hummer
06-27-2008, 02:23 PM
Huntsvillle, June 26: Nasa has unveiled a beefed-up redesign of a proposed moon rocket, saying the Ares V spacecraft that is to carry astronauts to the lunar surface in 12 years will be around 38 stories tall and carry a heftier load than originally planned.
The rocket is to be about 20 feet longer than a previous design and have six main engines at its base, instead of five. Engineers said they also decided to enlarge the twin
solid-rocket boosters that will be bolted to its side so it can hold more fuel and carry more supplies and equipment than first envisioned.
Steve Cook, manager of the Ares project office at the Marshall Space Flight Center, yesterday said the new design would make Ares V capable of carrying about 15,600 pounds more than the original concept.
The Ares V was first planned to be 361 feet long, or about the size of the original Saturn V moon rocket. But Cook said the redesigned Ares V will be 381 feet long -- or roughly
as tall as a 38-story building.
Part of the constellation program, the rocket will be capable of carrying four astronauts, a lunar lander and other equipment to a landing anywhere on the moon. In all, Nasa said it expects Ares V would be able to send more than 156,600 pounds of cargo to the moon and, someday, Mars.
"We`ve looked at over 1,700 different Ares concepts," Cook told reporters at a briefing. The changes were announced after a nine-month study to determine if Nasa could meet its goal of returning to the moon. In a statement, constellation program manager Jeff hanley said the review showed astronauts can be back on the moon by 2020.
The rocket is to be about 20 feet longer than a previous design and have six main engines at its base, instead of five. Engineers said they also decided to enlarge the twin
solid-rocket boosters that will be bolted to its side so it can hold more fuel and carry more supplies and equipment than first envisioned.
Steve Cook, manager of the Ares project office at the Marshall Space Flight Center, yesterday said the new design would make Ares V capable of carrying about 15,600 pounds more than the original concept.
The Ares V was first planned to be 361 feet long, or about the size of the original Saturn V moon rocket. But Cook said the redesigned Ares V will be 381 feet long -- or roughly
as tall as a 38-story building.
Part of the constellation program, the rocket will be capable of carrying four astronauts, a lunar lander and other equipment to a landing anywhere on the moon. In all, Nasa said it expects Ares V would be able to send more than 156,600 pounds of cargo to the moon and, someday, Mars.
"We`ve looked at over 1,700 different Ares concepts," Cook told reporters at a briefing. The changes were announced after a nine-month study to determine if Nasa could meet its goal of returning to the moon. In a statement, constellation program manager Jeff hanley said the review showed astronauts can be back on the moon by 2020.