NASA Heavy Lift Vehicle Thrust Estimate

For those who may be interested, I have done a rough calculation of the total sea-level thrust of the proposed Heavy Lift Vehicle as set forth in NASA's September 19, 2005 plan:

For comparison purposes: Saturn V = 7.68 million lbs. total thrust at sea level.

New NASA Heavy Lift Vehicle:

Space Shuttle-derived Solid Rocket Boosters (each): 3.3 million lbs. at launch. (Source: NASA.) Note: Thiokol's site says that the average thrust throughout flight is 2.6 million lbs.

Space Shuttle-derived Main Engines (each): 330,000 lbs. at launch. (Source: NASA.)

Configuration as noted in NASA plan: There are two (2) Space Shuttle-derived solid rocket boosters + five (5) Space Shuttle-derived liquid-fueled engines.

Calculation:

(A) SSSRB = 2 x 3.3 million lbs. of thrust (sea level - NASA)

[[(B1) SSME = 5 x .33 million lbs. of thrust (sea level - NASA)]

OR

[(B2) SSME = 5 x .418 million lbs. of thrust (sea level - Boeing)]]


A + B1 = 8.25 million lbs. of thrust = Heavy Lift Vehicle total thrust at sea level (launch - using NASA figures)

OR

A + B2 = 8.69 million lbs. of thrust = Heavy Lift Vehicle total thrust at sea level (launch - using NASA figures except for Boeing figure for SSME)

Thus, the estimated HLV total thrust at launch is either 8.25 million lbs. or 8.69 million lbs.

Variables / Anomalies / Comments:

1. Variable: Precise thrust of actual derived boosters and engines not found but presumed to be similar to current generation.

2. Possible anomaly: NASA figure for SSSRB varies from manufacture figure but may be accounted for since Thiokol figure is a flight average.

3. Anomaly: NASA figure departs from Boeing figure for SSME thrust. Boeing figure (418,000 lbs.) is for 100% thrust and gives an even higher thrust for 109% (achieved in flight).

4. Variable: Launch weight determines actual thrust requirement.

5. Variable: Total energy must factor in time that thrust is generated or required to be generated.

6. Comment: Since a single manned mission requires the launch of both the HLV and the CEV, the thrust of the CEV vehicle (presumed to be approximately 330,000 lbs. at sea level) may need to be added in any comparison with any single manned lunar mission of the Saturn V.