ARM is a worthy scientific/engineering mission, however it doesn't "need" Orion/SLS and tell the "ugly giant bags of mostly water" to stay home...
of course, if ARM was coming out of the science budget it'd be funded much lower.
Quote from: QuantumG on 02/14/2016 08:00 pmof course, if ARM was coming out of the science budget it'd be funded much lower.ARM's being funded?
Quote from: Robotbeat on 02/14/2016 01:18 pmARM didn't start as just a way to find something to do with SLS. MAYBE that's why it got traction (unsure of that), but that has never been the actual justification for it.Oh, agreed. The Europa mission is very similar, but is finding a lot less resistance. (Whether JPL can pull it off in the next 6-ish years with no bent metal yet is the only major question.). In both cases, ARM and Europa, there are scientifically worthy goals, but I don't know that either (especially ARM with a billion-dollar-plus price tag, just for the robotic part, yes?) would have survived the selection process and gained funding without being pulled forward by SLS.
ARM didn't start as just a way to find something to do with SLS. MAYBE that's why it got traction (unsure of that), but that has never been the actual justification for it.
Does ARM actually require SLS? Is there something massive or heavy about it makes SLS the only viable launch vehicle? Why not Delta Heavy or Falcon Heavy?
Quote from: RocketGoBoom on 02/20/2016 09:31 pmDoes ARM actually require SLS? Is there something massive or heavy about it makes SLS the only viable launch vehicle? Why not Delta Heavy or Falcon Heavy? Are you asking about ARM or ARRM?
so everyone better start hoping Hilary favors Obama's space plans because Trump surely won't (he already declared he favors fixing potholes over helping NASA).