Discovery One

A Plan from Arthur C. Clarke's Vision


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Discovery One -- Design

Geodesic Shaped ship with a Flower-like Stem and Receptacle

  • Size of the Engine Modules (Fusion) (4 in 1)
  • Size of the [Habitable] Stem (50-100 meters)
  • Size of the Habitable Receptacle (25-225 meters)
  • Size of Sphere for Crew and Payload (cargo)
    (50m somewhat livable -- astronauts only)
    (100m livable -- astronauts and tourists)
    (200m livable -- astronauts and tourists)
    (250m livable -- astronauts and tourists)
    (300m very livable -- astronauts and tourists)
  • High-Bandwidth Communication (Laser)
  • Instant Communication Device
    Entangled Particles -- Theoretical
  • Designing Discovery to do double-duty as a SkyHook is to be attempted.


Discovery One -- Materials

Carbon only space ship -- Almost !

  • Titanium
    Frames and Trusses for armatures
  • Poly-Amide
    3D-Printed Structures (Space Pod)
    Trusses for armatures
    Panels fo floors, ceiling, and walls.
  • Carbon fiber
    Panels fo floors, ceiling, and walls.
    Trusses for armatures
    Furniture -- Foldaway and retractable
  • Kevlar or Linar (High-grade)
    Micro Meteorite Protection
  • Polyurethane Foam or Other Compound
    Micro Meteorite Protection
  • Carbon infused aerographite
    Micro Meteorite Protection
    Space plane aeroshell.
  • Ceramic (High-grade)
    Cold/Heat Shielding
    Interior Plumbing
  • Aerogel -- Carbon or silica
    Interior Cold/Heat Shielding
    Sound proofing
    Furniture
  • Carbon plating
    Exterior Cold/Heat Shielding
    Space plane aeroshell.
  • Boron/Graphene/Fullerene
    Solar and Cosmic Ray Shielding
    Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) Shielding
  • UHMWPE Fiber (High-grade)
    Bicycle wheel cables (Spectra or Dyneema)
    Bullet-proof coverings
    Cables are made of Dyneema/Spectra in a Silicon/Nomex sheath.
    Required lifespan of cables is a minimum of 25 years.
  • Cotton and Bamboo Fiber (High-grade)
    Interior Clothing and Footwear
    Bed spread, pillows, cushions


Discovery One -- Livability

The ship features required for basic livability.

  • Oxygen production
    Algae walls
    Oxygen soaking material
  • CO2 Scrubbing
    Algae walls
    Plasma burner
    CO2 conversion into hydrogen and baking soda
  • Food
    Astronaut rations (microwavable)
    Excess Algae growth
  • Water
    Evian (250 MT by heavy launch rockets)
  • Body Cleaning
    Hand and Body Wipes (Alcohol laced)
    Ceramic and carbon bathtubs for tourists
  • Garbage Disposal
    Plasma burner located at both ends of the receptacle
    Pneumatic plumbing for garbage
    Cotton/Bamboo/Paper garbage canisters
    Printable RF-ID tags for garbage canisters
    Upward access for garbage disposal conduit
    Garbage Collection areas near the Plasma burners
  • Power Generation
    Hydrogen Fuel Cells
    Flywheels
    Solar Panels
    Solar Concentrator
    Solar power will be used to produce hydrogen and oxygen for fuel.


    Adiabatic Systems
    • Thermo-electric Power Generator (Seebeck effect)
    • Thermo-acoustic Power Generator
    • Discovery In A Can is an electric generator designed like the space station, which replaces the wedges with spindles rotating in free-fall.
    • Adiabatic (+150C to -200C) Convected Gas power Generator
  • Artificial Gravity
    Approximately 4.5G at the second ring of wedges at 5 rotations per minute.
    Approximately 5.5G at the third ring of wedges at 5 rotations per minute.


Discovery One -- Atmospheric Lander

Carrying platform approach to an atmospheric lander.

