Nice to keep track about the progress. Great article.What happens in the pot room?
A bit more on core stage musical chairs:http://nasawatch.com/archives/2017/06/msfc-decides-to.html
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 06/08/2017 02:40 pmA bit more on core stage musical chairs:http://nasawatch.com/archives/2017/06/msfc-decides-to.htmlThe article does not make much sense. President Trump's first term ends on Jan 2021. EM-1 is scheduled somewhere inside 2019.
Quote from: Dante80 on 06/09/2017 12:20 amQuote from: Chris Bergin on 06/08/2017 02:40 pmA bit more on core stage musical chairs:http://nasawatch.com/archives/2017/06/msfc-decides-to.htmlThe article does not make much sense. President Trump's first term ends on Jan 2021. EM-1 is scheduled somewhere inside 2019.I guess internally they might be unsure of 2019. I certainly wouldn't be shocked if EM-1 could slip past Jan 2021.
...accelerating hardware originally intended for EM-2 such that it could be used on EM-1 would not be ready in time.
Update from NASA with pictures, touching on some of the things covered here: the flight intertank has completed structural assembly and is headed towards Cell G, one of the LH2 tanks is pathfinding in Cell E, and VAC welding is finally resuming after the LOX aft dome mishap. (Turns out the dome is still usable.)https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/core-stage-production-continues-for-rockets-first-flight(Also notes that flight engine section has completed structural assembly, but my reading of the long image of the floor is that it appears to still be the structural assembly jig.)
While the mishap investigation is still wrapping up, NASA and Boeing fully inspected the impacted dome and found while the hardware sustained minor damage, it is usable for its original purpose as part of a structural test article. The infeeder tool did sustain some damage during the incident and repairs to the tool are complete. Welding is resuming to finish construction of the liquid oxygen test article by adding the aft, or bottom, dome.
When do we expect to see SLS tested at Test Stand 4693 & 4697?
Quote from: Khadgars on 07/02/2017 11:54 pmWhen do we expect to see SLS tested at Test Stand 4693 & 4697?Probably still 'to-be-determined.' They have to ship up to Marshall first and there are some significant production milestones to reach at Michoud before the first prop tank STA (LH2) is ready to do that.
Quote from: psloss on 07/03/2017 12:23 amQuote from: Khadgars on 07/02/2017 11:54 pmWhen do we expect to see SLS tested at Test Stand 4693 & 4697?Probably still 'to-be-determined.' They have to ship up to Marshall first and there are some significant production milestones to reach at Michoud before the first prop tank STA (LH2) is ready to do that.Ah ok, Understood. I thought the LH2 STA that used the "bad" welds was completed and going to be used anyway since it won't be fully pressurized. Or is it that tank is still in production?
Quote from: Khadgars on 07/03/2017 12:54 amQuote from: psloss on 07/03/2017 12:23 amQuote from: Khadgars on 07/02/2017 11:54 pmWhen do we expect to see SLS tested at Test Stand 4693 & 4697?Probably still 'to-be-determined.' They have to ship up to Marshall first and there are some significant production milestones to reach at Michoud before the first prop tank STA (LH2) is ready to do that.Ah ok, Understood. I thought the LH2 STA that used the "bad" welds was completed and going to be used anyway since it won't be fully pressurized. Or is it that tank is still in production?Yes, it's incomplete -- it's still bare metal. It needs a primer coat, then the foam TPS applications -- both of those will be done for the very first time on a hydrogen tank with this article, so it should take a while.