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Description

The proposed launch vehicle for the Supermodule (see my previous post ). This Shuttle-derived HLV was apparently devised specifically for the Supermodule study, as it doesn't exactly match any other studied configurations I've seen, though many in-line SDHLVs were proposed around this time period which also should have been suitable. Theres no upper stage, and the sides of the module aren't encapsulated, the entire white part (minus the cone) is the exposed payload.

Unique to this vehicle concept, orbital insertion and deorbit of the spent vehicle would be done using two OMS engines on the reusable engine pod. Many other SDHLVs also included OMS engines for this purpose, but those were typically sidemount vehicles like Shuttle-C, in which the OMS engines and tanks would be protected from the harshest regions of the launch environment, being on the back side of a side-mounted engine pod. In this in-line configuration, I'm doubtful that the OMS engines could have actually survived the thermal and acoustic environment when directly exposed to the exhaust of the RSRMs. Still, its a neat concept

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Description

The proposed launch vehicle for the Supermodule (see my previous post ). This Shuttle-derived HLV was apparently devised specifically for the Supermodule study, as it doesn't exactly match any other studied configurations I've seen, though many in-line SDHLVs were proposed around this time period which also should have been suitable. Theres no upper stage, and the sides of the module aren't encapsulated, the entire white part (minus the cone) is the exposed payload.

Unique to this vehicle concept, orbital insertion and deorbit of the spent vehicle would be done using two OMS engines on the reusable engine pod. Many other SDHLVs also included OMS engines for this purpose, but those were typically sidemount vehicles like Shuttle-C, in which the OMS engines and tanks would be protected from the harshest regions of the launch environment, being on the back side of a side-mounted engine pod. In this in-line configuration, I'm doubtful that the OMS engines could have actually survived the thermal and acoustic environment when directly exposed to the exhaust of the RSRMs. Still, its a neat concept

Like my work? Support it at patreon.com/brickmack