• NASA's SLS passes critical design review, still on track for completion
    14 replies, posted
[quote]For the first time in almost 40 years, a NASA human-rated rocket has completed all steps needed to clear a critical design review (CDR). The agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) is the first vehicle designed to meet the challenges of the journey to Mars and the first exploration class rocket since the Saturn V. SLS will be the most powerful rocket ever built and, with the agency’s Orion spacecraft, will launch America into a new era of exploration to destinations beyond Earth’s orbit. The CDR provided a final look at the design and development of the integrated launch vehicle before full-scale fabrication begins. [B]This review is the last of four reviews that examine concepts and designs. The next step for the program is design certification, which will take place in 2017 after manufacturing, integration and testing is complete. The design certification will compare the actual final product to the rocket’s design. The final review, the flight readiness review, will take place just prior to the 2018 flight readiness date.[/B][/quote] [url]https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-completes-critical-design-review-for-space-launch-system[/url] Pending something new- which is doubtful- this is the rocket that will bring humans to mars. This is an update from this [URL="https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1235118"]thread[/URL] in 2012 where it passed the technical review.
so SLS is basically a cheaper Saturn V like launch vehicle using space shuttle parts? cool
[QUOTE=eirexe;49009693]so SLS is basically a cheaper Saturn V like launch vehicle using space shuttle parts? cool[/QUOTE] eh its debatable, NASA says it will cost about 500M per launch, but the very low purchase rate might drive its price higher, when they build the saturn V they built a dozen at a time, the SLS by comparison will be built practically one at a time, and the launch schedule for them is so bad, they plan on launching like 1 ever 4 years
[QUOTE=Sableye;49009720]eh its debatable, NASA says it will cost about 500M per launch, but the very low purchase rate might drive its price higher, when they build the saturn V they built a dozen at a time, the SLS by comparison will be built practically one at a time, and the launch schedule for them is so bad, they plan on launching like 1 ever 4 years[/QUOTE] welp, let's see what ESA and russian can come up with
Dunno of its just me but the whole being flight ready by 2018 sounds really cool, that's only 3 years away
[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0y52W3TyQg&feature=youtu.be[/media] 1:56
[QUOTE=eirexe;49009767]welp, let's see what ESA and russian can come up with[/QUOTE] honestly Space-X's falcon heavy is the real contender, they aren't building any new hardware, only taking more rockets and clustering them together, and they are using crossflow fuel feeding, so unlike everything else out there right now, they will be much more efficient
[QUOTE=eirexe;49009767]welp, let's see what ESA and russian can come up with[/QUOTE] China: [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March_%28rocket_family%29#Long_March_9[/url] Russia: [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angara_%28rocket_family%29#Angara_A5V[/url] (?) SpaceX: [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Colonial_Transporter#Super-heavy_lift_launch_vehicle[/url] [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_orbital_launch_systems[/url] Don't think Europe has anything in the works. [editline]29th October 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Sableye;49009841]honestly Space-X's falcon heavy is the real contender, they aren't building any new hardware, only taking more rockets and clustering them together, and they are using crossflow fuel feeding, so unlike everything else out there right now, they will be much more efficient[/QUOTE] The SpaceX rocket that will carry the MCT is going to be bigger.
[QUOTE=OvB;49009851]China: [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March_%28rocket_family%29#Long_March_9[/url] Russia: [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angara_%28rocket_family%29#Angara_A5V[/url] (?) SpaceX: [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Colonial_Transporter#Super-heavy_lift_launch_vehicle[/url] [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_orbital_launch_systems[/url] Don't think Europe has anything in the works. [editline]29th October 2015[/editline] The SpaceX rocket that will carry the MCT is going to be bigger.[/QUOTE] ya but there has to be some calculus done to determine if launching multiple payloads is cheaper than launching one gigantic rocket. in the past the costs made the monlithic rocket cheaper by a lot, but today we have satellites that can remotely dock with each other, and production line rockets, so the argument tips back towards what is cheaper, the SLS probably will top a billion per launch, and a falcon heavy (assuming reusablility) will be a fraction of that, so if you need to launch 3 or 4 of them over a couple months instead of everything at once, it might work out to be substantially cheaper [editline]29th October 2015[/editline] if the current commercial programs continue, the falcon heavy will be built regardless of whether NASA needs it or not, while the SLS is being built purely for some unspecified mission in an unspecified future
[QUOTE=Sableye;49009892]ya but there has to be some calculus done to determine if launching multiple payloads is cheaper than launching one gigantic rocket. in the past the costs made the monlithic rocket cheaper by a lot, but today we have satellites that can remotely dock with each other, and production line rockets, so the argument tips back towards what is cheaper, the SLS probably will top a billion per launch, and a falcon heavy (assuming reusablility) will be a fraction of that, so if you need to launch 3 or 4 of them over a couple months instead of everything at once, it might work out to be substantially cheaper[/QUOTE] The MCT is for launching hundreds of people to Mars at once, or super heavy payloads. You're not going to build a Mars base a few dozen tons at a time. Falcon Heavy isn't even in the same category as the SLS or the as-of-yet-unnamed MCT rocket. Which is also going to use Methalox rather than RP1/Oxy or hyrogen/oxy, it's also going to be fully reusable. (first stage, second stage, and MCT) [editline]29th October 2015[/editline] Falcon Heavy has very little if nothing at all to do with Mars. It's main job is launch heavy objects into LEO. It could put slightly heavy objects into orbit around Mars or the Moon, or wherever else, too. But Mars isn't it's primary job. The MCT rocket is exclusively for Mars. And they will probably build it if NASA wants it or not.
I would love to see something like this fly. I love the Saturn V mission and I think it would just be pure fun to experience something with that much thrust firing off.
Quick, finish it, before the next administration changes their mind!
[QUOTE=Jon27;49011163]Quick, finish it, before the next administration changes their mind![/QUOTE] Trump will make them redesign it because the current SLS doesn't take into account the added weight of the gold leaf lettering, black paint, and gold/marble interior. [I]Don't worry its gonna be the greatest rocket ever its gonna be uuuge. We're gunna put a Tower on Mars it's gonna be a great deal you'll love it.[/I]
[QUOTE=OvB;49011594]Trump will make them redesign it because the current SLS doesn't take into account the added weight of the gold leaf lettering, black paint, and gold/marble interior. [I]Don't worry its gonna be the greatest rocket ever its gonna be uuuge. We're gunna put a Tower on Mars it's gonna be a great deal you'll love it.[/I][/QUOTE] Trump has so much money he cannot even lift it all in a spaceship!
The Falcon heavy is really cool and much much cheaper to launch. But like others have said its main goal isn't Mars, but it can send things to Mars to. CGI of the heavy with the cores returning: [video=youtube_share;4Ca6x4QbpoM]http://youtu.be/4Ca6x4QbpoM[/video] They are very close to getting the landing working. Hopefully on the next attempt! [video=youtube_share;BhMSzC1crr0]http://youtu.be/BhMSzC1crr0[/video]
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