Space Cassette

Rectangular payload bay of my rocket Blade can carry Cassette like independent modules which can attach to each other to create multi staged space ship for deep space missions. With LEO assembled space ships, the duration of energy intense space missions can be shortened and the payload can be increased. A launch from surface of the earth would require really big rockets which would be hard to build and launch.

The cassette based modular design I propose, allows much smaller and fast to launch rockets to build a high energy rocket in orbit. The flexibility due to modularity allows many complex missions to be planned and implemented in short order. At the moment, each mission requires new deep space rocket to be developed.

Some of the cassette modules that can be used to build a high energy rocket in orbit: The modules that provide pure thrust, communication and solar power module, destination specific payload carrying module (such as a folded rover). Each cassette would be attached to one other by polarity controlled magnetic latches. The docking would be achieved by micro thrusters positioned at the back of each module. The aft section of the module where the unified engine is placed would have dead space on its sides. This space would be utilized to place this thrusters and magnetic latches. The mechanically controlled magnets would require zero power to keep the modules attached. Orienting the magnets to achieve opposite polarity would attach the modules and orienting the same polarity would detach the modules. Distributing the thrust over multiple stages yield higher effective thrust while the depleted module would be ejected and lower the weight of the ship.

The thruster modules of the deep space rocket would gradually increase the orbital speed with much less stress on the payload. Once the escape velocity is reached, relevant trajectory injection burn would be triggered. Micro staging would allow efficient generation of thrust depending on the mission. It’s like the multiple artillery propelling charges used depending on the range and the shell.

Perfecting modules and assembling them one after the other depending on the mission would allow way economical and rapid deep space exploration.