Best Manned Space Vehicle?

[Timo]

Sure. But the Soyuz already has a functional launcher available, and is compatible with the ISS, so it would be a nice short-term fix to the current spacecraft shortage.

Indeed, I'd think it a best-case scenario of Soyuz production was maximized for the next five years, after which and through which the Russians got enough funding to do a next-generation vehicle, while the Orion would be ready by that time as well...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Brolan]

Sure. But the Soyuz already has a functional launcher available, and is compatible with the ISS, so it would be a nice short-term fix to the current spacecraft shortage.

Indeed, I'd think it a best-case scenario of Soyuz production was maximized for the next five years, after which and through which the Russians got enough funding to do a next-generation vehicle, while the Orion would be ready by that time as well...

Timo Saloniemi

The US has no knowledge or manufacturing base for the Soyuz. So we would have to develop that at the same time as the new Orion. Soyuz makes no sense for US unless we just buy them from the Russians as a stop-gap measure.

 

[TheMasterOfOrion]

The fact Russia's Soyuz still flies and does well today only adds to the theory Apollo should have never been canceled. I like the " Jules Verne "ATV but this craft is not manned so it shouldn't be on the poll and I feel the Euros have no backbone for long term manned exploration maybe technical stuff like robots but not astronauts. NASA survived Shuttle loss but I'm sure once the Europeans have their first loss the politically divided Euros will turn on each other with the Brits, French and Germans all blaming each other - if you lose a robot this kind of thing won't happen. I don't like Shuttle but I think a good spacecraft derived from Shuttle components could be very successful. I'm going to go out and say the real best manned space vehicle will be the first interplanetary vessel, a vehicle with enough mass and thrust to get astronauts safely to Mars and back.

 

[Timo]

...Although it may be argued that simple surface-to-orbit transportation may suffer if it is optimized solely for supporting an interplanetary mission.

Thus, Apollo was ideal for Moon flights; although some say it was a bit overengineered in comparison with Gemini which might have done the trick, too, I think that in the end, the reputed "gold plating" on Apollo was the absolute minimum requirement for reasonable survivability and reliability, and the reason why nobody died on Apollo flights. However, Apollo might be a bit too much for surface-to-orbit, and a more streamlined product requiring a more modest booster might have been the ideal way for going on in the 1970s.

Hence Dyna-Soar, although going on with Gemini might also have been a good idea.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[All Seeing Eye]

I like the " Jules Verne "ATV but this craft is not manned so it shouldn't be on the poll

It's not in the poll, what IS in the poll is a European manned spaceship based on the successful Jules Verne space freighter.

There are already designs for a planned upgrade to the Jules Verne which would allow for manned space flight.

 

[Squiggy]

Apollo

far far better

Than what? Orion essentially is Apollo.

No more so than a Chevy Volt is essentially a 66 Mustang.

 

[Neopeius]

Apollo

far far better

Than what? Orion essentially is Apollo.

No more so than a Chevy Volt is essentially a 66 Mustang.

Orion launches on the equivalent of the Saturn 1B (or Saturn V for lunar missions). It's got the same configuration as the Apollo with slightly more space and solar cells.

It's a moot point anyway. The thing will never get built.

 

[Timo]

Orion launches on the equivalent of the Saturn 1B (or Saturn V for lunar missions).

Apollo rode on a booze-burning rocket, Orion will use one that burns rubber. Immense difference there, although the jury is still out on which is/was the bigger mistake.

But that doesn't mean the spacecraft themselves, which are under scrutiny here, would have to be all that different. And basically, they aren't.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Squiggy]

Than what? Orion essentially is Apollo.

No more so than a Chevy Volt is essentially a 66 Mustang.

Orion launches on the equivalent of the Saturn 1B (or Saturn V for lunar missions). It's got the same configuration as the Apollo with slightly more space and solar cells.

It's a moot point anyway. The thing will never get built.

It's already in the process of being built.

 

[TheMasterOfOrion]

CEV is ok but what concerns me is there is still not enough payload for Mars and then we should check the launcher replacements

Ares-V

A wonderful Saturn-V sized rocket for delivery of heavy cargo launch vehicle (non-manned). Makes me hopeful NASA can get things done again and get us back into manned exploration


Ares-1

A ridiculous design akin to some kind of giant german hand grenade but for its size this "man rated" rocket offers little lift for its price tag. Does the rocket look like something you recognize? It should we've already seen it many times! In simple terms they have basically taken the new manned spaceship (CEV) and glued it on top of one of those Shuttle solid-rocket-strap-on boosters (yes one of those boosters that caused the Challenger tragedy with faulty O-rings). Private Boeing or Lockheed EELVs could have been used to make a manned transport system but instead NASA and the VSE have chosen to continue the government welfare program by bailing out Shuttle employees once again. Underpowered by a ton and is experiencing thrust oscillation problems and is already being labeled as the "boomstick" Astronauts are already concerned about flying this one. Is it any wonder space tourists would rather fly a Soyuz?