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In the past few months (as I have been dealing with other projects :dry, I have become increasingly interested in a spacecraft built for access to low Earth orbit, particularly a reusable single-stage spaceplane.
Integrated with the interest in the Orbiter community in the Delta Glider and related addons, and questions as to whether said spacecraft could be constructed in reality, I am beginning to set my sights on a "real-world" Delta-Glider. :thumbup:
The foremost requirements for such a craft would be an SSTO vessel, that can place 5 people in space. In the interests of realism, certain aspects of the Delta Glider that are more focused on gameplay rather than design in reality, such as hover engines, retro-rockets and the nosecone docking port will be omitted.
The spacecraft will only have a Delta-V for flights to an acceptable LEO; going anywhere beyond the Moon in such a small cabin would be highly impractical regardless. Possibility for a sixth crew member (co-pilot) would be included. Other design requirements are:
- A potential small cabin payload capability (max. 3 tons).
- Use of nuclear thermal propulsion, as opposed to chemical/scramjet, or Quantum-Handwavion flux accelerators. Both solid core and (enclosed) gas core designs must be considered; I would consider solid core to present a lesser engineering challenge.
- Liquid or potentially slush hydrogen propellant.
- Use of advanced composite materials for a light (yet still realistically plausible) airframe.
- Seperate thruster system for on-orbit manuvering (integrated to RCS).
- Potential for use of solar power during on-orbit activities.
I currently have no fancy meshes to show for this, nor do I have a fancy .dll (I wish ). I have come up with some preliminary (and rudimentary) mass and power figures however.
Comments, suggestions, advice, and constructive criticism (or harsh criticism, if you wish :lol are welcome.
Cheers,
T.Neo
Integrated with the interest in the Orbiter community in the Delta Glider and related addons, and questions as to whether said spacecraft could be constructed in reality, I am beginning to set my sights on a "real-world" Delta-Glider. :thumbup:
The foremost requirements for such a craft would be an SSTO vessel, that can place 5 people in space. In the interests of realism, certain aspects of the Delta Glider that are more focused on gameplay rather than design in reality, such as hover engines, retro-rockets and the nosecone docking port will be omitted.
The spacecraft will only have a Delta-V for flights to an acceptable LEO; going anywhere beyond the Moon in such a small cabin would be highly impractical regardless. Possibility for a sixth crew member (co-pilot) would be included. Other design requirements are:
- A potential small cabin payload capability (max. 3 tons).
- Use of nuclear thermal propulsion, as opposed to chemical/scramjet, or Quantum-Handwavion flux accelerators. Both solid core and (enclosed) gas core designs must be considered; I would consider solid core to present a lesser engineering challenge.
- Liquid or potentially slush hydrogen propellant.
- Use of advanced composite materials for a light (yet still realistically plausible) airframe.
- Seperate thruster system for on-orbit manuvering (integrated to RCS).
- Potential for use of solar power during on-orbit activities.
I currently have no fancy meshes to show for this, nor do I have a fancy .dll (I wish ). I have come up with some preliminary (and rudimentary) mass and power figures however.
Comments, suggestions, advice, and constructive criticism (or harsh criticism, if you wish :lol are welcome.
Cheers,
T.Neo