🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Jan11.075346.12742@bby.com.au> gnb@baby.bby.com.au (Gregory N. Bond) writes:

>1) It's overweight by some relatively small amount, say, 5000lbs.  This
>leaves 5000lbs payload, still a worthwhile cargo.  And the price/lb is
>double projections, but still a small fraction of ELVs.  So the
>project is still a win, albeit smaller.

The current DC-Y concept has a payload of a bit over 20,000 pounds. In
addition, there is a design margin of about 15,000 pounds. So in the above
scenario where the vehicle is 5K pounds overweight the un-used margine
goes to payload and thus payload goes to 30,000 pounds.

>2) The mass overrun is a substantial fraction of payload, or exceeds
>payload.  Then a possibility would be to delete the life support and
>crew cockpit and use the thing unmanned....

Note that the 15% margin allows for lots of mistakes. However, if
it turns out that overruns are too great, the program is still
a success. We will know EXACTLY what systems must be weight reduced
to make it work. After a few years of research in those areas, we
will have a working vehicle.

>And in any case, you know a lot more than when you started, and you
>can do it right next time! 

Or, you continuously improve the DC-Y until it flies.

  Allen

-- 
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Allen W. Sherzer | "A great man is one who does nothing but leaves        |
|  aws@iti.org     |  nothing undone"                                       |
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