What’s Going on with the SLS?
Most of the news about the SLS has been about the budget and political fuss around the rocket that replaces the shuttle. Since late last year, MSFC has been busy doing what it can, considering the political roadblocks-which are significant.
The best update is at Nasaspaceflight.com, where there is a good article and a discussion thread about the dual-phase approach that is well underway.
The “Phase 1″ vehicle is no surprise actually. Phase 1 is about a “Block-0″ HLV which uses up shuttle SSMEs, a shuttle ET tank, two improved 4-segment SRBs, and no Upper Stage. This configuration was discussed on this site late last year, so it’s not really new. Note the comment here from Sep 3 of last year.
This gets an SLS flying (4 flights), spends a minimum on propulsion since it can use existing engines, and defers the costs of an Upper Stage. It makes sense from NASA’s view because budgets are fixed, and if you try and develop everything at once, you have to pay for everything at once too.
You may be asking, “What will they do with it?” According to NSF-
The four flights of the Phase I SLS would be classed as test flights, with missions yet to be determined, although Orion – or the MPCV (Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle – as NASA managers now insist on calling it) – will be flown, allowing for missions of crew and/or cargo to the ISS…
The decisions on Phase 2 come later.
Again, according to NSF-
The configuration of the Phase II SLS would placed on backburner until the 2013-2016 timeframe, when an “open competition” would be held between several configurations, such as a 130mt SD HLV from RAC-1, the RP-1 vehicle which has been leading the RAC-2 studies, or even a super-heavy EELV or SpaceX Super Heavy…
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This is a stupid stupid stupid idea.
It is unrealistic to keep the SSME, RD-180 (chump) or blow money on the RS-68A because a RP-1 inline heritage HLV could easily provide 140t/ LEO and solve the crew dilemma as well.
Similar article:
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2011/03/28/crime-fight-space-boondoggling/
Its obviously stupid to develop a shuttle derived HLV and then eventually abandoned the entire concept so that Elon Musk (Obama’s buddy) can finally provide NASA with his own hydrocarbon heavy lift rocket. This administration appears to be determined to undermine the government manned space program that is making it possible for private companies to have their own space programs. Trying to kill the goose that’s laying the golden eggs would be a huge mistake! And that’s why most in Congress is against that idea. There wouldn’t even be the possibility of a Space X or a ULA or a Bigelow Aerospace if it weren’t for the hundreds of billions of dollars of tax payer money invested in our government space program over the last 50 years!
Its pretty easy to derive a crew launch vehicle without the SRBs for a shuttle derived launch vehicle plus an unmanned heavy lift vehicle by adding two to four 4-segment SRBs and eventually an upper stage and maybe two to four 5-segment SRBs. NASA needs to keep this as simple as possible and finally focus on realistic manned journeys within cis-lunar space– and not silly multi-month interplanetary fantasies to asteroids and Mars without developing the proper mass shielding needed to protect the human brain from significant brain damage !
Don`t worry…there will be a shuttle derived system…because the big aerospace industry will not share a piece of the fat cake. So a lot of things will remain the same…I hope this doesn`t include LEO.
Don’t worry. Obama and Congress have provided the emerging private spaceflight companies with an hugely expensive LEO on steroids program (the ISS) at a robust $3 billion a year in tax payer funding, which he hopes to extend forever!
The US government could probably pay for ten private commercial manned flights per year (probably enough to support two or three private space launch companies) to carry average American Joes and Janes to a private Bigelow LEO space station for about a billion dollars annually without having to continue to support the enormously expensive ISS boondoggle.
…which wouldn`t be so bad. A new approach to LEO with more than one provider (NASA), which will certainly stimulate industry…and the BEO business for NASA. That actually would mean more competition for LEO than ever before..which is a good thing. The question remains: Is there actually a market after ISS, a market not only relying on NASA (and therefore the government)…if not, they would always depend on NASA, and that`s fragile…Which leads me to another question: Who`s gonna finance the Falcon 9 heavy rocket? Are they trying to enter the competition for A HLV for NASA? Or do they build it anyway? And then, what for? (Market?).
…good question on who is going to foot the bill for all these wonderful competitive ventures to the stars. Its funny when you hear all the complaints of those poor defenseless commercial companies that never got a break or opportunity to express themselves. I remember the downfall of Jesus Saves Aerospace who unknowingly hired a gay guy for their marketing department. Your always faced with the unknown and you have to created a decent business plan and offering, no pun intended.
Space tourism to private space stations and eventually to private hotels on the Moon are going to be the cash cows for private commercial launch companies, IMO.
But it would be ironic if the large and spacious 100 tonne Bigelow space stations turn out to be the most popular private space station destinations for tourist since they could only be launched into orbit by the NASA developed SLS. It would also be ironic if the cheapest space depot fuel used to transport private tourist to the Moon turn out to be from huge space depots launched into LEO and L1 via the SLS.
All out prayers go out to those who lost their lives and homes to those terrible storms. May they be at peace.
John-
Well said.
Huntsville and the surrounding area still have a struggle ahead. The immediate crisis is the long delay on getting power restored, and gas shortage.
I haven’t seen the latest estimates, but last night TVA was saying prepare for 4-5 days without power, and this morning people were talking maybe twice that.
Gas became nearly impossible to get by this morning, and so was accurate news. About mid day, the closest gas to the south was on the far side of Birmingham.
People who didn’t have gas to get that far, assuming they had a place to go and could leave for the duration, can’t leave anyway.
I don’t know what the timeline will be, but even 4-5 days with no power can be a challenge. There were still people reporting to work in jobs that required them there, hotels, security, stores that are trying to stay open, and of course law enforcement is out in full force.
The gas situation is just going to get worse. People trying to keep stores open may not be able to if they can’t get to work.
Another thing is cel phone service is spotty, and people’s phone batteries probably are done by now. If you can’t find your car charger, oops.
MSFC is closed and so are schools. It’s hard to say when things will reopen because it depends on power. Huntsville is pretty much shut down and a lot of people are struggling, stuck in place, communication is weak, and no way to know for how long.
The news was asking people to stay home and take care of each other, don’t go sightseeing.
Best wishes to everyone.
Hello Space,
I have heard news that Restone Arsenal will most likely be open on Monday morning. They have power to half of the buildings on the Arsenal. My heart goes out to the Madison area community. While helping volunteer today, I could not believe how extensive the devastation was – especially in the Harvest, Tony area. I hope that we can contribute to the Space Agency as we once did and uplift this community once again.
If you hear of the status of MSFC for Monday please do let us know. Hope everyone in this post and their families are well – we are survivors!
MM_NASA
MM;
Thats cool that you were volunteering. Did you have trouble finding fuel?
I heard that power may be back Monday too. I think it’s too early to tell.
The fastest source for MSFC updates is the MSFC Facebook page. When they have weather closings, the Facebook page is the first place to look!
I just saw this update on power in Huntsville:
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2011/04/huntsville_utilities_says_powe.html
It doesn’t look like much power will be switched on by Monday, estimate changed a bit.
Just FYI, dual phase is a no-no per Appropriations language (p. 214, Section 1333). SLS will be a single phase program that delivers one rocket with a 130 U.S. ton payload capability. Spending money on anything else without prior approval of the 4 Cardinals of Appropriations will get someone some quality time with their criminal defense attorney.