Mobiles,Lunar Module and NASA

Jeff commented

>And while we can carry the space shuttle on a 747
>transport, there is yet to be an aircraft which could
>carry the total weight of the space shuttle and all of
>its fuel needed to achieve escape velocity.

This is what I was thinking of in terms of existing technology,because I'd seen the shuttle on the back of a 747 (and not just in a Bond film).What about the Huge Galaxy transporter is'nt that big enough?
Also is it logical to assume that the closer you are to the edge of space the easier it is to escape from the atmosphere.

While Marc followed up with:

>Besides, all this futuristic stuff usually can (on paper)
>deliver no payload at all to orbit, so there needs to
>be some sort of breakthrough in propulsion technology
>to get the payload mass up to some useful amount.

This is what I liked about Gerry Anderson's {UFO} universe.
Space was more dangerous than atmospheric flight,but only to a degree.It felt comfortable and re-assuring to know that the next lunar launch was at 0800 hrs tomorrow morning,and that you could walk on the moon with a silver painted canvas suit and a yellow painted fibre glass helmet.

Regards Mark UK



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Fri, 5 Aug 2005 07:20:06 "Mark Davies"
<[hidden email]> wrote:

> What about the Huge Galaxy transporter
> is'nt that big enough?

The C-5 Galaxy is an impressive aircraft indeed,
but its payload capacity pales against that of
the NASA transporter which moves the fully-assembled
Shuttles from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the
launch pads.  

Recognize that the Shuttle orbiter (which is all that
the 747 carried) weighs a mere fraction of the
completely-fueled central fuel tank. And then you
still have to add the weight of the two sold-fuel
boosters.

> Also is it logical to assume that the closer
> you are to the edge of space the easier it
> is to escape from the atmosphere.

Yes, it is logical, and there is an advantage
to air-launching. But remember that 40,000 feet
is only about 7.58% of the way toward a 100 mile
orbit -- merely the start of a very long journey
upwards.

> It felt comfortable and re-assuring to know
> that the next lunar launch was at 0800 hrs
> tomorrow....

Unfortunately, Space Shuttle turn-around times have
never lived up to NASA's intended plans, which in
turn are no where near the level of routine portrayed
in UFO. But the "comfort" and "reassurance" about
space travel are indeed an appealing element of UFO.

JEK