h a l f b a k e r yThe embarrassing drunkard uncle of invention.
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This idea is for a rocket fuel tank that is not reusable as a fuel tank. But why send it back to earth ?
As an example, make a habitation module for a future mission to mars or space station and fill it with H or O. Once in space, just vent the module for a while and move in.
This way, you could
well end up with just an efficient rocket since it doesn't need the 'just a fuel tank' section.
Alternatively keep the main rocket fuel tank and use it as a radiation shield.
Payload as rocket structure.
Wet Launch Habitation Modules
http://home.earthli...~jedcline/wlhm.html
Grr, but not widely known. [bigsleep, Sep 16 2009]
A visual of one such proposal.
http://www.immigrat...ism-ring%5B1%5D.jpg
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 16 2009]
DEVO London 2009
http://www.youtube....watch?v=3CUAx8kjYtI
Space Junk is about halfway in - 2:50ish. [Ian Tindale, Sep 17 2009]
http://www.newscien...to-tidy-up-spa.html
http://www.newscien...to-tidy-up-spa.html
http://www.newscien...to-tidy-up-spa.html
[Ian Tindale, Sep 21 2009]
[link]
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In the "Red Mars" series by Kim S. Robinson, the astronauts do exactly this. |
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It amazes me that the ISS wasn't built from dumb rockets like this, collected and put together in space by the shuttle. Hell, soyuz stuff can even auto-dock. |
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You mean like Skylab (1973-79)? |
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This'd be a good motive for a private venture - use existing space junk. |
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This is a widely known idea in the field. The reason it isn't implemented is that the tanks never get that close to orbit. A quick Google search tells me it gets ejected <120km altitude, so WAY short of the ~300km orbital altitude and that doesn't even count the delta V which would require even more than the MASSIVE energy needed to get it to 300km.
Oh, and that tank is not light either.
So sorry (-). |
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Swing by and tack a booster on it, to get it to LEO. Then it's useful. |
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I imagine that fuel tanks are more pressure-resistant than necessary for a habitation module... concentric-layer fuel tanks ? |
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Perhaps they could be used on earth... they appear to all be headed right back here anyway, and I'd imagine a parachute fit for the task of getting them back safely would add less to the payload than a booster for getting them the rest of the way into orbit. |
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