With the CEV on top it there might be some difference expected in height from the usual Orbiter & External Tank configuration. If the Vehicle Assembly Building doesn't have much clearance at the top it could easily need to have it's roof raised a little.
It would be nice to save the engines, since they are supposed to be re-usable. But depending on how high the CEV is launched, the engines might have to be fired to de-orbit the External Tank before detaching and re-entering the atmosphere separately. Otherwise they might be so high that they'd orbit the Earth indefinitely. This HLLV might be used to boost the CEV all the way up to a Lunar transfer orbit, for example. At that height they'd be floating around forever without a de-orbit burn.
Space/Science » in reply to Would the vehicle you describe still fit inside the Vehicle Assembly Building?
re: I have no idea
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- re: Absolutely zero mention of the new space initiative in State of the Union address
- The space 'initiative'
- re: Absolutely zero mention of the new space initiative in State of the Union address
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