The New SLS is Big and Makes Lots of Smoke
NASA has released a PR today with graphics to show the world (well, Congress) that NASA has been doing something lately.
From NASA-
NASA Announces Design for New Deep Space Exploration System
NASA is ready to move forward with the development of the Space Launch System — an advanced heavy-lift launch vehicle that will provide an entirely new national capability for human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. The Space Launch System will give the nation a safe, affordable and sustainable means of reaching beyond our current limits and opening up new discoveries from the unique vantage point of space. The Space Launch System, or SLS, will be designed to carry the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, as well as important cargo, equipment and science experiments to Earth’s orbit and destinations beyond. Additionally, the SLS will serve as a back up for commercial and international partner transportation services to the International Space Station.
“This launch system will create good-paying American jobs, ensure continued U.S. leadership in space, and inspire millions around the world,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. “President Obama challenged us to be bold and dream big, and that’s exactly what we are doing at NASA. While I was proud to fly on the space shuttle, kids today can now dream of one day walking on Mars…”
Here’s another official PR pic from today:
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NASA’s new one shot SLS ponzi scheme approved. George Bush would be proud.
If the 5-segment SRBs become part of the private commercial crew launch industry as proposed by ATK (the Liberty crew laundh vehicle) and the SRBs remain part of the SLS system, then the cost of the SLS is likely to fall.
If a private company decides to derive a crew launch vehicle without SRBs from the SLS core vehicle, as proposed by Boeing, for the commercial crew industry then this could also drive down SLS component cost.
And if the SLS is eventually used to launch the largest commercial space stations and the cheapest space fuel depots into orbit, and maybe even the largest space solar power plants to GEO, then the SLS could end up being a work horse for the private commercial space industry which should reduce its cost even more.
Marcel,
No matter how many entities private, commercial decide to use SRB’s they will still have to pay for two propulsion systems along with the drawbacks and the risks associated with them. That’s the crony capitalist end of it, LOL. Together it controls the fate and evolution of our national space program and of human space exploration, for that is what is being sacrificed.