Shown on this chart is an artist’s rendition of a tug configuration which is made up of individual propellant modules and thus provides extreme operational flexibility. The stage is designed to be compatible with a variable number of propellant modules which contain oxidizer, fuel and pressurants. The basic propulsion platform includes engines, control, avionics and primary structure. In concept, the configuration has the option of staging tanks for extremely high performance.
Although this modular concept is extremely versatile, it has a lower mass fraction than one which is designed for a single performance capability.
Image credit: NASA
File source: NASA NTRS
It does sound like a useful idea. And with me being me, I’d like a 1/200 scale model kit of it to go with AMT’s ‘Man in Space” set, their 2023 SLS Artemis kit, Hasegawa’s Shuttle kit. And maybe a 1/144 kit to go with Revell and Airfix’s Apollo and Shuttle kits, and Revel Germany’s ISS model kit.
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