From: kaido_kert@hotballmail.com.retro.com   
      
   "johnhare"  wrote in message   
   news:L8QAb.43766$%h4.8769@twister.tampabay.rr.com...   
   > You might consider a 7 cluster with the 6 outside tanks just that. The   
   > center   
   > unit containing the engine, payload and stuff. Possibly tanks 2,3,5 and 6   
   > containing LOX with 1 and 6 carrying fuel. Drop in pairs. This way the   
   outer   
   > units have no intertank structure.   
   >   
   > That suggested, I don't believe this is a really good idea. Tankage fluffs   
   > the reentry profile for easier TPS. You still have the downrange drop   
   > zones. You are carrying untested hardware each flight. You are carrying   
   > a lot of extra engine later in the launch phase. But I  am often wrong.   
      
   Just thought that its worth to mention:   
   I wasnt aware of how long history iedas of SSTOs augmented with drop tanks   
   have. All the way back to 1969, Bono's ROOST and ROMBUS vehicles.   
   http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/history_of_the_phoenix_vtol_s   
   to_and_recent_developments_in_single_stage_launch_systems.shtml   
      
   Its also worth to mention that Armadillo is considering cabin-at-bottom   
   designs for their future vehicles, essentially leaving only fuel tanks on   
   top of the vehicle.   
      
   -kert   
      
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