Anonymous
10/31/2025, 2:38:01 PM
No.16832425
>>16832414
One designed to go into a fairing and can be paired with a kick stage inside that fairing if required.
>>16832415
The header tanks have to be at the top for CG control during the belly flop, move the tanks and you lose reuse.
Given how many penalties second stage reuse applies and the history of shuttle refurb I just don't see it being worth while. Sure you can use 3 or 4 standardized tiles and get economies of scale to reduce refurb costs but as soon as it required header tanks it became a massive drawback.
Maybe they can come up with a different second stage with the center of pressure moved further aft but as it stands it doesn't look good.
One designed to go into a fairing and can be paired with a kick stage inside that fairing if required.
>>16832415
The header tanks have to be at the top for CG control during the belly flop, move the tanks and you lose reuse.
Given how many penalties second stage reuse applies and the history of shuttle refurb I just don't see it being worth while. Sure you can use 3 or 4 standardized tiles and get economies of scale to reduce refurb costs but as soon as it required header tanks it became a massive drawback.
Maybe they can come up with a different second stage with the center of pressure moved further aft but as it stands it doesn't look good.