|
|
|
|
|
Hercules Exploration System
by Kevin Waldroup
Hercules = Shuttle C
Hercules is basically a Shuttle C design with a different name so it will be easier to sell to the US general public. Imagine Sean O Keefe at a press conference announcing a new launcher; "In the proud tradition of the Saturn V and Titan launchers, here we have the
Heavy Hercules and Medium Hercules launchers."
Hercules Heavy Lift Vehicle (H.L.V)
The Heavy Lift Hercules Vehicle is composed of two solid rocket boosters attached to the external fuel tank, and a cargo module added to lift cargo. With this heavy lift vehicle you could boost payloads to low earth orbit of 160,000 pounds. It could be used to launch lunar bases, and resupply the International Space station. When we finally get space hotels, it could be used to launch people to these hotel facilities. When we have a heavy lift vehicle; we can build space stations here on Earth and just launch it (like we did with Skylab.)
There could also be a Super Hercules...instead of having the cargo on the side of the external tank it is placed on top of it. Then connect 4 little Hercules to the external tank, and a payload beyond 200,000lbs. into low Earth orbit is possible.
Hercules Medium Lift Vehicle (M.L.V)
The Medium Lift Hercules, or Little Hercules is a solid rocket booster with a second stage hydrogen fueled J2 class rocket engine that can launch 40,000 pounds into low Earth orbit. It will able to launch the new NASA spaceship I call "Clementine", and variant DOD Military Space craft. Clementine is a capsule design that will be launch on Little Hercules to Jimmy Doolittle class Space station and the Robert Goddard class station. (see below) The Little Hercules can be used by Russia to launch their spacecraft as well, Soyuz or Kliper, to International Space station or Russia Mir II Space station.
The improved Little Hercules used a 5 segment solid rocket booster with an improved chemical upper stage. This should increase the payload of the Little Hercules from 40,000lbs to 50,000lbs.
The Hercules External Tank Applications
NASA Robert Goddard Station
This station would be used for R&D; to counteract zero gravity, by testing exercising and vitamin supplements. Creating artificial gravity by rotating space station also by using a small device that spins the astronauts like a centrifuge. Also they will work on filtering devices, more powerful batteries that will power spaceships and robotic probes that will travel to Mars and beyond. Propulsion devices and test nuclear thermal rockets (NTR) system.
Commercial Station
There will be commercial micro-manufacturing and space hotels once the capability is there to launch them. These will be the primary thrust of private space stations. Some of these external space stations will be placed near asteroids for mining purposes. There will be rotating space colonies where employees will live.
Military "Jimmy Doolittle" Space Station
The Department of Defense "Jimmy Doolittle" Space Station will be used to clean up space junk, as well as photo reconnaissance, signal intelligence. It can also be used similar to G.P.S. if some attack results in shooting down the G.P.S. satellites. Also it will be the space based location where space based bombers and other assets can be stored. It will also have the capability to attack space stations, spacecraft, and satellites of hostile nation states and non state actors. It can defend against missile attack and incoming asteroids and comets. To get to this location you will ride the "Clementine" military capsule or a classified space plane that the US Air Force may be working on at this time.
Concluding
The Hercules, or shuttle derived vehicle, can be made into a heavy lift rocket, medium size rocket, or small rocket using some of the same basic components. The external tanks could also be used as rooms or extensions to existing space stations. There is the possibility to modify the external tanks to be used as interplanetary space craft, or possible installations on the Moon for a lunar base. So a shuttle derived vehicle has some interesting applications that have been overlooked in the debate of what type of rockets to be used for the CEV: Delta, Atlas or a clean sheet design.
References
ATK Thiokol Propulsion - Shuttle C
Shuttle C Heavy Lift Vehicle (HLV)
The Testimony of Mr. Mike Kahn Vice President of Space Operations, ATK Thiokol Propulsion
Shuttle Derived Vehicle: Shuttle Derived Disaster
GEODE Commercial Space Production Facility
Past Is Prologue: A look at the history and future of the Shuttle C
Rocket options examined for moon Mars initiative BY WILLIAM HARWOOD - STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION