For those not familiar with it already, I would encourage readers to have a look at Space X's Grasshopper reusable rocket project. Here is a You Tube link to a video showing the latest test flight of Grasshopper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ls_cTSgxp0 The flight and the technology are impressive, particularly the stability of the rocket in both the lift and return phases. Space X's ultimate goal is to build full re-use technology into its launch systems, with the aim of cutting Earth to orbit costs to 100th of their traditional throwaway rocket levels. It is the development of this kind of technology that is going to make Mars flight truly affordable. The Grasshopper program is continuing and there will be more, longer duration, flights into the future. It is worth having a look at the Wikipedia article on Grasshopper. See this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grasshopper_(rocket) The article is not fully up to date but it gives a good description of development plans.
I will return to the issue of Space X rocket development. As I have suggested previously, the company appears ahead of the curve in its plans for launch vehicles which might support a manned Mars mission and the founding of a colony. Space X has talked about the possibility of a Mars Colonial Transporter (MCT). It is not clear yet what the implications of this are for rocketry requirements. The corporation apparently intends to make some kind of further announcement later this year but I will post on some of the apparent options shortly.
No comments:
Post a Comment