Quote from: tea monster on 06/07/2017 06:58 amBack on topic: With this 'no second stage' SLS, would the first stage then arrive in a stable orbit?It wouldn't arrive in orbit at all. The RS-25's can't restart, so you can't do a circularisation burn. You'd need to add OMS engines to the core to perform the circularisation.
Back on topic: With this 'no second stage' SLS, would the first stage then arrive in a stable orbit?
Then there are core disposal issues then
Quote from: Jim on 06/07/2017 03:30 pmThen there are core disposal issues thenIf the payload is capable of doing a circularisation burn then just set it up so the core comes down in the Indian Ocean like the Shuttle ET used to.
Wouldn't that mean the "payload" is the second stage?