Stumble It!
Popular Mechanics just posted an (intro?) to an article on Lockheed's CEV team and their design. Pretty sparse, but I guess they want you to buy the magazine (June issue). (From Rand Simberg at Transterrestrial Musings)
(courtesy of Popular Mechanics)
Looks a lot like an X33/X34 to me. But it doesn't glide, it drops into the ocean like the Apollo missions did. Not that I blame them, that is a much easier (i.e. cheaper) way to design a crewed capsule.
Other than that, pretty standard. It has to launch and land on one vehicle (med-heavy to heavy lift you would assume), it has to perform orbital hook-ups with (presumably) another vehicle to get it to wherever it is going, and it looks really good as a drawing.
The only new thing I notice is the use of carbon-carbon rather than tiles, like the shuttle. Not a big shock, as the tiles are not real popular lately.
Can't wait to hear more....
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Monday, May 02, 2005
Lockheed's CEV
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