NASA's Orion powered on for the first time
Discussion
MartG said:
graphene said:
Eric Mc said:
Agreed.
I am sure they have valid reasons for going with tiles.
Last paragraph:I am sure they have valid reasons for going with tiles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_thermal...
Edited by MartG on Friday 22 August 12:02
Here's footage of the Orion escape being tested four years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w5p4X6rdjE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w5p4X6rdjE
Meant to post this a few weeks back, but the NASA history office twitter feed posted this photo of the Apollo launch escape system being tested
http://pic.twitter.com/xZ5xhKGlQV
http://pic.twitter.com/xZ5xhKGlQV
Press kit released http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/orio...
MartG said:
Press kit released http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/orio...
Reading through this fills me with excitement. I really hope it goes well and I get to watch a crewed launch of the vehicle on a mission to who-knows-where.Absolutely. Reports of the demise of NASA's maned programme have always been a bit on the premature side.
This craft really has the potential to open up the solar system to manned exploration. It is a great design and really the true heir to Apollo. I am just concerned that it doesn't suffer any more from changed priorities of the various administrations that will come to power in the US over its expected life.
The clincher for me as far as its versatility is concerned is the proposed habitation module which can be added to the launch stack for deep space missions. In fact, the module bears a striking resemblance to the USAF's cancelled Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) of the mid 1960s.
This craft really has the potential to open up the solar system to manned exploration. It is a great design and really the true heir to Apollo. I am just concerned that it doesn't suffer any more from changed priorities of the various administrations that will come to power in the US over its expected life.
The clincher for me as far as its versatility is concerned is the proposed habitation module which can be added to the launch stack for deep space missions. In fact, the module bears a striking resemblance to the USAF's cancelled Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) of the mid 1960s.
This was always at the back of James Webb's mind during the Apollo era. He was always concerned that a new president would cancel the programme. in fact, he was even concerned that Kennedy himself might get cold feet and close down the project. In many ways, Kennedy's assassination ensured that it is kept on by whoever succeeded him.
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