NASA's new deep space rocket passes major design review, putting it 'ahead of schedule' for 2017 lau - Polidicks

[img]http://imgkk.com/i/ov_8.jpg[/img] [url]http://phys.org/news/2012-12-nasa-space-core-stage-major.html[/url] [quote=Phys.org][B]The team designing America's new flagship rocket has completed successfully a major technical review of the vehicle's core stage. NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) will take the agency's Orion spacecraft and other payloads beyond low-Earth orbit, providing a new capability for human exploration.[/B] The core stage preliminary design review (PDR) was held Thursday at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., and included representatives from the agency and The Boeing Co. Boeing's Exploration Launch Systems in Huntsville is the prime contractor for the core stage and its avionics. Marshall manages the SLS Program. "Passing a preliminary design review within 12 months of bringing Boeing on contract shows we are on track toward meeting a 2017 launch date," said Tony Lavoie, manager of the SLS Stages Element at Marshall. "We can now allow those time-critical areas of design to move forward with initial fabrication and proceed toward the final design phase—culminating in a critical design review in 2014—with confidence." The first flight test of the SLS, which will feature a configuration for a 70-metric ton lift capacity and carry an uncrewed Orion spacecraft beyond the moon, is scheduled for 2017. As the SLS evolves, a two-stage launch vehicle using the core stage will provide a lift capability of 130-metric tons to enable missions beyond low-Earth orbit and to support deep space exploration. The purpose of the PDR was to ensure the design met system requirements within acceptable risk and fell within schedule and budget constraints. An important part of the PDR was to prove the core stage could integrate safely with other elements of the rocket's main engines and solid rocket boosters, the crew capsule and the launch facilities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Core stage designers provided an in-depth assessment to a board of engineers comprised of propulsion and design experts from across the agency and the aerospace industry. "Each individual element of this program has to be at the same level of maturity before we can move the program as a whole to the next step," SLS Program Manager Todd May said. "The core stage is the rocket's central propulsion element and will be an optimized blend of new and existing hardware design. We're building it with longer tanks, longer feed lines and advanced manufacturing processes. We are running ahead of schedule and will leverage that schedule margin to ensure a safe and affordable rocket for our first flight in 2017." The core stage will be built at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans using state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. The plant continues modifying its facilities and ordering materials for construction of the rocket. Michoud has built components for NASA's spacecraft for decades, most recently, the space shuttle's external tanks.[/quote] This is the rocket that is meant to one day put a human on Mars

What's the point of cancelling the Orion launch system (but not the capsule) for purposes of cost, then going and developing a more expensive alternative? Oh that's right, military-industrial complex.

If I was a billionaire id throw money at nasa constantly

[QUOTE=MrBob1337;38964149]What's the point of cancelling the Orion launch system (but not the capsule) for purposes of cost, then going and developing a more expensive alternative? Oh that's right, military-industrial complex.[/QUOTE] The Orion launch system requires 2 separate rockets to be launched at the same time, this is just one rocket to do it all

[QUOTE=The Rifleman;38964178]If I was a billionaire id throw money at nasa constantly[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://www.gii.in/fun/images/nasa_sponsor.JPG[/IMG]

[QUOTE=recolour;38964659][IMG]http://www.gii.in/fun/images/nasa_sponsor.JPG[/IMG][/QUOTE] Would be totally okay with this if it increases funding to nasa

[QUOTE=Mr_Razzums;38964826]Would be totally okay with this if it increases funding to nasa[/QUOTE] Except our science would be broken up by mandatory, contractually obligated advertising. Man would land on Mars, only to take a sip of Coke and snap off an unfunny one-liner on off-this-world refreshment.

[QUOTE=recolour;38964659][IMG]http://www.gii.in/fun/images/nasa_sponsor.JPG[/IMG][/QUOTE] Taking advertising to the next level. we must send ads to alien civilizations

[QUOTE=Blazyd;38964965]Taking advertising to the next level. we must send ads to alien civilizations[/QUOTE] [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=NdvO0tmNjGo[/url] Can't get media tags to work.

[QUOTE=recolour;38964659][IMG]http://www.gii.in/fun/images/nasa_sponsor.JPG[/IMG][/QUOTE] Even the USA is advertising.

