NASA reconfirms 2019 will see first launch of Space Launch System NASA has reconfirmed it hopes to stage the first flight of its Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft in December 2019, but also conceded such a big build could run late. The agency has announced the outcome of the latest review of its launch schedule for Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), following its previous assessment that …
They only need to be in there for launch/re-entry - the idea is that habitation modules (both for transit and/or on Mars) would be launched separately. The different spacecraft would rendezvous in earth orbit for crew transfer.
edit: Also, the SLS capsule (Orion) is actually bigger than the Apollo equivalent.
Really expensive rocket? Check.
Infrequent launch schedule? Check.
No clear mission outlined for it? Check.
So... just a REALLY expensive engineering test that will do no science, nor leave any Moon observers behind, nor improve our understanding of the Moon.
And 2 to 4 years later, they’ll do it again, with people!
And 2 to 4 years later, they’ll do it again, with people!
Or not. Hands up who actually thinks it'll ever fly crewed? Falcon Heavy by the end of this year (or maybe January), Falcon Crew next year, New Glenn is up. Then BFR (okay, that one's on "Elon Time"). The Senate Launch System is going to be obsolete before it ever lifts a human or production payload.
well, since _I_ happened to be alive in 1968, AND watched every launch and space-based broadcast I could, which means I have a pretty good understanding of what was going on at the time, you have to consider why Apollo 8 was launched before you say it will "do no science" etc.. There was also at least one unmanned Saturn V launch prior to that, one of which was filmed as part of a Star Trek episode (ca 1967).
There were several 'dry run' launches during the moon program. Apollo 7 (earth orbit only), Apollo 8 (moon orbit only), Apollo 9 (dress rehearsal with LEM in earth orbit), Apollo 10 (dress rehearsal with LEM in lunar orbit), and then Apollo 11 where they actually landed the thing. It was all about bringing the astronauts BACK, and not having a spectactular disaster followed by a funeral (like Apollo I) on the front page of the newspapers for a week.
What saddens ME is that *POLITICS* shifted the budget and national attention away from extraterrestrial exploration and *WASTED* MANY TIMES THE FUNDS that NASA was spending, on social programs and "entitlements" (to buy votes for politicians to increase and/or stay in power).
I'd much rather buy rockets for "dry run" launches. At least THAT way you get a rocket. Waste the same amount on "austerity" or "social programs" or "entitlements" and you get what you paid for. Nothing, and more empty palms stuck in your face, demanding MORE.
It looks pretty kerbal in design to me - in that it looks almost exactly like my go-to heavy lifter design.
- Orange tank (check)
- Quad nozzle base engine unit (white) (check)
- Big boosters on the side (check)
Art imitating life or life imitating art (I assume the former)
The gravity turn in the video looks kinda late compared to the visible atmosphere though. Is it?
I was hoping for a proper Orion Class spaceship and none of this messing about with chemical rockets...
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