CEV Design Q&A Options

[nprev]

Starting this thread in hopes that we'll all have some detailed insight into the next generation of MSF engineering.

Noble goal, eh? Truth of the matter is that I was just looking at one of the innumerable 'CEV enroute to the moon' artist conceptions, and I realized that the solar arrays as depicted meant that the vehicle almost certainly has to remain in a fixed attitude with respect to the Sun for them to operate at maximum efficiency. IIRC, the Apollos had to spin a bit in order to maintain thermal equilibrium & avoid localized heating and/or freezing.

Am I missing something here in terms of trade-offs? Seems unwieldy at best to have the arrays mounted to a sort of slip-ring assembly (with mast articulation) to maintain solar lock while the main body rotates. Likewise, seems as if an extensive--and in terms of power & volatile requirements/risk, expensive--ECS would be needed to avoid the temperature differential problem if the S/C is intended to maintain a continuous power-positive attitude during transit.

Sure that there's a simple answer I've missed; would very much like to hear it! (Let me guess: LOTS of heat pipes?)

[dvandorn]

Problem is, the CEV has been redesigned and made smaller once already, based on performance projections for the Stick. We're now at the raw edge of the Stick's current ability to orbit Orion as currently designed. Any reduction in performance will result in a further redesign that will severely limit the CEV's ability to perform its design mission.

I think we may be looking at the potential for changing over to an Atlas V or a Delta IV (in their Heavy configurations) as the first stage for Orion. Any such decision has to be made *very* soon, though.

-the other Doug

[nprev]

I think we may be looking at the potential for changing over to an Atlas V or a Delta IV (in their Heavy configurations) as the first stage for Orion. Any such decision has to be made *very* soon, though.

-the other Doug

I like the Delta IV Heavy idea; in fact, I wonder if it would be feasible to cluster additional cores (up to six) for incrementally greater boost capability. Hell, this might make Orion more achievable in the short term, esp. because the IV Heavy is going to be used extensively over the next few years; lots of shake-down (sorry! )/testing will already be in place.