EGS synchronizing Artemis 1 Orion, SLS Booster preps with Core Stage schedule

[Chris Bergin]

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/03/egs-aligns-artemis-1-schedule/

A big two page feature from Philip Sloss!

https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1375835171144994818

[Avatar2Go]

Thanks Chris.  Great article as always by Philip.  Here is a listing of the 13 Cubesat secondary payloads for Artemis 1.  Many of them have deep space missions in orbits around the moon and sun.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_1#Secondary_payloads

[Khadgars]

Excellent article!  Great seeing all the integration activities going on at KSC!

[rakaydos]

With SLS and Orion becoming more actively entwined, do we really need separate subforums?

[Khadgars]

With SLS and Orion becoming more actively entwined, do we really need separate subforums?

One is a launch vehicle and the other is a space craft.  Very different systems.

[randomly]

They are really just different parts of the same system since it’s now very unlikely either will ever get used without the other.

[Khadgars]

They are really just different parts of the same system since it’s now very unlikely either will ever get used without the other.

I guess I see your point.  There should be a SLS/Orion subforum and then a Artemis Mission subforum to be in-line with the others.

[jadebenn]

They are really just different parts of the same system since it’s now very unlikely either will ever get used without the other.

I guess I see your point.  There should be a SLS/Orion subforum and then a Artemis Mission subforum to be in-line with the others.

I strongly disagree on the idea that "it's now very unlikely either will be used without the other." Besides, what's the issue with having two subforums?

[Khadgars]

They are really just different parts of the same system since it’s now very unlikely either will ever get used without the other.

I guess I see your point.  There should be a SLS/Orion subforum and then a Artemis Mission subforum to be in-line with the others.

I strongly disagree on the idea that "it's now very unlikely either will be used without the other." Besides, what's the issue with having two subforums?

I agree with you, but under SpaceX there isn't a Dragon subforum and a F9 subforum so to align with that you could do SLS/Orion and Artemis mission sections.  Doesn't matter to me either way 

[Khadgars]

Kind of a stupid question if anyone knows.  With the boosters already stacked on the mobile launcher, how is the core stage stacked in between them? 

Just curious what that process will look like.

[ncb1397]

Kind of a stupid question if anyone knows.  With the boosters already stacked on the mobile launcher, how is the core stage stacked in between them? 

Just curious what that process will look like.

Very carefully.

[Mark S]

Kind of a stupid question if anyone knows.  With the boosters already stacked on the mobile launcher, how is the core stage stacked in between them? 

Just curious what that process will look like.

Very carefully.

There's an SLS article here on NSF (which I can't seem to find) that shows the core test article being lifted in the VAB, in 2019 I think. The photos give you a good idea of what this process will look like, albeit all in gray.

Basically, the core is rolled in horizontally, lifted off the transport, then rotated vertical. Once vertical, it is lifted over several floors worth of VAB girders and such and carefully (as stated above!) positioned between the boosters that are already stacked on the mobile launcher. The core will then be lowered into place and secured to the boosters at the forward and aft attach points.

This is all accomplished with a tracked overhead crane that was recently upgraded as part of the SLS program.

It will be really cool to see some pics of this when it finally takes place sometime in the next couple of months. I'm sure we will have full coverage by Philip Sloss and the rest of the NSF team.

Cheers!

[Jim]

Kind of a stupid question if anyone knows.  With the boosters already stacked on the mobile launcher, how is the core stage stacked in between them? 

Just curious what that process will look like.

the same way the ET was for the Shuttle.  No difference.

[ncb1397]

Found some footage of ET stacking.

[Hog]

Upgraded 325 ton crane.