tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675974463524895416.post5249650658198950132..comments2024-03-28T10:26:00.255-05:00Comments on An Ex Rocket Man's Take On It: Spacex "Starship" as a Ferry for Colonization ShipsGary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06723964751681093047noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675974463524895416.post-89475486981237386652019-09-17T09:00:24.352-05:002019-09-17T09:00:24.352-05:00I picked 100 tons arbitrarily for the nuclear ther...I picked 100 tons arbitrarily for the nuclear thermal study. It could just as easily have been 200 tons, or 1000 tons. There is no "design" there. <br /><br />And we will see what Spacex's "Starship" actually turns out to be. After flight tests, it will be different, and perform differently, than projected now. All flight craft do. <br /><br />I did NOT investigate aerobraking for two very good reasons: (1) Mars's atmospheric density is well-known to vary by factors around 2 from nominal. That has a huge effect on aerobraking. (2) Many orbit-to-orbit transport vehicle designs will simply be incompatible with the aerodynamic loads and heating of aerobraking. <br /><br />-- GWGary Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06723964751681093047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675974463524895416.post-91600867859605063082019-09-17T02:45:58.300-05:002019-09-17T02:45:58.300-05:00As intended, Starship concept can also deliver nea...As intended, Starship concept can also deliver near 200t of cargo to Mars with about 1500t ignition mass mass in LEO. <br /><br />That is about twice the mass as NERVA derivative, and goes directly to the surface. <br /><br />I wonder why hasnt any of the colonisation ship concepts you took a look at used aerobraking?Rokhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01594627296669652306noreply@blogger.com