/sci/ - Science & Math

>>10824704
Scrap the propulsion system for the booster stages. Use two or four (depending on payload size) keroLOX flyback boosters powered by something similar to an F1-B with a methaLOX flyback core stage running two M1-like methaLOX burning high thrust engines. The upper stage will be one large spacecraft running a smaller vacuum optimized methaLOX engine drawing from four conformal tanks which can be discarded whenever necessary, the only parts of this that would be discarded entirely would be the conformal tanks and final stage engine although even that could probably be worked into the upper stage spacecraft so that only the tanks will be discarded and the entire craft can return to Earth, ideally with enough propellant to perform a propulsive landing but if that's impossible than a ground landing at a specially prepared site using shock absorbing bags would be preferable, fuck splashdowns and fuck rust.