ARE YOU A WARRIOR? by Richard DePersio (all comsats listed and described at groups.google.com/group/rickcosmos-eclectic)
Far more then a white lie. Obama promises a heavy-lifter by 2015 which will
lead to manned missions to asteroids, Mars and the moons of Mars beginning
in 2025. It is impossible to built a heavy-lifter in five years starting from scratch for he wants to completely cancel CONSTELLATION, especially, when he is laying-off virtually all Shuttle and Constellation administrators, managers, scientists, engineers and technicians for they are the ones with the expertise in heavy-lifting and manned spaceflight. Constellation's Ares heavy-lifter will be operational in 2017 - give or take a year and if we prevent Constellation from being cancelled.
1.25 trillion went down a presidential black hole in two failed stimulus packages
and Freddie and Fannie are sink holes. We've invested $9 billion in Constellation.
Will that go down self-same presidential black hole!?! The lib dems rarely disagree with Obama but it is close to election time and they are worried about lay-offs at NASA facilities and private companies that contract with NASA around the nation. President Kennedy's primary motivation for the Moon Program wasn't philosophical and/or scientific/technological but political - when he made his famous "I believe that this nation should commit itself to the goal of putting a man on the moon before this decade is out..." - he wanted to distract public attention away from the Cuban Bay of Pigs fiasco that occurred a few weeks earlier. Most conservatives, moderates and libs in congress are primarily motivated by saving jobs in their desire to save as much of Constellation as Soros, Obama, Palusi and Reid will let them.The full Senate has passed a bill that will save less of it (remember: Obama wanted to do away with virtually all of it) then a House sub-committee has proposed. The full House has to vote on a plan (they could opt to vote on Senate bill as is - we don't want that) and both bodies will have to vote on an appropriations bill to finance it. It might have to go to a Joint House-Senate Reconciliation Committee to iron out the differences in the bills. You can still save NASA - who are you going to call? (and message) - info below in supplement. We could have a heavy-lifter by 2017 or sooner not 2015 by starting from scratch! Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Reagan and Bush - chronologically and literally - in that order were strongly committed to NASA and Bush to "Constellation" for primary and secondary reasons.Obama wants to shift the SPACE Programs focus from space to Muslim psycho therapy/diplomacy and to green pseudo-science.
Recently, private sector SpaceX reached an altitude of 135 miles after three failed
attempts with a 'dummy' capsule. It claims that it will be ready to bring cargo to ISS (International Space Station) in early 2012 and astronauts in early 2014. It doesn't even process blueprints for a spacecraft and this is 2010! It recently informed fed gov that it requires an additional $1 billion (cost over-run) to reach an the altitude of 185 miles - location of ISS - and lift 55,000 pounds like Space Shuttle. NASA wasn't cost-effective prior to 1992 but shuttles were upgraded between 1992-97 and became over 90% cost-effective and each of the three shuttles are certified flight-capable for over 75 more flights. SpaceX also indicated that it might have to limit it to 25,000 pounds - we will have to pay them to do in two flights what the shuttle can do in one.
Unlike the president, we're Capitalists and Realists. SpaceX should be granted
more time to do it right - effectively, efficiently and SAFELY! Extend the lifespan
of the shuttle for approximately four more years - and upgrade while still operational nf feasible
and financially viable.
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL: NASA/Boeing have blueprints for a mini-Orion unmanned drone (not the one without blueprints which Obama proposed) but it was cancelled during R & D
phase (NASA was criticized for not completing ISS on schedule, it would have if it had mini-Orion), resurrect it and it should be operational in 2 to 2 and a half years and be
able to lift 25,000 pounds to ISS. PREVIOUS ORIGINAL PROPOSAL: Civilian
version of unmanned X-37B could be operational in less then two years if we make commitment (let's call it "CONSTITUTION" when it becomes operational in order to drive liberals crazy!) and manned version in 3 years or less ( Our estimates regarding Air Force 'secret' program should be in the in the ball park and should be able to carry 25,000 to the space station).
