The Shuttle Project

Alright! So, I see you are interested in what I do. So, let’s get stuck in!

Firstly, the project is going to be rather large, so I will need to organise it into sub-projects: The Orbiter, The Hybrid Booster and Central Craft Support System (The massive tank in the middle, I might use it for other purposes as well, hence the name). The Orbiter might be hardest of all, requiring an immense amount of work and knowledge and skills in multiple areas such as Medical Engineering (life support systems) and Mechanical Engineering (moving parts, integrated with Electrical Engineering for avionics). Of course, I will need a LOT of maths.

The Orbiter

I haven’t made too much progress on this part but the plan is simple. The Orbiter is pretty much the same as the original. However, the way it works will be different. When in orbit, the Orbiter will use liquid engines instead of monopropellant. The engine will have to be compact and efficient to allow lower fuel load and increase payload capacity. I will get to work on that first. After that, I will get the life support systems done. Somehow. I wonder if the oxidiser onboard for the liquid engine can be used as backup oxygen for crew emergency use. Sorry, I get random thoughts like that. Anyway, I’ll put up a separate page for it once I have enough done.

The Hybrid Boosters

This. THIS! Okay! This is gonna be good. I have gotten plenty progress here. I made concept art for it as well. But that’s not important. What’s important is how it works. There are still some problems with but once I figure something out, and I will, it might even be cheaper and efficient to operate than SpaceX’s Falcon 9 boosters. Just need to get it to land again. And I’m not great at programming.

Central Craft Support System

The large tank on the original shuttle only really had one purpose, an external tank for the shuttle’s main engines. However, it might be possible to use it for many other purposes as well, such as electricity supply, vector engines and fins for stability and in-flight maneuvering or house extra life support systems in case of emergency during accent. The original one burned up during reentry. I plan to recover it via parachute, preferably on land. Basically, the CCSS shall act as an accent module that will give the shuttle the launch to LEO ability. Of course, assisted by the Hybrid Boosters. I’ll get the sub-project page up soon.