A major problem with the development of heavy lifters is the loss of information. When the US decided to stop relying on the heavy lifter model they also stopped keeping the current information up-to-date. In order to redevelop the heavy lifter the entire program would have to be restarted. The price tag is simply to high for the American Government to contemplate.
Backup for this idea can be found in the book Space: The Final Frontier? by Giancarlo Genta and Michael Rycroft, page 88
"The American decision (shut down Saturn production lines) was probably a mistake; also for the loss of know-how which followed. If a rocket like Saturn V had to be built today, a long research and development programme would be needed and not only to introduce all of the updates due to the advances of the three most recent decades. Technological know-how in all fields cannot be considered as something acquired once and for ever. Of some capabilities are not used for a certain time, they fade and can be regained only with large investments, in terms of human and financial resources."
Slashdot Mirror
A major problem with the development of heavy lifters is the loss of information. When the US decided to stop relying on the heavy lifter model they also stopped keeping the current information up-to-date. In order to redevelop the heavy lifter the entire program would have to be restarted. The price tag is simply to high for the American Government to contemplate. Backup for this idea can be found in the book Space: The Final Frontier? by Giancarlo Genta and Michael Rycroft, page 88 "The American decision (shut down Saturn production lines) was probably a mistake; also for the loss of know-how which followed. If a rocket like Saturn V had to be built today, a long research and development programme would be needed and not only to introduce all of the updates due to the advances of the three most recent decades. Technological know-how in all fields cannot be considered as something acquired once and for ever. Of some capabilities are not used for a certain time, they fade and can be regained only with large investments, in terms of human and financial resources."