Ok, the best information I been advised of at this time (from what I would call semi-authoritative sources) is that the blueprints for the Saturn V are preserved on microfilm. However they would be insufficient because apparently there were on-the-fly modifications made by the engineers/assemblers of the rocket stacks that were not documented.
With respect to the lack of ability to make the F-1 engines in Stage 1, there is the problem of tooling. However the RD-170 engines that powered the Energia have slightly more thrust than the F-1 engines did, though they have not been tested as much as the F-1 engines were. So we "might" still have the ability to manufacture engines that can do the job. The RD-180 engines that power the Atlas V are in production and are a scaled down version of the RD-170 engines (roughly 2/3 the capacity). So one might be able to get a Saturn V 1st stage capacity with something like 8 RD-170 engines instead of 5 F-1 engines. As pointed out on several lists -- we have composites and higher strength aluminium alloys now so one might be able to put together a significantly lighter stack. On Sat, 6 Sep 2003, LARRY KLAES wrote: > Would a Space Elevator pay for itself in the end? > > http://www.highliftsystems.com/ This remains to be determined. It might be a great way to get humans into space but still might not solve the heavy lift problem. I don't know what mass the proposed elevator designs are capable of handling. While we do now have what can be called bucky-fibers they are still expensive to manufacture and aren't continuous molecular structures thousands of km in length -- so I don't know how this would impact the capacity of a space elevator. There is also the significant problem of where to put one, what happens to the bottom levels during a tropical storm and the problem that all hell breaks loose if the cable snaps at any point. I suspect I'd lean towards a mass-driver + small rocket combination before I'd go with a space elevator. The nice thing about robotic missions is that they can be hurled off a mass-driver at much higher velocity (due to higher G-force acceleration) than can be done with human missions. On the other hand something like some of the X-prize approaches would seem to be much better for simply getting humans up there. Looks like it is a question of using the right tool for each specific job. I've never seen to date any estimates for what it would take in terms of a mass driver that could launch 100 tons with the velocity of a Saturn V 1st stage but I would like to know. Apparently the Saturn V 1st stage puts out enough power to power NYC for several minutes so one would probably need several nuclear reactors to power the mass driver. Robert == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
