Space Launch System - Orion

[Eric Mc]

There will be various versions of the SLS, some for manned missions, others not. I think testing the stack before you put people on it is eminently sensible.

[Eric Mc]

I hope LOX has a long shelf life.

[Eric Mc]

Beati Dogu said:

I suppose it beats gathering dust in a museum. This way they can go out in a blaze of glory.

Expendable rockets do seem extremely old skool though.

Well, for SpaceX anyway. Everybody else is still using them.

[Eric Mc]

Reusability is definitely the way forward.

[Eric Mc]

I wouldn't be surprised if it never happens.

[Eric Mc]

And it's going off. I don't mind a bit of pork barrel politics if it results in something viable at the end.

SLS/Orion seems to be all pork and no dinner.

[Eric Mc]

Have they made a final decision about the heat shield? They used an Apollo style ablative shield for the test flight in 2014 but they really want to use a reusable heat protection system.

[Eric Mc]

Should I dare start planning a trip to Florida around that time?

[Eric Mc]

Beati Dogu said:

Looks like they're still going with AVCOAT, which as you say is the modern version of what was used on Apollo. So probably no asbestos.

This is epoxy phenol formaldehyde resin with special additives (like silica fibres) in a fibreglass honeycomb matrix.


SpaceX use PICA-X (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator) heat shields on Dragon, which they co-developed with NASA Ames. It has been proven several times now and it good for up to 10 flights apparently, despite getting a seawater bath. It's also not a one piece like the Orion heat shield appears to be. It's a collection of large shaped tiles instead.

Edited by Beati Dogu on Wednesday 8th November 23:21

Orion enters the atmosphere at 25,000 mph rather than 17,500, so shuttle type tiles and RCC material isn't up to the job.

[Eric Mc]

Too complex for my poor brain.

[Eric Mc]

Link not working.

[Eric Mc]

Is that the loo?

[Eric Mc]

I've seen those chequer patterns before - on the Saturn V.

[Eric Mc]

The lunar lander looks more like the Russian one than the Apollo Grumman designed version.

It would be great if design work on a lander gets going soon.

And of course, Boeing designed and built the Apollo lunar rover so all they have to do is dust off the old plans

[Eric Mc]

MartG said:

Yes - though it does look rather less expensive than the last NASA proposed one

It does look a bit basic - but it should do the job.

I noticed that the numbers "2014" appear at the bottom of the picture. Has Boeing just rummaged through its drawers and unearthed a design they've had for a while?

[Eric Mc]

Would any aspect of the lander be reusable?

The old Grumman LM ascent stage was only certified for five repressurisation cycles. I would guess a more modern lander would have to be a bit more robust than that.

[Eric Mc]

I'd hate to see their water meter reading.

[Eric Mc]

It drains away back into the surrounding lagoons and swamp.

[Eric Mc]

Kccv23highliftcam said:

Any costings availble for this monstrosity?

What, the tower or the programme?

[Eric Mc]

Have they decided on the heat shield design? I presume they must have by now.

They used an Apollo style ablative shield on the 2014 EFT-1 test. They didn't really want to use an ablative shield but making a reusable heat sink shield that can cope with 25,000 mph entry speeds was proving difficult.