As long as Congress budgets the money to build new engines soon enough and the RS-68 tooling and skills are still around, I don't see why not. Then again, Congress is not exactly known for optimal, timely, decision making skills.
Quote from: yokem55 on 01/05/2015 01:56 amAs long as Congress budgets the money to build new engines soon enough and the RS-68 tooling and skills are still around, I don't see why not. Then again, Congress is not exactly known for optimal, timely, decision making skills.IIRC, the RS-68 engine has a two year procurement lead time. Since the RS-25 produces less thrust than the RS-68 I would expect the lead time to be about the same for the new version of this engine. I'm not sure what the qualification schedule would be for the new RS-25 version, so that would need to be taken into account too, so authorization for the new disposable RS-25 engines would need to be happen by 2018 or so.
Quote from: RonM on 01/04/2015 12:21 am{snip}Of course, after the first four flights SLS will need new engines.So the new engines would be needed in about 8 years time. 2015 + 8 = 2023Any chance of the new RS-25 engines being in production by 2023?
{snip}Of course, after the first four flights SLS will need new engines.
RS-25 as staged combustion, and with that complex regen nozzle, is much more of a thoroughbred compared to RS-68 as a workhorse. While I'm not saying you're wrong on the lead time, I don't think that's a very persuasive argument one way or the other.
And have they figured out which version of the modern RS-25 they will go with yet?
Quote from: Coastal Ron on 01/05/2015 09:48 pm And have they figured out which version of the modern RS-25 they will go with yet?And that is the burning question I am also curious about.
It now looks like there is no money to complete development of RS-25E / Block IIIFrom what I've heard production will be re-started for stock RS-25D's. (Like that isn't expensive.. but hey... I'm not the one running the SLS show).
It's a bit annoying as I had a bunch of really interesting quotes from Aerojet, after being told to hold due to procurement rules, about the plan for new RS-25s. As I was holding, waiting for the go, Antares failed and Aerojet didn't want to be in the news, so told me to keep holding. Have to respect that, but I REALLY want to run these quotes!
Regarding the RS-25 tests: will these be broadcast live on NASA TV? And how many tests will be needed before the engines are considered ready for SLS? (Is it the 500 seconds/2 firings mentioned in the article or are added tests required?)
SLS RS-25 Testing Heats Up Published on Jan 9, 2015The RS-25 engine that will drive NASA's new rocket, the Space Launch System, to deep space blazed through its first successful test Jan. 9 at the agency's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The RS-25 fired up for 500 seconds on the A-1 test stand, providing NASA engineers with critical data on the engine controller unit and inlet pressure conditions.