luke strawwalker
06-18-2011, 04:59 PM
Here's a study from 1963 on various designs for lunar modules. The plan was to use a modular approach of various combinations of lander stages: descent, ascent, crasher (staged descent), payload, and manned capsule, in order to create a "family" of related landers for both unmanned payloads and manned landers.
It's an interesting concept. Note that all of them are LH2 powered with RL-10 rocket engines as well... these vehicles would have been MASSIVELY more capable for the same amount of propellant/size than the hypergolically powered LM was, due to the additional ISP and efficiency of liquid hydrogen propulsion coupled with the RL-10 engines...
These would make interesting payloads for the Saturn V or the Saturn IB which was planned for use in the testing phases (and even in some operational proposals as well).
later! OL JR
It's an interesting concept. Note that all of them are LH2 powered with RL-10 rocket engines as well... these vehicles would have been MASSIVELY more capable for the same amount of propellant/size than the hypergolically powered LM was, due to the additional ISP and efficiency of liquid hydrogen propulsion coupled with the RL-10 engines...
These would make interesting payloads for the Saturn V or the Saturn IB which was planned for use in the testing phases (and even in some operational proposals as well).
later! OL JR