NASA's New Shuttle

j0ugh writes "NASA releases plans for a new spacecraft (Audio stream contains the meat) that would replace the space shuttle. The vehicle is part of a system that will be capable of putting astronauts on the moon by 2018, laying the groundwork for space travel to Mars. NASA says the new system is designed to be 10 times safer than the space shuttle"

Comments

Re:Back to where they begun?

[jerryasher]

Hey Chekov, is that you? Did you ever find those nuclear wessels?

Speaking of Vacuum tubes.. Here's a possible solu

[digital.prion]

I had a strange idea.. Please hear me out..

Instead of trying to lasso a friggin' asteroid. {excuse me.. still laughing} .. ok..



Why couldn't we just build a "Bubble" of sorts out of diamond?

Here's the basic idea. We build a sphere/dome/donought shaped diamond structure - roughly 1 kilometer in diameter. Ok?

The "Bubble" would use the simple principle of bouency whereby the earth's atmosphere become the "counter weight" that pushes the bubble into the sky. Imagine a bubble in your cola with the cola being the atmosphere

The reason for a diamond super structure is because the "Bubble" needs to decompress the atmosphere inside of it. It become a giant vacuum inside. That's where the lifting power comes from.. DUH! So diamond would be needed to withstand the atmospheric pressure, upper atmospheric radiation and most importantly the cargo weight that will piggy back the bubble to it's upper atmospheric height!

We make the diamond is curved sheets using CVD (carbon vapor deposit). This is being done TODAY, the only need would be to expand the "ovens" that are currently pressing out tiny 4 carrot rocks.

The "Bubble" has got to be LARGE.. Friggin' HUGE! .. Why?
So that it can carry thousands of tons (or more!) of cargo with perhaps a rocket that detaches at 100 miles up and takes the cargo to orbit or the moon!

Once hundreds of thousands of tons can be reliably taken to orbit and back.. We are a space faring people TRUELY! I also imagine getting back down to earth in the same manner with a smaller bubble..

Before my imagination carries me away, is such a thing even possible??? Admittedly I have never taken physics so I have had problems calculating the weight to atmospheric displacement.

If such a thing *IS* possible.. The moon could be populated by HUNDREDS of thousands of people and not just a handful some have suggested regarding the Space Elevator and other ideas..

PHYSICISTS I NEED YOU!!
PS:Cheers