Category Archives: Technology

Orbital Access Methodologies Part IV: Glideback TSTO

Posted on June 16, 2008 by Jonathan Goff

Some of the comments to my last post got me thinking about what I’m trying to accomplish with this series. The reality is that each of these approaches that I’m discussing could easily fill a full chapter in a textbook, … Continue reading →

Posted in Launch Vehicles, Orbital Access Methodologies, Space Transportation, Technology | 21 Comments

Orbital Access Methodologies Part III: Pop-up TSTO

Posted on June 14, 2008 by Jonathan Goff

This third installation in my Orbital Access Methodologies series (parts I can be found here, and part II here) has been a long time in the coming. It has taken so long, not because I’ve been spending months researching and … Continue reading →

Posted in Launch Vehicles, Orbital Access Methodologies, Space Transportation, Technology | 24 Comments

Are Those Nozzles "Thrust Augmented"?

Posted on April 11, 2008 by Jonathan Goff

In this article at AvLeak, there’s discussion of an Aerojet LOX/Kero booster engine project called HC Boost (emphasis mine) : Dubbed HC Boost, the technology development program is aimed at providing an improved, home-grown alternative to the Russian RD-180, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Space Transportation, Technology, Thrust Augmented Nozzles | 16 Comments

Space Tugs vs. Space Ferries: A Useful Distinction?

Posted on February 20, 2008 by Jonathan Goff

Something that’s been bugging me for some time is the confusion surrounding the term “space tug”. The term’s been used to describe at least two very different ideas for many years now. At NGEC-2, I tried to inject a little … Continue reading →

Posted in Launch Vehicles, Space Development, Space Transportation, Technology | 25 Comments

Orbital Access Methodologies Part II: The Key Challenge of TSTO RLVs

Posted on January 19, 2008 by Jonathan Goff

Before I go into detail on any of the two stage to orbit (TSTO for the uninitiated) approaches that I mentioned in my post last week, I’d like to briefly discuss what I think is the key issue that drives … Continue reading →

Posted in Launch Vehicles, Orbital Access Methodologies, Space Transportation, Technology | 22 Comments

An Insane, But Interesting Idea: Fleet Launched Orbital Craft

Posted on January 12, 2008 by Jonathan Goff

Ok, before I go into this latest blog post, I want to put a disclaimer up front: This idea is crazy. I’m not posting this because I think it’s the greatest idea since sliced bread. I don’t think that this … Continue reading →

Posted in Launch Vehicles, Technology | 28 Comments

Orbital Access Methodologies Part I: Air Launched SSTO

Posted on January 4, 2008 by Jonathan Goff

As I mentioned last month, I would like to briefly discuss in a series of blog posts some of the more promising potential approaches for reusable orbital transportation. There is often a tendency among engineers to completely dismiss any idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Launch Vehicles, Orbital Access Methodologies, Space Transportation, Technology | 79 Comments

Random Thought: Lunar Ejection Seat

Posted on January 1, 2008 by Jonathan Goff

[Note: I came up with this idea a couple of weeks ago, but it got left on the backburner over the holidays. Oh, and welcome to anyone coming here from the Carnival of Space.] One of the biggest mixed blessings … Continue reading →

Posted in Launch Vehicles, Lunar Commerce, Technology | 11 Comments

Random Thought: Thrust Augmented AJ26-60?

Posted on November 29, 2007 by Jonathan Goff

I’m a little more reticent these days to blog about half-baked technology ideas (for fear of being compared to our friend Gaetano), but I figured I’d toss this one out as food for thought. A couple of posts ago, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Launch Vehicles, Technology | 8 Comments

Orbital Access Cat Skinning Methodologies

Posted on November 13, 2007 by Jonathan Goff

In order to discuss the business, finance, and policy approaches for creating low cost and reliable space transportation, it helps to have an understanding of the underlying technology, in order to provide context for those discussions. It also happens to … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economics, Launch Vehicles, Orbital Access Methodologies, Space Development, Space Policy, Space Transportation, Technology | 4 Comments