Space Launch System - Orion
Discussion
RobDickinson said:
I'm not sure how paranoia about safety leads to $500million on 2 mobile launch platforms?
I am 100% sure the governance of NASA dont care if they ever launch another rocket so long as the pork flows.
So I guess the question should be asked what price should be paid for the 2 mobile launch platforms? I am 100% sure the governance of NASA dont care if they ever launch another rocket so long as the pork flows.
Aerojet Rocketdyne say they have selected the four RS-25 engines for the first SLS mission.
Between them, these 4 engines have powered 21 Shuttle launches, with one of them having been used on 12 flights.
More.. with pictures:
http://www.rocket.com/article/rs-25-engines-ready-...
Between them, these 4 engines have powered 21 Shuttle launches, with one of them having been used on 12 flights.
More.. with pictures:
http://www.rocket.com/article/rs-25-engines-ready-...
I can imagine that will change but not that fast I guess. ULA are in deep s
t without the capacity to engineer themselves out of the hole because they have sat on their arse and get $1bnm a year for that - total cash cow.
Once blue origin/ new glen is going (plus FH) too anything not reusable will have a hard time justifying itself.
t without the capacity to engineer themselves out of the hole because they have sat on their arse and get $1bnm a year for that - total cash cow. Once blue origin/ new glen is going (plus FH) too anything not reusable will have a hard time justifying itself.
ULA and Arianespace can trade on their great launch records, but they've still had to cut budgets, executive numbers and drop the prices.
ULA's Atlas V replacement (Vulcan) will use the BE-4 engines that Blue Origin are developing for their New Glen. At the moment it looks like it will be partially re-usable, in that the first stage's entire rocket motor section (by far the most expensive bit) will re-enter with an inflatable heat shield, then glide down via parafoil. This parafoil will then be grabbed somehow by a waiting helicopter and taken down to a recovery ship or land facility. No, I can't seen any issues with that idea at all.
Dumping engines isn't a totally new idea. For example, Atlas I and II rockets used to jettison 2 of their 3 main engines after they'd burned for around 164 seconds. This was done to lose mass once the job of getting the heavy rocket off the pad was accomplished. However, with cost not being such an issue, it was deemed easier to use new rocket motors than worry about re-use and the effects of salt water.
The Ariane 6 is already pretty obsolete before it has even flown. Yes they'll use Russian & SpaceX-style horizontal integration and other techniques to keep costs down, but it's not reusable at all. Not for a long time anyway. The Adeline system upgrade would have the engine & avionics section detach & re-enter the atmosphere with two short wings. At a certain altitude, two shielded propellers would pop-out, allowing the "aircraft" to fly back under power and land itself at a convenient runway. That concept is at least pretty cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV29pEvZvZw
ULA's Atlas V replacement (Vulcan) will use the BE-4 engines that Blue Origin are developing for their New Glen. At the moment it looks like it will be partially re-usable, in that the first stage's entire rocket motor section (by far the most expensive bit) will re-enter with an inflatable heat shield, then glide down via parafoil. This parafoil will then be grabbed somehow by a waiting helicopter and taken down to a recovery ship or land facility. No, I can't seen any issues with that idea at all.
Dumping engines isn't a totally new idea. For example, Atlas I and II rockets used to jettison 2 of their 3 main engines after they'd burned for around 164 seconds. This was done to lose mass once the job of getting the heavy rocket off the pad was accomplished. However, with cost not being such an issue, it was deemed easier to use new rocket motors than worry about re-use and the effects of salt water.
The Ariane 6 is already pretty obsolete before it has even flown. Yes they'll use Russian & SpaceX-style horizontal integration and other techniques to keep costs down, but it's not reusable at all. Not for a long time anyway. The Adeline system upgrade would have the engine & avionics section detach & re-enter the atmosphere with two short wings. At a certain altitude, two shielded propellers would pop-out, allowing the "aircraft" to fly back under power and land itself at a convenient runway. That concept is at least pretty cool.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV29pEvZvZw
First flight expected to slip into 2020 
https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/10/sls-rocket...
I wouldn't be surprised if it slips even further
https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/10/sls-rocket...
I wouldn't be surprised if it slips even further
Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff