I know they think two more tests before EM-2 sounds impressive. But EM-2 is currently scheduled for 2023, right? So two tests in 6 years? Seems like a pretty hectic testing pace.
To keep the money flowing NASA needs to show Congress and the general public that it is producing results. Publicly test firing the LAS is a very spectacular way of demonstrating progress.
Quote from: Lars-J on 06/20/2017 03:46 amI know they think two more tests before EM-2 sounds impressive. But EM-2 is currently scheduled for 2023, right? So two tests in 6 years? Seems like a pretty hectic testing pace. Quite.Boeing and SpaceX have tested their life savers LAS engines numeroes times without all this public hubbub. For some reason either NASA or it's contractors (or both) find it necessary to turn SLS-related tests into major public events.
Quote from: woods170 on 06/20/2017 06:08 amQuote from: Lars-J on 06/20/2017 03:46 amI know they think two more tests before EM-2 sounds impressive. But EM-2 is currently scheduled for 2023, right? So two tests in 6 years? Seems like a pretty hectic testing pace. Quite.Boeing and SpaceX have tested their life savers LAS engines numeroes times without all this public hubbub. For some reason either NASA or it's contractors (or both) find it necessary to turn SLS-related tests into major public events.Yep. Two possibilities for these tests:A) Pure PR events (but really, two-three tests are sufficient??)B) These tests are so expensive they can only afford to run them once every few years (and if your tests are that expensive, that might be a clue that your system is going to be too expensive)But hey, we get to see Apollo redux!
Dear lord, I thought we were mad at NASA for not doing enough PR events! No right way to do them I suppose.
Quote from: A_M_Swallow on 06/20/2017 07:56 amTo keep the money flowing NASA needs to show Congress and the general public that it is producing results. Publicly test firing the LAS is a very spectacular way of demonstrating progress.That is a poor argument IMO. SLS/Orion has many of these public events. CCP has few of these public events. But both need (and in fact receive) a continuing stream of funding from US Congress.