Space Launch System - Orion

[MartG]

Pegasus barge is on the way to NASA Kennedy with the SLS pathfinder core stage.ETA Sep 27.

Credit: Ken Kremer

[Flooble]

I've lost track a bit - is that for fit tests or Green Run?

[Beati Dogu]

That's the dummy "pathfinder" rocket used for fit tests & training. Basically a big steel pipe really with mock engine nozzles. It has the same dimensions, weight and mounting points as the working core stage. They'll move it to the Vertical Assembly Building at the Cape and play around with it in there.

The first actual rocket is still in the Michoud factory in New Orleans. They're going to fit the 4 engines, avionics and a few other things, but the structural work is done. It should be ready by December (this year - LOL).

Once complete, they'll tow it upriver on the barge to the Stennis Space Center for the green run tests.

[Flooble]

Oh right - Green Run isn't at Kennedy. Duh, stupid me. I'd got used to the "Static Fire" tests by SpaceX and conflated that in my head.

[Talksteer]

Beati Dogu said:

That's the dummy "pathfinder" rocket used for fit tests & training. Basically a big steel pipe really with mock engine nozzles. It has the same dimensions, weight and mounting points as the working core stage. They'll move it to the Vertical Assembly Building at the Cape and play around with it in there.

The first actual rocket is still in the Michoud factory in New Orleans. They're going to fit the 4 engines, avionics and a few other things, but the structural work is done. It should be ready by December (this year - LOL).

Once complete, they'll tow it upriver on the barge to the Stennis Space Center for the green run tests.

This is an example of how complacent, risk averse and jobs programme these efforts have all become.

The fit test article probably cost more than SpaceX spent or star hopper.

Every time I see pictures inside the Michoud assembley facility I'm always amazed by the sheer quanity of fixtures, jigs and specialised lifting equipment.

It looks like what you would see at Boeing or Airbus where they have production runs in the hundreds and thousands and its being used on items whch have production runs of 1-5 before they change the design slightly and scrap the tooling.

The second mobile launcher at $386 million is a brilliant example of this.

My favourte engineering maxim is "if that's your solution you've been asking the wrong question" applies for most of these situations.

Edited by Talksteer on Sunday 29th September 18:51

[Beati Dogu]

You can certainly see why it’s so expensive and takes so long.

To be fair though, they also built full size mock ups for Saturn V and the Shuttle too. They’re useful for training the ground crew for handling and fuelling before the flight hardware arrives, so it kinda makes sense.

[MartG]

Fast-Track to the Moon: NASA Opens Call for Artemis Lunar Landers

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/fast-track-to-the-moo...

[Chester35]

This is still one of my favourite films on launches for the past 6 months

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJgqhznBntE

The whole sequence is captured extremely well .

[MartG]

"The Space Launch System Core Stage pathfinder has arrived at the north end of the transfer aisle inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 3, 2019. A cover, called a spider, will be attached to the top of the pathfinder. With the spider secured in place, a crane will be attached to it to lift the pathfinder into the vertical position. The 212-foot-long core stage pathfinder arrived in NASA's Pegasus Barge at Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39 turn basin wharf on Sept. 27, 2019."

[Beati Dogu]

They're fitting the first of the four engines to the SLS core stage now.



This engine (serial number E2056) last flew on Space Shuttle Discovery for STS-121 in 2006.


All four engines have flown several times before:

E2045: The most veteran engine with 12 flights, including John Glenn's final flight in 1998.
E2056: Four total flights, including NASA's return to flight in 2005 after the Columbia disaster two years earlier.
E2058: Six total flights.
E2060: Three total flights, including the final space shuttle mission in 2011.

[MartG]

House budget has pretty well killed the 2024 Moon landing, shifting it back to 2028

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/10/a-house-bu...

Just as well given SLS's first flight seems ever more likely to be pushed back to 2021

[Eric Mc]

Probably "Living on a Prayer" too.

[MartG]

Eric Mc said:

Probably "Living on a Prayer" too.

Yes, especially with the 737Max fiasco

[Eric Mc]

I see they've just demoted their CEO.

[Gandahar]

Eric Mc said:

I see they've just demoted their CEO.

No.

He's still CEO, president and a director.

It does make you wonder how much concentration they are now doing in stratosphere and lower rather than above.

Currently both Space X and Boeing not being very Soviet about getting men into space.... it would be cheaper just paying Russia $100m per pop for an American to go up on a Commie rocket.

[Beati Dogu]

The SLS dummy stage had been lifted upright in the Vertical Assembly Building.

NASA likes these 3D camera views, but this one is pretty good. They swing the thing right over your head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS77Mi1wVP4

[Beati Dogu]

First engine attached:




And here's a photo of one of the two SLS boosters.

[Beati Dogu]

The second SLS engine is now attached. Destined for its 13th and final flight.

[Flooble]

Is this the one they are preparing for the "Green Run"? Looks like they are on track to have all four engines installed before Christmas since it seems to take about ten days to install each one, so somewhere around the end of November - then presumably they have to do other stuff to actually connect them up inside (unless that is done per engine already).

What will be the next steps after the engines are installed?

[Zoobeef]

Year long meeting discussing how the engine installation went.