Space Launch System - Orion

Space Launch System - Orion

Author
Discussion

Beati Dogu

8,862 posts

138 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
quotequote all
Should be quite a show. The 380-foot-tall SLS launch tower has been moved out to the pad again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx07BnwcPcc&fe...

MartG

20,620 posts

203 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
ESA has formally agreed to help build the Lunar Gateway

https://www.space.com/europe-help-build-gateway-mo...

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,776 posts

264 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
They need to get international agreements in place to ensure continuity if there is a new President next year. I do not see Biden or Harris being terribly enthusiastic about SLS/Artemis and they will probably look to cancel it. If you get yourself tied into an international and legally binding agreement with another country, you are proofing against cancellation - to some extent.

That's what the French did with Concorde.

MartG

20,620 posts

203 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
They need to get international agreements in place to ensure continuity if there is a new President next year. I do not see Biden or Harris being terribly enthusiastic about SLS/Artemis and they will probably look to cancel it. If you get yourself tied into an international and legally binding agreement with another country, you are proofing against cancellation - to some extent.

That's what the French did with Concorde.
NASA has been forced to unilaterally cancel several international collaborations over the years, usually after the politicians have defunded a particular programme, so it may not help

Beati Dogu

8,862 posts

138 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
They were trying to get the Russians to cooperate on the Lunar Gateway, but I don't think they are now.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,776 posts

264 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
MartG said:
NASA has been forced to unilaterally cancel several international collaborations over the years, usually after the politicians have defunded a particular programme, so it may not help
It doesn't guarantee anything, but it does add some added insurance. It gives them a bit more ammo to try and plead for funding.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,776 posts

264 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
Beati Dogu said:
They were trying to get the Russians to cooperate on the Lunar Gateway, but I don't think they are now.
The Russians backed out.

Beati Dogu

8,862 posts

138 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
Oh those Russians.

Fun fact: 100% of men in space at the moment are Russian and called Sergey







(all 2 of them)

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,776 posts

264 months

Wednesday 28th October 2020
quotequote all
Are they running ads for Compare the Market.com as well?

MartG

20,620 posts

203 months

Thursday 29th October 2020
quotequote all
ESA Director General Jan Wörner: "With NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine I signed the #Artemis Gateway ESA/NASA MoU, taking 20 years of International Space Station collaboration #ForwardtotheMoon. This marks a critical point for Europe: we are going not only with equipment, but also with European astronauts!" 👉 https://bit.ly/31P3YlN

Beati Dogu

8,862 posts

138 months

Thursday 29th October 2020
quotequote all
That's good. The Japanese & Canadians are involved too.

Eric Mc said:
Are they running ads for Compare the Market.com as well?
They're missing a trick if they're not.

eharding

13,599 posts

283 months

Thursday 29th October 2020
quotequote all
Beati Dogu said:
That's good. The Japanese & Canadians are involved too.

Eric Mc said:
Are they running ads for Compare the Market.com as well?
They're missing a trick if they're not.
Shame they weren't on an earlier Russian space station.

Because then we could have Compare The Mir Crew.com

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,776 posts

264 months

Thursday 29th October 2020
quotequote all
You deserve a Salyut for that.

MartG

20,620 posts

203 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
A partial PDU failure in the Artemis 1 Orion could cause a major delay, with repair options estimated to take between 4 and 12 months to complete frown

To me it seems like bad design that a single component failure could take so long to fix frown

https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/30/21726753/nasa-...

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,776 posts

264 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
What's a PDU?

MartG

20,620 posts

203 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
What's a PDU?
Power Distribution Unit i.e. hi-tech fusebox wink

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,776 posts

264 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
Sounds a fairly basic piece of kit.

annodomini2

6,860 posts

250 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Sounds a fairly basic piece of kit.
They'll be similar to what is used on aircraft, military stuff, but optimised for space use.

Multiple power buses with CPU control to reroute supplies for redundant operation.

Beati Dogu

8,862 posts

138 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
They’re finally getting ready to do the green run test fire of the SLS booster. It’s only been on site since January.

There will likely be a wet dress rehearsal next week, followed by the actual full duration burn during Christmas week.

Eric Mc

Original Poster:

121,776 posts

264 months

Thursday 3rd December 2020
quotequote all
By the time Artemis puts Americans on the moon they'll be able to pick up a Chinese takeaway when they get there.