RE: SPACE: Loss of the Saturn V

From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Sat Sep 06 2003 - 08:53:57 MDT

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    On Sat, 6 Sep 2003, Robert J. Bradbury wrote:

    > Use the current Russian RD-180 engines [1] (or RD-170 engines)
    > or the SSME [2] (take into account fuel/weight differences)
    > and get me a first stage booster with Saturn V liftoff capacity.

    And then to make it really interesting -- you might take a stab
    at using nuclear power. See typical submarine nuclear power
    sizes & outputs [1] -- then select some conversion efficiency
    to ion propulsion -- though there are perhaps other propulsion
    alternatives.

    One might get around the safety concerns by using a PBMR [2],
    though I'm not sure how this would impact the weight of the
    reactor.

    Robert

    1. http://arms.host.sk/navy/941.htm
    2. http://www.worldandi.com/public/2001/April/nuclear.html

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