Big, Dumb, heavy lift boosters.

>>>>>why NASA is so freaking expensive,
how much the Russians really spend to get into space
(a pittance- the rockets cost 4-5 million each!)
and how much a Big Dumb Booster would cost (>>>

What we really need in order to get prices down to <$500/Kg, is an
inherently simple, non re-usable, 3-stage, heavy lift boster. We would
produce 200 of these things per year, in an automated factory, that
continuously passes the boosters along a production line. This would
produce boosters continuously, much like a car factory produces cars.
Boosters with lift capabilities of 50-250 tonnes to LEO, could be produced
in this way. The factory is located on a natural harbour. Upon completion,
each booster is loaded onto a transport ship (converted oil tanker?) and
from then on, it is shipped to the launch site. Even better, it could be
transported by rail, to a near-by launch facility! The lower two stages of
the rocket are kerosine/oxygen fueled. The fuel can be pumped straight out
of a tanker that is docked close to the launch site. The oxygen is
liquified out of the air, using an atmospheric liquification plant. The
whole setup, would be powered by a series of gas turbines or a single
1200-MWe nuclear reactor (built quickly, in less than 5 years). A system
like this would provide cheap, mass produced heavy lift vehicles. Launch
prices of less than $2000/Kg to HEO and $1000/Kg to LEO, could be virtually
guarenteed. But how much would it cost in order to set up this monster
facility?

Tony