The New/Old NASA/ESA Rocket?

[Ichingcarpenter]

It is obvious that human spaceflight is at a crossroads, particularly for US space aspirations. As we quickly approach the retirement of the space shuttle fleet, and NASA's premier plan to get the US astronauts back to the moon has been scrapped, an uneasy state of flux has befallen the US space agency.

But private enterprise is looking toward the final frontier, hoping to continue where NASA left off by launching cargo to the International Space Station and astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit. And on Tuesday, two established rocket manufacturers announced their intention to construct a rocket out of the ashes of the scrapped Constellation Program, melding seasoned components from NASA and European rocket technologies.


SNIP.....



"The Liberty initiative provides tremendous value because it builds on European Ariane 5 launcher heritage, while allowing NASA to leverage the mature first stage," said Charlie Precourt, Vice President and General Manager of ATK Space Launch Systems, in Tuesday's press release. "We will provide unmatched payload performance at a fraction of the cost, and we will launch it from the Kennedy Space Center using facilities that have already been built. This approach allows NASA to utilize the investments that have already been made in our nation's ground infrastructure and propulsion systems for the Space Exploration Program."


Liberty is designed to lift 44,500 pounds (20,185 kilograms) which means it has the capability of launching any crewed vehicle that is currently in development.

"We can lift any potential crew vehicle out there, whether it's a space plane or a capsule," Kent Rominger, ATK's Vice President of Advanced Programs, told Spaceflight Now. "We can lift Orion, for that matter." (Orion is NASA's next planned crewed capsule, but since the scrapping of Constellation it is most likely to have a very limited role.)



http://news.discovery.com/space/could-liberty-rise-from-constellations-ashes.html

[liberal N proud]

1. Looks a little top heavy

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. I know the solid fuel boosters weigh more

than the liquid fuel boosters so the wight will be at the bottom, the rocket even looks too tall
from what we are use to seeing on rockets.
I wonder if this rocket is taller than a Saturn V and will fit
comfortably into the VAB at Kennedy? I know it will but I do wonder on its height.

On the space shuttle Each SRB weighs approximately 1,300,000 lb (590,000 kg) at launch. The two SRBs constitute about 60% of the total lift-off mass.

[RT Atlanta]

3. Saturn V was approx 365 ft tall

On the diagram the Liberty is said to be about 300 ft, so there appears to be plenty of room within the VAB (hell, they could probably go up to 400-450 feet in the VAB and still have room left over.

Cheers!