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Not too much mass gives a lot of structural strength. If a couple hundred kilos of mass potentially simplifies control it shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. A lot depends on control latency and adverse feedback loops between ships and the actual forces needed in the worst case.
Worst case for off axis settling thrust would be a near empty depot topping off a near full receiving ship. And whatever there is from slosh, which IIRC, is still an open question. Off axis guarantees slosh but it makes direction, if not magnitude, predictable. This is where a way to make lemonade might be handy.
Quote from: Marcia SmithAs an example, the Artemis IV mission would be “substantially delayed” if NASA was capped at FY2022.
Alternatively, if the agency was cut 22 percent, NASA would have to “restructure or terminate currently ongoing major development work for Artemis IV” including Gateway, SLS Block 1B, Mobile Launcher-2 and the second SpaceX Human Landing System contract, and prioritize continuation of Artemis II and Artemis III “with potential delays to those flights.”
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/nelson-details-devastating-impacts-if-nasa-funding-capped-at-fy2022-level-or-less/
Nelson assumes a 22% cut from FY23 which seems unlikely. In any event, here is the entire letter:
https://spacepolicyonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Nelson-to-DeLauro-FY24.pdf
I think it tried (several times) to ignite but it didn't look like there was anything that was stable.Didn't look like the 2nd stage engine started
It looked like it did to me.
Or at least, something ignited.
Looked like prestart into the start box and then near immediate engine abort command during startup checkout window.Didn't look like the 2nd stage engine started
It looked like it did to me.
Or at least, something ignited.
