VTOL DC-X DELTA CLIPPER

Projects of the Past. The DC-X (Delta Clipper, Experimental) was the first prototype vehicle developed by the BMDO's

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• Vtol
• DC-X
• Rocket
• DELTA
• CLIPPER

[tdetko]

My father spent his career at NASA pushing SSTO. His first SSTO design was introduced in March of 1960 and was followed-up by a VTOL design in 1969. He cried tears of joy when he saw the video of this rocket. Many thanks to you my friend. RIP Dad.

[Membrane556]

Why in the hell is nasa not doing stuff like this any more?

[spaceandgames]

This video is missing its sound track - "Where the streets have no name" by U2.

[roboeco]

@ametalhead100 YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. I WORKED @ NASA AND THE SCIENTIST WERE GREAT, YET IT WAS OBVIOUS THEY HAD NO REAL SAY AND WERE COMMANDEERED BY NON-SCIENTISTS WHO BELIEVE IN THE CRAZIEST MA$ONIC TRIPE, VERY UNSCIENTIFIC INDEED.

[Membrane556]

@tdetko

I searched for the ATV or Aerospike Test Vehicle it would make a nice project for someone like Armadillo or a similar company to try or as a small NASA project.

[tdetko]

@Membrane556 I'm just repeating Dad's critique of Bono's work: Rombus didn't utilize thin skin pressurization as did my dad's designs- this saved lots of weight, as did other design features made possible by his knowledge of stress mechanics as chief of Nasa's stress group- and made SSTO possible in 1960. Epic fail by von braun not to recognize the viability of SSTO.

[Membrane556]

@Membrane556

500 char limit

Rombus should be able to reach orbit with 44 SSMEs but a modern version would be lighter in structure which would bring the fuel requirements down etc probably to be equal to the same number 36 of the plug nozzle engines.

A few RL-10s or J2s would be needed for OMS.

The SSME could be boosted with TAN or "thrust argumented nozzle" could bring the number of engine units down to around 22.

A vehicle using conventional nozzle SSME's would be more like Nexus.

[Membrane556]

@tdetko

For 1964 ROMBUS would have been too heavy but today it would definitely be possible with materials such as AlLi alloy and engines with efficiency and thrust to weight similar to the SSME.

The SSME has better SL ISP then the numbers Bono wanted for the plug nozzle engine 363 vs 359.

The plug nozzle still had better vac ISP. 459 vs 453.

A plug nozzle aka aerospike SSME would exceed the numbers needed.

The SASSTO for example would work just fine with a single SSME.

[Prometheus1st]

@Membrane556 NASA only likes things 'they' think of, or that involve science that is not developed, is unproven, or requires them to invade another country and fund...that don't make them look silly, and that do not compete with things they are already developing.

DCX-A was all of the above.

[tdetko]

@Membrane556 Not the ROMBUS. ROMBUS was designed too heavy. search George Detko, ATV

[moneyman10k]

@Membrane556 something called Constellation used all the money

[wraithsin1]

I Think it has somekind of conection with Cash Landrum Case.