/sci/ - Science & Math

>>12185886
>replace the OMS and SSMEs with some classified meme drive that allows runway SSTO
>replace the hypergolic RCS with either more meme drives or MET clusters
>use modern ceramic TPS
>"hey guys we fixed the shuttle :DDDD"
The collective space nerd boners would be enough to build a space elevator.

What total TWR do you need for a horizontal liftoff SSTO spaceplane? Encyclopedia Astronautica says the Star Raker design (>>12136564) was about 0.91. For a spaceplane with the same runway mass as a fully loaded Shuttle orbiter (a reasonable size for a spaceplane by any standard) that works out to about 90 kN of thrust. Even with magic propellantless thrusters delivering 10N/kW you'd need a >9MWe nukeplant weighing <45 tons (so 5kg/kW) including shielding to make it work... and also airports that don't mind nuclear planes on their runways.

http://www.astronautix.com/s/star-raker.html
http://www.astronautix.com/s/spaceshuttle.html

>>12136639
Moon Dragon with a real service module and a Heavy to launch the LEM would be so cool.