What about SpaceX's Falcon 9? Give it 3 to 4 years to begin cargo flights on a
limited basis and 5 to 6 years for limited number of manned flights to ISS. It should assume nearly full control and responsibility (with NASA's watchful eye - eye opened
wider on manned missions) by 2017. Full autonomy regarding non-NASA projects for scientific research for universities, materials engineering and pharmacology for private companies, as well as, space tourism.
The astronautic-ally-challenged think that Constellation represents a step backward
by using Apollo/Saturn and Shuttle technologies and not cutting-edge technology.
Point One: it isn't using but building on those successful technologies which is smart
and cost-effective. Point two: Cutting-edge - how's this for you: 'artificial' gravity; solar
power-generation (that should please 'hockey sticks'); nuclear thermal fusion
engine (recently, the first fission power plant opened up since Three-Mile-Island. How sad.
We have had the technology to build much safer fission plants for over 15 years but
liberals wouldn't allow it - they love American energy dependence. It is estimated that
we can have even safer, less costly and -for cattle farters- non-greenhouse gas-producing
fusion plants between 2030-35. NASA and Constellation can accelerate process toward
energy independence by enabling us to have fusion a lot sooner). We have the technology - not the money - to go to Mars between 2017-2020. Steve Howe was a nuclear scientist with the NERVA (Nuclear Engine Rocket Vehicle Application; technology could be applied to nuclear fusion plants). He appeared in a 2004 episode of ScienceChannel Megascience series and stated while visiting NERVA site in Nevada for the first time in 7 years: "We should have been on Mars in the mid-'70's. I see dust and tumbleweeds. It was a great age, a golden age...". Others involved with NERVA (1963-72;we told you about a DiscoveryChannel documantary in which a senior NERVA engineer visited site for the first time since '72 and wants to restore and upgrade facilities; it was to serve as the engine of the third stage of Saturn S-N heavy-lifter in 1978 for a Mars mission and in 1980 to begin building Moon Base. (Saturn 5 had three chemical stages; S-N would have two chemical and one nuclear).
Considering cost and time: A manned mission to and from Mars would take three years plus astronauts due to celestial mechanics and green would have to live and work on surface for over a year and a half. Present plans call for all chemical stages. A round-trip using nuclear thermal would take 6 months and astronauts would spend one to three months on surface. You could have over five missions instead of one mission. We can always return to a site if science justifies it. The cost of program about the same...no, for there is another factor.
The Moon Project costs about $100 billion in today's dollars while a Mars Project would cost about $400 (although this reporter contends that price tag can safely be brought closer to $300 - another reason to save as much of CONSTELLATION as possible.(we already invested $9 billion plus money on nuclear thermal, magnetic plasma, 'artificial gravity, unmanned probes, etc. which we might have been incorporated into 'Constellation" which was hoped. We should foot the largest percentage of the bill for we are America and certain R & D will be for us alone - we get largest return and we are in charge: $100 over 13 years. It could unable us to have nuclear thermal power plants between 2020-25, as well as, other spin-offs and applications. We should do it with our best friends: England, Israel, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Czech Republic, Poland and semi-allies: Kuwait, Quitter (because they have a lot a green from black gold) and India, Brazil because they are rapidly developing nations - throw in Japan and our price tag might be $90. Three nations will have to learn to play nice together if they want to be on the Winning Team. Peaceful Non-Cold War-like Space Race with EU and Russia: EU might unite with Russia to form one team with Russia in charge. Could they afford to keep pace with the Winning Team!?!
