In most of the available NASA promo material of the new SLS, they show both versions in a kind of Saturn-clad black blocks on white surface appearance. I presume it is just done to win the hearts of all those "I just wanna see them shuttles flying again" people but I think without the tons of black and white paint the payload capacities will increase dramatically. Realistically, will the SLS rockets be pristine white or brown bodied?
If new SSME's ( or expendable version ) are produced for SLS when will the production start?
Quote from: RocketmanUS on 01/24/2012 03:30 amIf new SSME's ( or expendable version ) are produced for SLS when will the production start?Well, if there are 15 SSME's left over from STS, and SLS uses 4 for the first flights, then that's 3 flights at least with the existing stock. First flight 2017, one flight every two years, so add six years = 2024. Maybe they'd want to mix one RS-25E in with the RS-25D's so you might need a flight rated one in 2024. Figure two years lead time, so 2022. That'd be my guess.Production of non-flight rated, sacrificial offerings to the turbopump and combustion chamber gods would have to occur sometime in this decade.
I think without the tons of black and white paint the payload capacities will increase dramatically.
So SSME production would not most likely start until we were within three years of the first SLS block 1A launch?So most likely there will be no more than three SLS block 1 launches?How many flight ready 5 segment SRB's will be made?How hard is it to make more 5 seg SRB's if needed after the first production run for the first few SLS block 1 flights?
A couple of days ago, my brother and I, both avid nerds and space obsessed, were debating on the Dual-Launch profile of an SLS Moon landing. Our question was, Wouldn't it be more economically sound to just have kept with the Ares 1 and V, possibly IV, for a dual launch, instead of launching two SLS Heavy Lifters...?
Hey, all! First post, so hopefully I'm doing this in the right place. NSF has so much content, so I'm not necessarily asking for a response, but perhaps a link to a thread or a nudge in the right area to search.1. Why is SLS so expensive, and is it too expensive for what it is, or is it exactly what we should expect for a system of its size and capability?
2. Is there a review or discussion about why we need it, here on NSF (even L2) or on the internet (the more recent the better)? I am a firm believer that SLS is the right way to go for NASA for BEO exploration, but I would like to have some more facts or the opinions of those more knowledgeable than me to back this up.