6 thoughts on “SLS Update”

  1. It was always a given that EM2 wouldn’t be manned, due to the issue with the upper stage never having flown before. Like so much of the SLS program, they ignored this fact and pretended it wasn’t an issue.

    My guess; this issue will be “resolved” by delaying EM-1 to about 2024 (actual launch, not targeted launch date), so it can fly with the new upper stage. That way, slips in the program (such as the unrealistic launch date of 2019 for EM-1) can be explained away as “strategy” and “cost savings”. As for EM-2 (which could be manned under this scenario), my guess is around 2027 at the earliest.

    Pushing the launch date into the future makes sense from their POV; it allows the SLS to perform its real mission (pork) without having to deal with the complications of actually launching the thing or coming up with missions for it.

  2. With the ARM spacecraft delayed a year (possibly en route to being cancelled) there’s no need to fly people on EM-2. The only question then is, will there ever be an EM-3? IIRC, there will be four sets of SRBs and RS-25s available for SLS under the initial contracts (with some spares on the -25s now under contract). One SLS for EM-1 with the semi-boilerplate Orion (I believe not all the ELCS will be ready at EM-1), one for EM-2 with an all-up Orion and the new upper stage, one now mandated by Congress for a Europa probe, and one for….uh…. the rocket garden at KSC?

  3. Hardly surprising. At least this probe mission seems to make more sense than other proposals I have seen before for the SLS. Not that it makes a whole lot of sense. I mean they never even did a test of the first stage and the idea of reusing the shuttle rocket engines is kinda ludicrous. I think they belong in a museum.

    1. I believe the plan is to hotfire the first stage on a test stand before it goes to Florida. Not sure what refurb may be needed on the engines, though, after that and before launch. And I do hope that there are a couple of complete RS-25s in museums, because every now and then, those exhibits turn out to be very useful. IIRC, the Orion folks opened up the SM/CM umbilical on the CSM at the NASM, to see how it was put together and how the disconnect mechanism (a guillotine?) worked.

      1. Yeah. Regardless of how old the RS-25 is, this is still a leading edge staged combustion LOX/LH2 design even today. Not having copies of those around would be kind of like not having a copy of the SR-71 engines stored someplace. A terrible loss of technical knowledge.

        It’s good to keep more than one too. Accidents in museums have happened.

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