Author Topic: SLS Artemis II - Core Stage 2 Status (Read 34818 times)

Hog · « **Reply #20 on:** 05/10/2023 02:20 pm »

Quote from: Vahe231991 on 05/08/2023 03:44 am

The latest on the manufacture of the core stage of the SLS rocket slated to launch Artemis 2:
https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/nasa-connects-all-major-structures-of-artemis-ii-moon-rocket-core-stage.html

Dated March 20, 2023.

arthuroMo · « **Reply #21 on:** 05/10/2023 02:22 pm »

Next step should be mounting of the engines, and this should start in July according to the March 7th teleconference.

agusaf · « **Reply #22 on:** 05/10/2023 03:23 pm »

Why wait? SpaceX can build 3 full Starship rockets in that amount of time. I don’t understand why SLS production moves at a snail’s pace when compared to SpaceX.

eeergo · « **Reply #23 on:** 05/10/2023 03:36 pm »

No, SpaceX can't build 3 full Starship prototypes (let alone functional Starships) in that amount of time, or even close to that.

Also, SpaceX is supposed to be in a hardware-rich development program that is resulting in a large string of mission failures along the way, no matter how useful or successful you consider those tests to be. This includes significant risks, or even damages, to infrastructure. SLS and Orion are not on that path, and for better or worse you consider that strategy, they have flown in VHEO or DRHO in EFT-1 and EM-1 respectively, in spite of several strong changes of direction regarding mission objectives (driven by political rather than technical powers), with no major technical issues.

However, SLS is driven by constraints that aren't purely technical in nature, and have more to do with a limited-budget architecture where launches are only a means to a (lunar) exploratory aim that needs many more developments behind it.

arthuroMo · « **Reply #24 on:** 05/10/2023 04:29 pm »

SpaceX can built many starships that will explode in test flight sure.
NASA need SLS that can safely carry humans.

agusaf · « **Reply #25 on:** 05/10/2023 05:33 pm »

Installing four RS-25s on an SLS boat tail is a known procedure.

arthuroMo · « **Reply #26 on:** 05/10/2023 08:13 pm »

Yes it's been done once.

catdlr · « **Reply #27 on:** 05/10/2023 08:49 pm »

and flight engines (RS-25) that are dependable.

whitelancer64 · « **Reply #28 on:** 05/10/2023 09:01 pm »

Quote from: arthuroMo on 05/10/2023 08:13 pm

Yes it's been done once.

And the procedure for installation was modified extensively during that time, including changes that were rolled into the procedures for the next time, Artemis 2.

And the procedure is going to be different for Artemis 3, since engine installation will be done at KSC.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #29 on:** 06/07/2023 01:58 pm »

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1666444038860419072

Quote

NASA's Jim Free says at the AESB/SSB meeting this morning that the Artemis 2 SLS core stage will be shipped to KSC in October, later than planned because of an issue with a supplier. Some work on the stage slated to take place at KSC will be done at Michoud.

eeergo · « **Reply #30 on:** 06/07/2023 04:07 pm »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 06/07/2023 01:58 pm

Quote
NASA's Jim Free says at the AESB/SSB meeting this morning that the Artemis 2 SLS core stage will be shipped to KSC in October, later than planned because of an issue with a supplier. Some work on the stage slated to take place at KSC will be done at Michoud.

This is largely in line with the schedule reported in the main Updates thread, already back in February (NET 3Q23) and refined a month ago ("early Fall"), with at most 2-3 weeks' worth of delay (which could be mostly moot anyway since some of the work left for KSC can be done at MSFC while they wait, as mentioned by Foust, and CS-2 not being the long pole, it was supposed to dwell in the VAB for a few months once shipped).

Will be interesting to see if it holds though.

catdlr · « **Reply #31 on:** 03/23/2025 05:33 pm »

Phillip Sloss provides an update on the core stage processing and engine swap that is taking place.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=58223.msg2674075#msg2674075

Timestamp:
02:51 SLS Core Stage lift begins for stacking with Boosters
06:29 LVSA moved back where it was before
07:35 Core Stage engine 4, RS-25 engine 2063 will be replaced with engine 2061