Correct - two produced per year, with a 'surge' of three per year with funding ramped-up.
Quote from: MATTBLAK on 07/13/2017 01:07 amCorrect - two produced per year, with a 'surge' of three per year with funding ramped-up.I believe that the 3-per-year surge applies to the launch rate (ie, a 120-day turn-around time for LC-39B) rather than to the production rate.
Production can support 2 per year now, with some funding required to reach 3 per year. I think max launch rate is 3 per year from 39B.
Quote from: Khadgars on 07/13/2017 08:13 pmProduction can support 2 per year now, with some funding required to reach 3 per year. I think max launch rate is 3 per year from 39B.Source?
Quote from: Proponent on 07/13/2017 08:20 pmQuote from: Khadgars on 07/13/2017 08:13 pmProduction can support 2 per year now, with some funding required to reach 3 per year. I think max launch rate is 3 per year from 39B.Source?According to a former Boeing SLS Program Manager: "Boeing has Michoud set up to stamp out enough stages for one SLS a year — two at most with the factory’s current manufacturing capabilities, and then only if NASA pours more money and personnel into the facility."MAF SLS core production rates have been hashed out in this thread: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37060.0 (including the source for the above quote.)
Quote from: Khadgars on 07/13/2017 08:13 pmProduction can support 2 per year now, with some funding required to reach 3 per year. I think max launch rate is 3 per year from 39B.That is hilarious. They peaked with ~10 Shuttles per year off a single pad during the Shuttle program. But can only do 3 now?
Quote from: Lars-J on 07/13/2017 09:06 pmQuote from: Khadgars on 07/13/2017 08:13 pmProduction can support 2 per year now, with some funding required to reach 3 per year. I think max launch rate is 3 per year from 39B.That is hilarious. They peaked with ~10 Shuttles per year off a single pad during the Shuttle program. But can only do 3 now?They only have 1 MLP for SLS. To do more launches more often multiple (as many as 4 like Shuttle and Apollo had at one point). So with 1 MLP you can do up to 3 in 1 year. If you had 4 you could do up to 12!!!After launch the MLP must be refurbished. Then it moves back to the VAB where stacking starts. So with 1 MLP all tasks are serial and any delays from the previous launch delays all launches following. There is no scheduling padding capability or contingency capabilities if the MLP becomes severely damaged. It would take several years and $100sM to upgrade another MLP to be able to launch an SLS. So until the manufacturing side is upgraded the launch side only needs the 1 MLP.
Quote from: oldAtlas_Eguy on 07/13/2017 09:26 pmQuote from: Lars-J on 07/13/2017 09:06 pmQuote from: Khadgars on 07/13/2017 08:13 pmProduction can support 2 per year now, with some funding required to reach 3 per year. I think max launch rate is 3 per year from 39B.That is hilarious. They peaked with ~10 Shuttles per year off a single pad during the Shuttle program. But can only do 3 now?They only have 1 MLP for SLS. To do more launches more often multiple (as many as 4 like Shuttle and Apollo had at one point). So with 1 MLP you can do up to 3 in 1 year. If you had 4 you could do up to 12!!!After launch the MLP must be refurbished. Then it moves back to the VAB where stacking starts. So with 1 MLP all tasks are serial and any delays from the previous launch delays all launches following. There is no scheduling padding capability or contingency capabilities if the MLP becomes severely damaged. It would take several years and $100sM to upgrade another MLP to be able to launch an SLS. So until the manufacturing side is upgraded the launch side only needs the 1 MLP.Ok, thanks, that makes a certain amount of sense. But it also dooms the program to never get anything useful done, if launches have to be spaced 3-4 months. (The exception being missions that can done done in a single launch like Europa Clipper)
Quote from: Lars-J on 07/13/2017 09:06 pmQuote from: Khadgars on 07/13/2017 08:13 pmProduction can support 2 per year now, with some funding required to reach 3 per year. I think max launch rate is 3 per year from 39B.That is hilarious. They peaked with ~10 Shuttles per year off a single pad during the Shuttle program. But can only do 3 now?Three Block 1B SLS launches would be able to put 27 Space Shuttle mission's worth of payload into solar orbit. Hilarious, huh? - Ed Kyle
We have wandered away from the RS-25 issues. Specifically the new build. -Thanks for calling that out, Atlas. Though it shouldn't be necessary.In the latest CJS appropriation bill there is no reduction in spending for SLS but neither is their a significant increase to increase infrastructure to increse build rates. Most of the increses are to get EM-1 completed and to fund the new development work on the US.
Am I the only one getting very confused? Yikes!
The SLS program like many gov space programs is in the English saying "Penny wise but Pound foolish". Not spending enough now means you pay a lot more later.
The alternative is fewer $20mil 68's per launch and a production-ready J-2X stage based on core tooling.