tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post2078293283878598722..comments2023-06-19T23:26:32.126+10:00Comments on QuantumG's Blog: Human On The Moon CheapestQuantumGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17336493213317053535noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post-67753454557864175622012-10-31T07:32:23.425+10:002012-10-31T07:32:23.425+10:00What about price? Ya know, the point of this blog ...What about price? Ya know, the point of this blog post. Centaur is the most expensive rocket stage available.<br />QuantumGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17336493213317053535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28823501.post-9388333968484938332012-10-31T01:50:12.405+10:002012-10-31T01:50:12.405+10:00Thanks for that informative post. A ca. 50 mT mass... Thanks for that informative post. A ca. 50 mT mass to LEO is that required for the Early Lunar Access (ELA) proposal of the early 90's:<br /><br />Encyclopedia Astronautica<br />Early Lunar Access.<br />http://www.astronautix.com/craft/earccess.htm<br /><br /> It uses a somewhat larger 2-man capsule at 3 mT empty weight and all cryogenic in-space propulsion.<br /> The thing is the SLS in its earliest configuration at 70 mT will have the ability to launch this using currently existing Centaur-like in-space stages. I discuss this here:<br /><br />SLS for Return to the Moon by the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11.<br />http://exoscientist.blogspot.com/2012/10/sls-for-return-to-moon-by-50th.html<br /><br /><br /> Bob Clark Robert Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16114043697010364282noreply@blogger.com