  • Rectangular-shaped carrying platform
    Few or no control surfaces used for atmospheric re-entry.
    CMG/gyros are used as add-on to control surfaces.
    Retro rockets are fixed or connected to a swivel.
    Series of parachutes on top of the upper flat surface as fail-safe.
    Ultra wide fuselage -- essentially an air foil, wider than HTV-3X.
    All or most of the frame in aluminium or titanium alloy.
    Non-pressurized stripped down cargo bay to reduce weight.
    Swivel seats for vertical re-entry and landing.
    Second generation have aerospikes, aft of the aircraft, for vertical takeoff.


Discovery One -- Moon Lander

Carrying platform approach to a moon lander.

  • The Lander -- a rectangular shaped space craft
    CMG used for attitude control along with thrusters.
    Retro rockets -- fixed or on a swivel.
    All or most of the frame in aluminium or titanium alloy.
    Second generation have aerospikes for vertical takeoff.
    A square box, 11M in length and 5M in width, inspired by the VW microbus.
    Lower deck with 8 toroidal spikes and propellant tanks, and RCS thrusters.
    Top deck with RCS thrusters, oxygen and water tanks, and docking.
    Mid deck with 5M cockpit/cabin and 6M cargo bay with rear doors.


Discovery One -- Cargo only Moon Lander

Carrying platform approach to a cargo only moon lander.

  • Rectangular-shaped carrying platform
    CMG used for attitude control along with thrusters.
    Retro rockets -- fixed or on a swivel.
    All or most of the frame in aluminium or titanium alloy.
    A square box, 11M in length and 5M in width, inspired by the LEM.
    Lower deck with 8 toroidal spikes and propellant tanks, and RCS thrusters.
    Top deck with grapple arms to enclose shielded crates filled with cargo.
    Top deck is exposed to space and the crates are collapsible for re-use.


Discovery One -- Space Plane

Blended fuselage approach to a space plane.

  • Blended fuselage space plane
    Ultra wide fuselage BlackSwift a.k.a DragonFly.
    Most, if not all of the space plane's frame is made of titanium.
    Polyamide trusses and armature where heat is not a concern.
    Plasma sprayed 2mm layer of boron carbide underneath BRI-18 plates for the shell.
    Carbon infused aerographite as an alternative for the shell, might be researched.
    Aluminium/Magnesium alloy will be used as the sandwich material of nozzle walls.
    1/10mm of molybdenum/tungsten/copper alloy will be used for the nozzle wall.
    High-speed closed cycle cryocooler, to ensure nozzle wall heat do not exceed 100+C.
    17 to 19 passengers, including pilot, commander, payload and mission specialists.
    45M in length, 37M wingspan, 15M fuselage, space for two robotic arms.
    Cargo bay of 25M to 29M by 5.5M in size, able to accomodate Discovery's wedges.
    Thrust from 12MN to 17MN, with 4 linear spikes delivering 2.5MN to 3.5MN each.
    Wing loading similar to the Airbus-380 or the Rockwell B-1 Lancer.
    Propellant flow rate 250+KG/S with 200+MT of slush LH2/LOX onboard.
    Alternative to beryllium, as fuel additive, might be researched.
    Stretchy carbon/epoxy material able to withstand 2000+ celcius will be researched.
    425MT MTOW, 75MT OEW, with mostly off-the-shelf Michelin 6-wheel rear bogies.
    Built for possible rendez-vous with Discovery/Hook at 750KM.
    Conically shaped magnetic field at the front for a re-entry umbrella.
    Halon/Water/Propellant pumping system for propulsion, engine shutoff and flushing.
    36 wedges in orbit with 36 trips for one space plane over 3 years.
    96 wedges in orbit with 48 trips for 2 space planes over 2 years.
    96 wedges in orbit with 24 trips for 4 space planes over one year.
    Rendez-vous with Discovery/Hook at Mach-17 is a space launch alternative.
    Space plane as a Mach-17 HST, burning LOX/LCH4 from NY to Australia, is possible.


