I am starting this tread to see if anyone would be interested in seeing this new ship idea. I sadly don't have the skills so if I could get some feedback, maybe I can get a team together to help develop it. If you like the idea, please reply to this thread, simply by typing in bump, or feel free to ask questions or add comments
The current name of this craft is R.A.C.T (Robotic Automated Cargo Transport)
The idea that is fits in the cargobay of Dougs excellent XR5 and uses the craft as a SSTO to get into a low orbit. From there it is jettisoned and flies its mission
The purpose of the craft would be to fly cargo from one low orbit to another.
Some of the key features:
You would have your choice for having a fairing (which could be jettisoned) after an aerobrake or aerocapture. The ship could also be launched without a fairing to increase range or payload when such manouveours are not necessary or part of the mission plan
Once RACT establishes its orbit, another XR5 could be launched to recover the craft and bring it down to the surface or could remain in orbit and another craft could be sent up to recover the payload, refuel the craft and send it back where it came from.
This is just a rough idea I have proposed on the #orbiter IRC channel and I would like to see what the orbiter community would think of such a craft so please feedback would be appeicated
The current name of this craft is R.A.C.T (Robotic Automated Cargo Transport)
The idea that is fits in the cargobay of Dougs excellent XR5 and uses the craft as a SSTO to get into a low orbit. From there it is jettisoned and flies its mission
The purpose of the craft would be to fly cargo from one low orbit to another.
Some of the key features:
You would have your choice for having a fairing (which could be jettisoned) after an aerobrake or aerocapture. The ship could also be launched without a fairing to increase range or payload when such manouveours are not necessary or part of the mission plan
Once RACT establishes its orbit, another XR5 could be launched to recover the craft and bring it down to the surface or could remain in orbit and another craft could be sent up to recover the payload, refuel the craft and send it back where it came from.
This is just a rough idea I have proposed on the #orbiter IRC channel and I would like to see what the orbiter community would think of such a craft so please feedback would be appeicated