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Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!
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<blockquote data-quote="MaxKaladin" data-source="post: 2460861" data-attributes="member: 1196"><p>A SSTO Spaceplane would be the sort of thing I imagine as a "Space Truck". All it needs to be able to do is get cargo to low orbit reliably and reasonably cheaply. Current means of doing that are pretty expensive -- especially the shuttle -- and rely on non-reusable components like rocket boosters or disposable fuel tanks. Every launch not only burns up expensive fuel, but expends part of the spacecraft that needs to be replaced. Plus you have to have gantries and launch control systems. Launches also take lots of time to prepare for and set up because you have to essentially rebuild the ship each time at a predetermined location that has all the gantries and other specialized facilities. A spaceplane would eliminate disposable parts and reduce turnaround time and the need for specialized facilities. If you can do that, you can save a bunch of money that you can use on other aspects of space exploration. </p><p></p><p>Right now, getting stuff out of the gravity well is, AFAIK, the most expensive part of space flight. If you can get stuff to LEO, you can then use other vehicles to get to higher orbits or move around the solar system. I just see a more practical way of getting stuff to orbit as the first step to that. </p><p></p><p>I can understand building Constellation as a stopgap measure, but they should already be working on a true shuttle to replace it. Honestly, I think it's shameful that they haven't already been working on one so that Constellation is not needed. </p><p></p><p>Let's just hope private companies like Scaled Composites can get a proper spaceplane working. They will have the incentive to do so in space tourism and in eventually undercutting conventional launch facilities for sattelite launches.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="MaxKaladin, post: 2460861, member: 1196"] A SSTO Spaceplane would be the sort of thing I imagine as a "Space Truck". All it needs to be able to do is get cargo to low orbit reliably and reasonably cheaply. Current means of doing that are pretty expensive -- especially the shuttle -- and rely on non-reusable components like rocket boosters or disposable fuel tanks. Every launch not only burns up expensive fuel, but expends part of the spacecraft that needs to be replaced. Plus you have to have gantries and launch control systems. Launches also take lots of time to prepare for and set up because you have to essentially rebuild the ship each time at a predetermined location that has all the gantries and other specialized facilities. A spaceplane would eliminate disposable parts and reduce turnaround time and the need for specialized facilities. If you can do that, you can save a bunch of money that you can use on other aspects of space exploration. Right now, getting stuff out of the gravity well is, AFAIK, the most expensive part of space flight. If you can get stuff to LEO, you can then use other vehicles to get to higher orbits or move around the solar system. I just see a more practical way of getting stuff to orbit as the first step to that. I can understand building Constellation as a stopgap measure, but they should already be working on a true shuttle to replace it. Honestly, I think it's shameful that they haven't already been working on one so that Constellation is not needed. Let's just hope private companies like Scaled Composites can get a proper spaceplane working. They will have the incentive to do so in space tourism and in eventually undercutting conventional launch facilities for sattelite launches. [/QUOTE]
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