Discovery One -- Pocket Space Plane

Blended fuselage approach to a space plane.

  • Blended fuselage space plane
    Ultra wide fuselage BlackSwift a.k.a DragonFly.
    All or most of the frame is made of titanium.
    Plasma sprayed 2mm layer of boron carbide underneath BRI-18 plates for the shell.
    4 to 6 passengers, including pilot and commander.
    20M in length, 19M wingspan, 7M fuselage.
    Aerozine50/N2O4, preferably LOX/LH2 for propellant.
    35MT empty weight or less, preferably 30MT or less.
    175+MT gross weight on take-off, 100-MT with LH2/LOX as propellant.
    4 engines, two toroidal ones in the wings, and two linear ones aft.
    Halon/Water/Propellant pumping system for propulsion, engine shutoff and flushing.
    Built for possible rendez-vous with Discovery/Hook at 750KM.
    Conically shaped magnetic field at the front for a re-entry umbrella.


Discovery One -- VTOL Launcher

DC-X inspired VTOL launcher.

  • Blackswift Clipper a.k.a BREE-Z Clipper, as a VTOL launcher.
    Pyramidal or Diamond shaped VTOL à la DC-X.
    All or most of the frame is made of steel, aluminium, and titanium.
    Plasma sprayed 2mm layer of boron carbide underneath BRI-18 plates for the shell.
    No passengers, automatically piloted space cargo delivery vehicle.
    Fully re-fuelable, re-usable with no expandable parts or modules.
    50+M in height, 10M in bottom diameter, and 5+M for top diameter minus cone.
    Cargo bay of 19M to 23M by 7M in diameter, able to hold Discovery's wedges.
    Fuel tank section of 19M to 23M, with 9 fuel tanks, and 4 flushing tanks.
    Aerozine50/N2O4, LOX/LCH4, preferably LOX/LH2 for propellant.
    7 aerospikes in engine module of 6M in height and 10M in diameter, thrust 12+-MN.
    3 toroidal and 4 linear aerospikes -- 9 updated RS-25 may be used instead of spikes.
    Halon/Water/Propellant pumping system for propulsion, engine shutoff and flushing.
    75MT empty weight or less, preferably 60MT or less, and 200+MT payload.
    750+MT maximum gross weight on take-off with 400+MT LH2/LOX as propellant.
    Built for possible rendez-vous with Discovery/Hook at 750KM.
    Conically shaped magnetic field at the front for a re-entry umbrella.


Discovery One -- As a SkyHook

Space Grappler with rotating anchor

  • Hook Grappler rotating ring around a center hub, with 2 hoist/tether assemblies.
    Three sections made mostly of Tungsten and Titanium alloy.
    All three sections are 10M in diameter and 10M+ in height.
    The center section rotates using a linear motor design.
    The anchor points around the rotating hub are aligned using repulsors.
    The anchor points consists of 2M+ concentric rings around the 10M+ hub.
    The anchor points consists of 2M+ concentric rings around the 10M+ hub.
    The cables are manufactured so as to reduce the murphys due to lubricity.
    Cables are made of Dyneema/Spectra in a Silicon/Nomex sheath.
    Required lifespan of cables is a minimum of 25 years, preferably 50 years.
    To protect against UV and AO, cables have a silicon/silicate and/or aerogel layer.
    Both hoists use a cable truss design and consist of tethers and extension modules.
    Centripetal force is used for deployment of extension modules.
    Winch motors and micro spikes are used for retraction of extension modules.
    Both hoists consist of 10/24 extension modules and 20KM to 60KM tether sections.
    Extension modules use 0.25N ion thrusters or micro spikes for angular velocity.
    Extension modules use laser ranging to detect deviations in their trajectory.
    Orbital period of 3.2 hours at an altitude of 800 KM, increasing rendez-vous window.
    Ion or chemical combustion thrusters are used for attitude and altitude adjustments.
    48 20MT+ wedges stacked on either side of the center hub used as zero-G habitats.
    96 wedges of 20MT+ plus 3 hub sections of 125MT+ for a total mass of 2300MT+.
    Mach-17 space plane delivers the wedges; which are then pushed to upper orbit.


