Modifications are being made inside the Multi-Payload Processing Facility (MPPF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. This is a close-up view of the service platform that will be used for offline processing and fueling of the Orion spacecraft and service module stack before launch. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program (GSDO) is overseeing the upgrades to the facility
Mr. Lightfoot mentions an ISS resupply mission as an option for one Orion mission. That would be a crazy use of SLS/Orion. Please no! That's just silly use of SLS and Orion.
Gerst dances around the question about how far Orion will travel on Mars missions (because Orion's unlikely to be able to go to Mars).
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 09/16/2015 05:47 pmMr. Lightfoot mentions an ISS resupply mission as an option for one Orion mission. That would be a crazy use of SLS/Orion. Please no! That's just silly use of SLS and Orion.The Orion's docking ability should be tested before it goes to deep space.
Launch a LEO mission with a new 30-40 ton spacestation. The astronauts can then commission the spacestation and test docking procedures.
The extra mass allows the spacestation to have its own station keeping module and say a set of arms turning it into a flying spaceship yard.
I don't get it...why not use a Dragon 2 or Boeing Starliner to drop the crew off to cis- Lunar Space ?...even if you have to modify Dragon or Starliner, it's got to be less expensive then building Orion ?