I'm cognizant of the fact that many are concerned with costs besides competition,
methods, systems. Let's address those issues. To think: 80% of the weight of a rocket is fuel! We could use Ares 1 or modified Ares 1 with two chemical stages or two solid booster rockets and a large external fuel tank (similar to space shuttle arrangement to get Orion to earth orbit and Ares 5 or modified Ares 5 or Citizen Reporter Original proposal Ares/Saturn S-N Combo (update: CR recently discovered that a version of Ares 5 with such a nuclear thermal stage has blueprints;
he is still amazing: having proposed it without knowledge that plan existed) where third stage wouldn't be discarded like in Apollo but would serve as Mars-Transfer-Vehicle (aka nuclear thermal rocket engine and fuel container - stage 3). Altair Mars Lander brought up on separate flight. All components will be assembled at ISS (space station). Normally, you would fire engine - increase speed - to raise you to a higher orbit and having arrived at higher orbit and expended energy, you will be orbiting earth at a slower speed because you are now further from earth's gravity. Mars Mission: you are orbiting earth at 17,500 mph at altitude of ISS. You fire nuclear thermal engine for over three hours and you spiral outward gaining speed and after 30 days, you sling shot out of spiral coupled with firing engine for over three hours again and adding earth's speed (orbital velocity around the sun) to spacecraft's speed. Efficiency 1: Hydrogen fuel is lighter then - two chemicals needed to combust to produce thrust (chemical rocket) and less weight means less cost. Efficiency 2: You can attain higher temperatures with H which means higher speed: exhaust or thrust. Efficiency 3: Just about any gas will do. We want to use H to Mars because it's the cheapest. We can use carbon dioxide from Martian atmosphere -are Martians going to charge us!?! - for return trip. Further, Mars Transfer Vehicle instead of it being one long and wide engine plus tank for H, we can place Orion inside of MTV (in earth orbit) enabling H to shield astronauts from cosmic radiation and solar 'wind.'
Neil Armstrong and many other prominent people oppose Obama space plan
and suspect that he is giving up America's number one position in space - pure science
and all the benefits - - NASA in your home, car, office, farm, factory, hospital. SAVE
CONSTELLATION. ( find more info at: rickaddsite.blogspot.com, group.google.com/group/rickcosmos-eclectic, rickscisite.blogspot.com, /group/science-space-technology, YouTube: Rickaddsite - "NICK..." and "A CRYSTAL PERFECT VISION" and "WORLD-VIEW." Prepare for battle! Became a SPACE WARRIOR! The Romans believed that the red color of Mars was actually for some and symbolically for others the blood of Roman soldiers and called it Mars - the god of war.Engage in the War to Save NASA and let's make it a war - a Peaceful Competition - with the U.S. in charge of the Winning Team.It isn't presently planned that way. Don't let NASA FADE to BLACK!!! SUPPLEMENT: CONVINCE YOUR NEIGHBORS of the IMPORTANCE of the WAR.WRITE COMMENTS and BLOGS on the INTERNET. WRITER LETTERS to the EDITOR of YOUR NEWSPAPER (if you still read a newspaper) print version and internet-version - if they have one. Contact Congress: EVERY WEEK (three to five members) or, preferably, EVERYDAY, (one to three) until November 15 or December 15 or January 15 might be necessary. Weekends and when they are out-of -session too. Staff members available. TELL NINE KEY MEMBERS of CONGRESS to EXTEND LIFESPAN of SPACE SHUTTLE for 4 YEARS and SAVE MOST of CONSTELLATION (YOU MAY or MAY NOT WANT to RECOMMEND SCALED-DOWN MOON PROGRAM and ARES 5/SATURN S-N COMBO). TWO MAJOR NASA PROPONENTS: (www. -?) shelby.gov/public/ (R; Alabama) PHONE: 202-224-5744 and nelson.gov/public/ (D; FLORIDA) PHONE: 202-224-5274. CHAIRMAN and RANKING MEMBERS of SENATE and HOUSE APPROPRIATION COMMITTEES: Conrad, Greg, Sprat, Ryan; your two Senators and one Congressman. LEAVE MESSAGE at THEIR WEBSITE and/or SPEAK to STAFF MEMBER. SENATE PHONE: 202-224-3121 and HOUSE PHONE: 202-226-7200 (Senator Operator will usually give you House info too; you need not know the names of your members of Congress...BUT, you have to know the NAME of the STATE in which you LIVE!
