making the mars direct ares V more reusable

[joiz]

so you know how the engine pods on the ares for mars direct are SSMEs? and there made to be reusable? and the engine pod looks awfully like a little lifting body? and you could add a TPS, and make it land, and be reused? do you see what I'm getting at?

 

[Urwumpe]

They are RS-68 engines from the Delta IV, they are not reusable and that is good that way.

The SSME costs 50 million USD, the RS-68 only 14 million for the Delta IV. For being flown again, a single SSME needs an overhaul, which is comparable in effort/manhours to overhauling ALL engines of the current formula one season. The SSME can be flown 25 times until overhauling is impossible, but each overhaul is almost as expensive as buying a new RS-68. For buying a single SSME, NASA could also buy a complete Delta II launcher.

Reusability is not the most important attribute of a good rocket.

 

[joiz]

They are RS-68 engines from the Delta IV, they are not reusable and that is good that way.

The SSME costs 50 million USD, the RS-68 only 14 million for the Delta IV. For being flown again, a single SSME needs an overhaul, which is comparable in effort/manhours to overhauling ALL engines of the current formula one season. The SSME can be flown 25 times until overhauling is impossible, but each overhaul is almost as expensive as buying a new RS-68. For buying a single SSME, NASA could also buy a complete Delta II launcher.

Reusability is not the most important attribute of a good rocket.

ok, case closed.