Sea Dragon Sketches (Aerojet - 1962)

Aerospike Bell Nozzle

Nozzle
 Sea Dragon Derived 7 Element Launcher

Element
38,000 propellant
9,000 structure
20,000 payload
7 Elements
349,000 TOW
152,000 propellant
0.436 u1 dV
2.573 dV1 2.573

161,000 S2
76,000 structure
0.472 u2
2.874 dV2 5.448

67,000 S3
38,000 structure
0.567 u3
3.768 dV3 9.216

A pressure fed LOX/LH2 only launcher consisting of seven flight elements is considered here.
Each flight element is shaped like an enlarged ET with similar structure and tank volumes.
Despite a resemblance to the ET, these tanks are built simply according to the standards
established by the Sea Dragon program from readily available and easily worked materials.
This structure when empty instead of weighing 1,372 tonnes as would be the case if the lightest
weight technology were used, instead weigh a massive 9,000 tonnes when empty. The entire
vehicle masses 63,000 tonnes when empty. Each 31.3 meter diameter by 174.8 meter long
tank carries 38,000 tonnes of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen when fully loaded.

Seven pressure fed elements equipped with cross feeding are launched at sea along the lines
described for Sea Dragon. Each element is towed to the launch site separately after being
serviced from separate piers. The elements are rotated into vertical position at the launch site
and azimuth thrusters built into each element floatation unit guide the joining of the elements
using GPS enabled network creating a 7 element launcher.

At launch seven massive engines fire producing 79,400 tonnes force each, a total of 555,800
tonnes force of thrust at lift off is created. 152,000 tonnes of propellant are consumed from four
of the seven elements - feeding all seven engines. Those elements are dropped when empty
and three elements continue as a second stage. The three elements burn through 76,000
tonnes of propellant in contained in two outboard elements which fee all three remaining
engines. When these are empty they too drop away. A final flight element continues on to orbit
attaining a speed of 7.5 km/sec. The payload masses 20,000 tonnes, while the empty orbital
vehicle masses 9,000 tonnes.
Sea Dragon Derived 7 Element Launcher

Sea
Touchdown