It always surprises me that no one talks about using SLS to launch a replacement space station, perhaps in the late 2020s, made of about 3 pieces instead of 30. The current ISS is not going to last forever, and now would be a good time to have the debate about replacing it or not. It would be a shame to retreat from having a human presence in orbit after many years of continuous operations.
So who is going to propose and guide funding for a series of missions that use the SLS, and the Orion too?It's not apparent to me. Does anyone have any guesses who will?
If NASA is looking at maintaining a flight rate and it will already be paid for in the budget, then the SLS program can offer planetary sciences a "free lift" into space.
If a once a year cadence is needed, could we see EM-1 in 2018, ARRM 2019, EM-2 2020, Europa probe 2021?
if it's possible to have the Europa probe ready in 2020 and have EM-2 fly in 2021 that would give SLS 3 launches before carrying people. Maybe a more realistic plan (assuming funds go through for a Europa probe that is)?
A lunar lander is in the billions. Then you have all the ancilliary requirements for the mission. Then what?
Quote from: robertross on 08/21/2014 01:36 amA lunar lander is in the billions. Then you have all the ancilliary requirements for the mission. Then what?Why would a mission, and subsequent ones, be no different for Mars? I've never really understood that reasoning. We're supposedly building SLS for Mars right? That's the ultimate goal correct? Well we'll need landers, habitation modules, rovers, power generators, greenhouses, etc for Mars. So why not start on out the Moon?