I really hope this thing is going to be finished and work as hoped. It would be great to finally see Saturn V sized behemoths being launched again.

[QUOTE=meppers;38964615]The Orion launch system requires 2 separate rockets to be launched at the same time, this is just one rocket to do it all[/QUOTE] Orion is just the capsule. You're thinking of the ARES launch system: [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/Maximum_payload.PNG[/IMG] ARES I launches the crew while ARES V launches the cargo.

Is there a pictue of the SLS next to the Saturn V and other vessels for scale? The only thing I can find is this: [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/SLS_configurations.png[/img]

Block 1 and Block 1A Crew are near-as-makes-no-difference the same height as a Saturn V. [editline]25th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Mr_Razzums;38964826]Would be totally okay with this if it increases funding to nasa[/QUOTE] I wouldn't. Commercial funding like that would severely limit what NASA would be able to do, compromise the very nature of space exploration. The cancer that is corporate endorsement would ensure that everything done on those rockets is done to benefit the company that funded it, not society as a whole. It's the main reason I'm not all that fond of shit like SpaceX. Spaceflight should be untainted by advertiser/investor demands, the one aspect of modern life free of rampant commercialization that seeks to wring the populace out of every last cent it can without a care in the world regarding how it's harming what the logos are plastered over. I'd be perfectly content if aerospace companies helped out by building and designing the hardware, though. That sort of corporate funding is okay, I don't see much harm in outside contractors handling designing and building the rockets themselves while NASA focuses what funding it has on the science payload.

This has made my Christmas Day!!! Absolutely fucking amazing! [IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/heart.png[/IMG]

Quite rare something space-related is [I]ahead[/I] of schedule.

I think a Red Bull branded rocket would look pretty swell tbh.

[QUOTE=Forumaster;38965744]Orion is just the capsule. You're thinking of the ARES launch system: [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/Maximum_payload.PNG[/IMG] ARES I launches the crew while ARES V launches the cargo.[/QUOTE] The Saturn V looks boss compared to the other stuff.

[QUOTE=SCopE5000;38966847]I think a Red Bull branded rocket would look pretty swell tbh.[/QUOTE] Redbulls main-man of 2012 Felix Baumgartner thinks [URL="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/27/felix-baumgartner-sounds-off-on-nasa-sir-richard-branson.html"]going to Mars is a pipe dream[/URL]. What a pessimistic view he holds as the representative of that brand; it disappointed me after having watched his jump to have such limited and constricted views.

If I could rate more winners I would

[QUOTE=Rapist;38966498]Is there a pictue of the SLS next to the Saturn V and other vessels for scale? The only thing I can find is this: <image>[/QUOTE] [img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--1UZWtYDgdw/UBR0xyV4xAI/AAAAAAAASpY/BVfHLcT5izU/s1600/NASA-SLS_Architecture_20120729-580x470.png[/img] [editline]25th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=MrBob1337;38964149]What's the point of cancelling the Orion launch system (but not the capsule) for purposes of cost, then going and developing a more expensive alternative? Oh that's right, military-industrial complex.[/QUOTE] That program was cancelled because it had some major technical issues and it never received the funding that was promised.

[QUOTE=MrBob1337;38964149]What's the point of cancelling the Orion launch system (but not the capsule) for purposes of cost, then going and developing a more expensive alternative? Oh that's right, military-industrial complex.[/QUOTE] Orion is only really good for propelling absolutely gargantuan spacecrafts, and even in that application it's a pretty brute force method of propulsion

What the shit is everyone up to? Orion is the actual spacecraft (Actual name is MPCV, Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle): [t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Orion_spacecraft_launch_configuration_%282009_revision%29.jpg/654px-Orion_spacecraft_launch_configuration_%282009_revision%29.jpg[/t] Ares or SLS (Space Launch System) is just merely boosters and is [b]not[/b] Orion. :v:

I believe they're referring to the Orion that was powered by pooping nukes and riding the explosion

They should make it in kerbal to see if it's safe

[QUOTE=chills2;38967227]If I could rate more winners I would[/QUOTE]Here, have one of mine. [editline]25th December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Karmah;38969901]They should make it in kerbal to see if it's safe[/QUOTE]In real life you can't press T to fix everything.