KoReY Interstellar Society - Our Introductory Literature

SOLAR SYSTEM ASSESSMENT:

Analysis of Recent New Programs of Space Exploration

(But, is it too little - too late???)

And, despite our early problems with the government, it has been rewarding to see that since we have been on the Net in that last few years, that some notable changes have been made--and along the directions that we have indicated! So, despite the bad press, someone out there is listen, and taking us seriously. Correspondingly, we have to applaud them and pat them on the back, for the changes in Program Plans and Policies. (Better late, than never.)

In this light, the new announcment of a comprehensive Plan to explore and settle our Solar System is recieved with delight. We should have been doing this years ago! So, let us not drag our feet any more!

NOVA CRISIS EFFECTS???

And, in so doing, make a Solar System Assessment of our own.

THE EARTH ORBIT SPACE STATION

Consequently, its chances of surviving the Nova are rather slim! But, even if a large station were built, we would have the same probelms as that of an underground shelter: what do we do once the Nova has come? The underground shelter people CANNOT come back to the surface of the Earth (as it will be too hot). Consequently, neither could the space station people. Thus, without agriculture of some sort to grow their own food, the Space Station would eventually be starved to death!

Now does this mean that we should abandon the Space Station effort? NO!!! For the Space Station is a vital step to obtaining other Program goals, that are further down the road! It must be pursued, if any of the rest of the Space Exploration Program is to be accomplished.

THE MOON COLONY

Unfortunately, the Moon is too close to the Earth. And if we have a major Nova event, then the Moon is likely to be destroyed, along with the Earth! So, this is not a very good place for a Nova shelter.

On the other hand, it IS a much better place than the Earth! Why? Because the Moon is already subject to high temperature extremes. And, any base built there will already be prepared to handle the higher heats of the Nova. So, that problem will not be as severe there.

For another, as the nearest, biggest chunk of real estate, if some kind of underground agriculture could be established on the Moon Colony, then if contact with the Earth were cut off (as in the Nova), the people on the Moon would stand a chance of surviving! (Which means that Mankind would continue--though perhaps on a very restricted level.) Hey, but it is a reasonable chance! And, if it is all we have, it is far better than an undergound shelter on the Earth!

However, in our analysis it is still just not good enough! For, it only insures the survival of a LIMITED number of humans. And, even at that, such survival is rather QUESTIONABLE, depening on just how bad the Nova becomes. A safer shelter is needed!

The Mars Base???

Now, some point out that the environment on Mars is somewhat similar to the Earth (relatively speaking in consideration of other planets). And, the engineering to make a habitable human environment there would not be as difficult as on the Moon (which has a very hostile environment). So, there are some pluses for it.

However, it is exactly for these reasons that Mars becomes a questionable site! Why? Because, as the scientific evidnece now stands, it appears that there is some kind of life already there-- microbiological life (i.e. BUGS). So, the H.G. Wells War of the Worlds scenario may be played out on Mars, rather than on Earth (with the disaster going to the Earthlings--not the Aliens). Consequently, I would not set too hard a sights on Mars. We are likly to need a more sterile environment!

Moreover, though Mars is a bit away, it is still close enough to the Sun to be considerably affected by the Nova, depending on just how big the Nova gets.

Outer Planet Sites???

However, in such a case, we are also talking about LIMITED survival for only a few people. (The rest of Mankind will go up in smoke with the Nova!) So, while this is better than the other options, it still is not as good as we would recommend.

THE DEEP SPACE - SPACE STATION

THE INTERSTELLAR OPTION!!!

However, the realities are that it is not quite enough. Certainly NOT enough to guarentee the survival of a significant nunber of people from Earth! For that, we do, indeed, need the Interstellar Program that we have outlined here, in this Web Site. (And for more details on that, just cruise around our Site and find out why!) Or, check with the NOVA CRISIS LITERATURE.

THE PROGRAMS MISSING LINK???

(THE SHADDOX ROCKET-RAMJET!!!)

The DS-1 or DEEP SPACE-1 showed that ion propulsion was now available, and would reduce the costs of Solar System Space Exploration. Perhaps, even bringing them in to near where we could afford it, taxes wise?

But, costs and budget still remain the main limiting factor for such Programs. And, the major bottle neck here, are the expensive costs of just simply obtaining Earth orbit, to launch further out into the Solar System. The Space Station will make a dent in this, but not enough. For how do we get the supplies to the Space Station, cheaply enough?

Enter the Shaddox Rocket-Ramjet (or SRJ)!

Originally designed back in the 60s for the Space Plane Program, the SRJ series makes Earth orbit affordable and commercially practical. Just what we need at this juncture in time!

In the meantime (since the 60s), the SRJ was up-staged by larger boosters (such as the Saturn 5) and then by the Space Shuttle. But, now, in the era of the Aurora (and the new Space Bomber) and with the coming of the new International Space Station, the SRJ may be the work-horse of the hour. And certainly worth consideration.

Loosely based on the old German V-1 Buzz Bomb and its old pulse jet (and the more recent Regulus or Shark of the 50s), the SRJ makes a step further down the road of this line of development. And there are 3 (non-nuclear) models or variants that are worth some assessment here.

The basic design centers around a normal jet engine or ramjet, with an after-burner section that can be closed off to form a rocket combustion chamber, when those higher levels of speed are needed. Thus, the SRJ can take off, something like a normal jet, and then when it reaches higher altitudes, shift to the closed rocket chamber, for the final boost into low Earth orbit. This means that the same engine can be used for high altitude flight as well as insertion into space. And the savings in costs are notable! (Allowing for a continuously re-usable booster, even better than the Space Shuttle!)

SRJ-1 is the simpliest form, being simply a ramjet that can be closed off into a rocket combustion chamber. This would require some inital boost, like a rocket assisted take-off system, or a massive catapult. (Somewhat like the solid boosters of the current Space Shuttle--though far smaller.) And probably some kind of launch tower or rail runway to assist the launch--and the build up to flight speeds.

SRJ-2 is the next step up, using something of a conventional jet engine with an after-burner that is closable to make a sealed rocket combustion chamber, later on in flight. The SRJ Shuttle, would take off from a runway on normal jet power, then as it rises to higher altitudes, fires up the after-burner to higher speeds yet--and finally at even higher altitudes, the after-burner is closed off (and an oxidizer now used, rather than incoming air) for the final boost into low Earth orbit. (It could then fly back from orbit, much as, or rather BETTER THAN, the current Space Shuttle.)

SRJ-3 is another step up, with variable openingss for air intake, as well as variable openings for the exhaust. This would allow other configurations of the flight craft (such as a more stealth mode) as well as variable flight control (perhaps something like a super-sonic Harrier)--for more VTOL and STOL operations.

Finally, these engines would be arranged in heel shaped craft (or lifting body), probably with a projecting flight control cabin in the nose, and the engines placed internally but at the sides (to avoid drag and heat shielding problems), allowing for a central cargo area (and rear, backdoor entrance for loading and unloading--away from the more forward heat shielding). And this is much the same design as we proposed back in the 60s. But, it now seems much more appropriate--and practical!!!

And it could easily be the propulsion system that makes low Earth orbit, and the resultant Space Exploration Program, commercially feasible! (Give it some serious thought!)

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Solar System Assessment
ZDK (Shaddox) Conflux
P.O. Box 44
Underwood, WA 98651 U.S.A.

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Coming Cosmic Cataclysm!

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