Nuclear HLLV-SSTO Launch An Orion’s Arm future history image. The sixth installment in a short series of posts on freight and passenger transport during the era of the Sinclair migration to the moon, around the + 255 year mark on my Orion’s Arm future history timeline. See the Future History Timeline Context Link and Related Image Links below. A Reusable Nuclear HLLV-SSTO lifts off from one of Sinclair’s Earth-side launch sites – in the middle distance, two other vehicles on their respective launch pads. I’ve used the STS Gantry (model courtesy of NASA) in this composition – scaled up accordingly and modified by central core of my own design, a cradle to support and stabilize the HLLV during loading. A mere fifty-five years after first-contact between Sinclair’s people and the Martians the HLLV is a design kludge* of technologies developed by, and purchased from, the Martians – namely their light-weight advanced nuclear light-bulb engines and meta stable metallic hydrogen fuel production and storage systems. It is in the generation following the advent of the Martians return, that those who grew up under the umbrella of Sinclair Senior’s grand hoax, informed by the influence of the Martians, seize the limited aspiration of the Senior’s hoax, turning it to their own intentions – intentions it should be noted as impossible for any native of Earth to apprehend prior to the Martian’s return. *The Naval slang term “Kludge” meaning an inelegant combination of technology (usually hurriedly assembled in time of war or national emergency) intended to address via brute-force a specific and urgent need. HLLV-SSTO Nuclear Stage Dimensions: Nuclear Stage Diameter: 216 FT. Nuclear Stage Height: 125 FT. Payload Bay Dimensions: Payload Bay Aero-shell Diameter: 120 FT. Payload Bay Dimensions Note: Internal Payload bay dimensions include clearance divided between the forward end of the Nuclear Stage, and the aft end of the Command/Passenger Module Stage – this provides clearance to fore and aft payload grappling mechanisms – integral to the structural integrity of the entire system – this accounts for the height dimension. Payload Bay Height:191 FT. Command/Passenger Module Dimensions: Height: 120 FT. Maximum Diameter: 120 FT. Vehicle Stack Height: 436 FT. Future History Timeline Context Link: Orion’s Arm Future History Timeline. Related Image Links: Ascent On-Station Point of Divergence Nuclear OTV at Lunar Orbit J-11 Interplanetary Transport Diagram Lunar Freight Terminal Composition Notes: Terrains are Tectonic Bryce objects. STS Gantry model courtesy of NASA. All other models are my own Bryce creations, constructed in Bryce 6.3 and rendered in Bryce 7 Pro. As always thank you for your interest, thoughtful comments, and encouragement.