... a TSTO fully reusable suborbital spaceplane.

Which, if given just a bit more delta-V, could make orbit...

 

[dean]

The burning question is,if they generated enough interest that they thought they could get the project funded, where does the group and the funding turn?

Given that they were serious enough that NASA actually delayed dissmantalling anything, that interest would not just evaporate with the failure to secure the shuttles.

Especially since I believe the article said that there was already significant funding committed if the project had succeeded.

I suspect we have not heard the last from this group.

The problem does not lie in what NASA dismantled, it lies with what all the parts suppliers and contractors have sld, scrapped, and repuposed, along with all the various talent that have moved on or retired once the shuttles made their last trips. It is prohibitively costly to replace all that capacity and personnel. And without a near-guaranteed source of funding (read: Government money), those businesses just aren't willing to assume that risk.