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2008-03-04 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Reality Glooms High Over Russian GLONASS GPS Plans Part One

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Posted by 3dc 2008-03-04 18:48|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 The Russians consistently err in trying to duplicate the strengths of the US, poorly, instead of going with their own strengths, which they do rather well.

They could bring a lot to the table cooperating with the US in a space program. For example, their Proton heavy lift rocket has made 300 flights with a 98% success rate.

The US hopes to develop the Ares V rocket, capable of lifting 140 or so tons to LEO, or half that amount to the Moon.

But this might be impractical instead of constructing a modular orbital shuttle rocket in space, with multiple Proton launches.

A reusable modular engine and fuel tanks, which would carry another rocket from Earth orbit to Lunar orbit and back, allowing it to carry much more cargo, instead of fuel.

When it arrived back in Earth orbit, the shuttle would stay there, and be refueled by more Proton launches.

The US could assemble the tank and engine modules with a manned space shuttle flight, and add more solid fuel before its next mission.

If you compare costs an value, either the US spends a hell of a lot of money on an Ares V, then sends a short mission to the Moon and back.

Or, for about twice as much money, we get a shuttle to take spacecraft back and forth to and from the Moon, repeatedly, and they get to spend a lot more time there before returning.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-03-04 21:00|| 2008-03-04 21:00|| Front Page Top

#2 Cooperate with them? no way, they'd just take our money and give us a rocket casing filled with used pinball machine parts.

Posted by gromky 2008-03-04 22:55|| 2008-03-04 22:55|| Front Page Top

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