John Carmack's Opinion On What We Should Do Next

02/03/03 00:00:00    

By Michael Mealling

While I'm sure Rand would disagree with the premise of the question, a thread on aRocket called “Shuttle 2.0” has elicited a comment from John Carmack of Armadillo Aerospace on just what we should do to replace the shuttle. 

From: John Carmack
Subject: Re: [AR] Shuttle 2.0
To: AROCKET



At 09:26 PM 2/3/2003 -0600, you wrote:





Aaron Smith wrote:





Whaddy'all think?





    

  1. Continue to operate the remaining orbiters.
    2. 

  2. Accelerate development of a replacement, IMO a 2 stage with flyback
booster.
    3. 

  3. Develop a 'Shuttle-C', launched unmanned. (4 SRB's, SSME module under
tank that recovers, cargo pod on top of tank. Payload capacity would
exceed 100 MT.)
    4. 




Tom





Make a tiny little RLV that can carry either a single person, or about
300lb of supplies.  Fly it to ISS every day.  Daily launches would
completely change the way space flight operations are done -- things
wouldn't need to be planned out down to the last degree, because you could
always send another part up tomorrow, or even send up the appropriate
expert the situation demanded.  A "storm shelter" instead of a CRV is also
a lot more credible if you know that you could shuffle everyone down in
fairly short order.



Let them figure out how to break experiments into 300lb chunks if
necessary.  It would be worth it.  New modules and such could still go up
on ELVs.



A 300lb payload RLV is only a 15 ton (fueled) vehicle, and I just can't see
it being a budget-buster to develop.  Give us about five more years, and
I'll quote you a price. :-)



John Carmack
www.armadilloaerospace.com

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