Proposed crewed flight to EM-1... I think it would be pretty funny if Elon would do it first...Just sayin'
The secret is out:https://twitter.com/clownShowPony/status/831879711580160000holy shit robert lightfoot just said we're going to investigate putting a crew on EM-1--Was a 9am memo to the NASA workforce. Will write it up when someone stops laughing and sends me it.
Scrap ICPS and go straight to Block IB.
Launch EM-1 as planned and scheduled. Increase funding for EUS, Orion, and necessary changes to GSE for Block IB to close the gap between EM-1 and EM-2.Scrap ICPS and go straight to Block IB. This will result in delays as well but conceivably given enough funding EM-2 could launch around the same time as this proposed version of EM-1 but with the benefit of having all the GSE changes done so there won't be a large gap in between the first flight and subsequent missions.Both of these options would give a crewed mission around the moon within the horizon of the current Presidency and would bolster the programs stability and effectiveness going forward.
Quote from: Rocket Science on 02/15/2017 04:14 pmProposed crewed flight to EM-1... I think it would be pretty funny if Elon would do it first...Just sayin' SpaceX has never claimed that a Dragon2 would be suitable for an extended manned flight. There is no equivalent of a service module. Elon has said he has no real interest in lunar missions.
Quote from: Rocket Science on 02/15/2017 04:14 pmProposed crewed flight to EM-1... I think it would be pretty funny if Elon would do it first...Just sayin' This is about making SLS Exploration Mission 1 a crewed flight, not an unmanned lunar flyby.Are you thinking of a mission to visit the Lagrange point EML-1? Otherwise, I'm not sure what SpaceX has to do with it.
I still think there's an issue with these plans--the "then what?" problem.
There is the equivalent of a service module. It is integrated in Dragon unlike other vehicles where it is separate.
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 02/15/2017 02:13 pmThe secret is out:https://twitter.com/clownShowPony/status/831879711580160000holy shit robert lightfoot just said we're going to investigate putting a crew on EM-1--Was a 9am memo to the NASA workforce. Will write it up when someone stops laughing and sends me it.Well. Investigate equals study. Prediction time: When the study is done the conclusion will be that it cannot be done for a whole lotta reasons. And that will be the end of it. After which everyone returns to their regular (jobs) program.
I agree that SLS/Orion need defined missions and goals but there are plenty of ideas on how to use them effectively in the near future. NASA needs to convince the President and Congress to just go with one and fund it effectively. Personally I like the idea of using SLS/Orion to build and crew a cis-lunar outpost with a reusable lunar lander. From what I understand it has a lot of support within NASA and ESA.
Quote from: Endeavour_01 on 02/15/2017 07:13 pmScrap ICPS and go straight to Block IB.Not likely to happen, but your sentiment is on point. ICPS, intended as a time-saver to appease congress, has morphed into an expensive liability.