Discovery One -- Cost Study

Approximate costs of materials, manpower, launches, etc.

  • Material costs -- Mostly already R&D(ed) materials
    Titanium Grade1 ($US25,000.00/MT)
    Titanium Alloy ($US8,000.00/MT)
    Titanium Grade5 ($US6,000.00/MT)
    High-Grade Ceramic ($US2,000.00/MT)
    High-Grade Poly-Amide ($US2,500.00/MT)
    Oxygen soaking material ($US10,000.00/MT)
    Carbon Tiles ($US50.00/Meter^2)
    Carbon Fiber ($US10.00/Meter^2)
    Boron Carbide ($US40.00/KG)
    Aerogel tiles ($US10.00/Meter^2)
    Kevlar ($US10.00/Meter^2)
    Linar ($US10.00/Meter^2)
    Alcohol Wipes ($US10.00/1000)
    Cotton fiber ($US2,000.00/MT)
    Bamboo fiber ($US2,000.00/MT)
    Xenon fuel ($US50.00/KG)
  • Research & Development Costs
  • Engineering & Manufacturing Costs
  • Launch costs
    Heavy launch rockets ($US2,500.00/KG feasible) ($US5,000.00+/KG too expensive)
    Skylon space plane ($US1,000.00/KG feasible)
    DragonFly space plane ($US,1000.00/KG feasible)
    HASTOL sky hook ($US1,000.00/KG feasible)
  • Manpower Costs
    (US$100,000.00/Year base salary)
    (US$200,000.00/Year base salary astronaut)
  • Estimated Cost
    Optimistic, Half NASA's budget for a year (US$10 Billions)
    Realistic, All of NASA's budget for a year (US$20 Billions)
    Pessimistic, Twice NASA's budget for a year (US$40 Billions)


Discovery One -- Construction

Requirements and Logistics

  • Sphere
    Geodesic Titanium Frame
    Assembly done using a By-the-number method.
  • Panels
    3 to 5 meters wide (preferably 5 meters).
    Hexagonal, Pentagonal, Triangular.
    Embedded Transponder (RF-ID).
    Algae wall on the interior side.
    Vacuum seal with frame or other panel.
    Insulator foam for micro meteorite.
    Shaped magnetic field generator (optional).
    Handles for grappling (allowing for a ladder around the sphere for EVA).
  • Space Pod
    Titanium Frame.
    3D-printed poly-amide sphere.
    Coated with Kevlar or Linar.
    Aerogel cold/heat shielding.
    Carbon tiles for the exterior.
    4K-OLED (180-270 degree) screen instead of cockpit window.
    3D-Camera or multiple cameras for increased depth of field.
    Transparent aluminum casing for camera lenses.
    Manipulator arms plus tooling for Sphere assembly.
    Fly-by-Wire controls and automated pilot mode.
    Peroxide for propulsion, or better alternative.
  • Receptacle
    Titanium Frame
    Habitable (Pressurized)
    Docking (2 to 4)
    Entrance to stem cargo area (Optional)
    Housing for Plasma burners.
  • Stem
    Titanium Frame
    One to three stories
    Mostly water for cargo
    Cargo JIT machinery using RF-ID.
  • Rotating Wheel
    Titanium Frame.
    Titanium housing for axle and docking.
    40m to 240m in diameter.
    5/10m or 10/10m private quarters.
    Full width communal areas 25m in length (every 50m).
    Panels for surface (Minus magnetic shielding and Algae wall).
    Two electric engines for wheel rotation (4L Cayenne pulling Airbus-380, 300MT).
    Future version may use maglev band around the sphere and a maglev base in the receptacle, instead of two electric engines.