We have demonstrated Orion can launch on a Delta IV. If SLS is cancelled, then Orion could be put on the Delta ...
We have demonstrated Orion can launch on a Delta IV. If SLS is cancelled, then Orion could be put on the Delta, ULA (located in Alabama) would still bring space bucks (and maybe an increased production flow for Delta) in, so the Alabama delegation would be happy, while MS would be upset at losing SLS manufacture, marshal continues to manage Orion.Orion could then fly to the Space Station, this would potentially upset SpaceX and Boeing. But maybe all three could fly there or not.Without ISS or a BEO destination, though, what would be the point for US Government manned space?
What would be the point of Orion if SLS were canceled?SLS exists to launch Orion.Orion exists to use SLS.
Greg Autry, who is on the Trump NASA Transition Team, had this to say about NASA on 15 October.http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregautry/2016/10/15/space-policy-101-for-clinton-and-trump/#55a319962853
Quote from: mike robel on 12/21/2016 05:50 pmWe have demonstrated Orion can launch on a Delta IV. If SLS is cancelled, then Orion could be put on the Delta ... 1. Delta-IV is not human rated. No crew can fly on it.2. Delta-IV is being retired. No more Delta's will fly.
Quote from: clongton on 12/21/2016 06:10 pmQuote from: mike robel on 12/21/2016 05:50 pmWe have demonstrated Orion can launch on a Delta IV. If SLS is cancelled, then Orion could be put on the Delta ... 1. Delta-IV is not human rated. No crew can fly on it.2. Delta-IV is being retired. No more Delta's will fly.Speaking Hypothetically, Delta IV could be both human rated and maintained if someone wants to Pay for it. Delta IVH is being retained for a time. Atlas was not Human Rated at first, but will be so CST and Dreamchaser can fly off it.For that matter, Orion should also be able to be adapted to Vulcan or FH..
I can't find it now, but as I recall that back in 2011 or so ULA was saying it would cost ~1.2B to human-rate Delta IV Heavy.
Quote from: Coastal Ron on 12/21/2016 08:29 pmI can't find it now, but as I recall that back in 2011 or so ULA was saying it would cost ~1.2B to human-rate Delta IV Heavy.It's somewhere in one of the DIRECT threads where we discussed this at length.
That is a huge expense for sure, but the big stopper was that the RS-68 is an Air Force engine and they absolutely did not want to change it to be human rated. Our team received a direct communication from them asking us to stop promoting a human-rated RS-68 because it was not going to be allowed.
The transition office added Charles Miller to the NASA “landing team” on Dec. 20, according to an update of the rosters of the landing teams assigned to various federal agencies on the transition website.
Quote from: Rocket Science on 12/29/2016 01:20 pmPresidential historian Douglas Brinkley on CNN about the PE making some noise about a Moon Shot for NASA for the upcoming 50th anniversay. When pressed for more he wasn't sure what he meant by it. I guess I'm not the only one who doesn't understand "Trumpian"... Having looked at several of these reports, it looks like Trump told the historian that he (Trump) wants a presidential address with big themes, and he referenced Reagan and JFK. And he asked, or was told, about JFK announcing the lunar goal. So I think that the discussion was in terms of what a past president did, not an indication that the future president is interested in the Moon.
Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley on CNN about the PE making some noise about a Moon Shot for NASA for the upcoming 50th anniversay. When pressed for more he wasn't sure what he meant by it. I guess I'm not the only one who doesn't understand "Trumpian"...
Quote from: Blackstar on 12/29/2016 03:16 pmQuote from: Rocket Science on 12/29/2016 01:20 pmPresidential historian Douglas Brinkley on CNN about the PE making some noise about a Moon Shot for NASA for the upcoming 50th anniversay. When pressed for more he wasn't sure what he meant by it. I guess I'm not the only one who doesn't understand "Trumpian"... Having looked at several of these reports, it looks like Trump told the historian that he (Trump) wants a presidential address with big themes, and he referenced Reagan and JFK. And he asked, or was told, about JFK announcing the lunar goal. So I think that the discussion was in terms of what a past president did, not an indication that the future president is interested in the Moon.The PE said it had to specifically to do with NASA...motivating the nation...for the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing... FWIW....
“He went on and on about Reagan and how much he admires him. But it wasn’t all about Reagan. He spoke about Kennedy and how he was able to get the country motivated, to go to the moon. He’s thinking about both men as he starts to write the speech, which is something he’s now taking the lead on,” the person said.
Could fly around the Moon, if you used the iCPS again and sped up Orion's systems.