NASA announces new space launch system

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

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.


This is good news
Manned space missions beyond Earth

The first developmental flight, or mission, is targeted for the end of 2017.

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/sls1.html

[Clarke]

(Where's my space elevator? )

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

It is very cool this new program, then humans can travel to asteroids and look on them and maybe even Mars too

I am looking forward to this

[Human No More]

More old news?...

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

More old news?...

this is not old news, you dumbass!!

[Neyn'ite Te Tsahìk Txeptsyìp'ite]

ma Tsanten, ftang! I will report you if you continue to act this way. you and HNM steer clear of each other if you cannot control yourself. we are brothers and sisters among this forum; that is not action toward that being true. you are not behaving the way our people do. do not force me to report your rude actions.

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

ma Tsanten, ftang! I will report you if you continue to act this way. you and HNM steer clear of each other if you cannot control yourself. we are brothers and sisters among this forum; that is not action toward that being true. you are not behaving the way our people do. do not force me to report your rude actions.

okay, I listen, but If he stop, I stop

[Neyn'ite Te Tsahìk Txeptsyìp'ite]

ma tsmukan, it is not a matter of 'I'll stop if he does'; it is a matter of who will be the better person and stop first- who will ignore whatever the other person says and just take it to a moderator. you don't win if you allow someone to get to you and then retaliate toward them. so let it go, and if you have any more problems, say nothing- ignore- and then alert a mod or admin. best thing you can do.

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

ma tsmukan, it is not a matter of 'I'll stop if he does'; it is a matter of who will be the better person and stop first- who will ignore whatever the other person says and just take it to a moderator. you don't win if you allow someone to get to you and then retaliate toward them. so let it go, and if you have any more problems, say nothing- ignore- and then alert a mod or admin. best thing you can do.

ok, maybe you're right, I should ignore it

[Tsanten Eywa 'eveng]

Missions:

SLS 1: December 2017: Send Orion/MPCV on unmanned trip around the Moon.
SLS 2: August 2019: Send Orion/MPCV on a manned trip around the Moon.
SLS 3: August 2022: ?
SLS 4: August 2023: ?
SLS 5: August 2024: First launch of SLS Cargo configuration
SLS 6: August 2025: Manned "Exploration" Mission
SLS 7: August 2026: Cargo Launch
SLS 8: August 2027: Manned Launch
SLS 9: August 2028: Cargo Launch
SLS 10: August 2029: Manned Launch
SLS 11: August 2030: New configuration, Cargo launch
SLS 12: August 2031: Manned Mission (mostly mission to Mars)
SLS 13: August 2032: New configuration, Cargo launch






Space Launch System:


The Space Launch System, or SLS, is a Space Shuttle-derived heavy launch vehicle being designed by NASA, following the cancellation of the Constellation Program, to replace the retired Space Shuttle. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010 envisions the transformation of the Ares I and Ares V vehicle designs into a single launch vehicle usable for both crew and cargo. It is to be upgraded over time with more powerful versions.

The Space Launch System is to be a Shuttle-Derived heavy launch vehicle. The initial capability of the core elements, without an upper stage, should be for between 70 tons (for the 3-engine, partially fuelled core) and 100 tons (for the preferred 4-engine, fully fuelled core) into low-Earth orbit (LEO) in preparation for transit for missions beyond low-Earth orbit. With the addition of integrated upper Earth Departure Stage and 5th SSME derived core engine, the total lift capability of the Space Launch System should be 130 tons or more.

Preliminary designs indicate that the current Space Shuttle Main Engines (RS-25) and Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters would be utilized, and much of the External Tank design would remain the same. This design would require dramatically less development time than the Ares V heavy lift launch vehicle. On May 24, 2011, NASA announced that development of the Orion from the Constellation program will continue under the name Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV).

On June 17, 2011, Aerojet announced a strategic partnership with Teledyne Brown to develop and produce a domestic version of the NK-33 engine, with its thrust increased to 500,000 pounds-force (2.2 MN) at sea level. This booster is to compete against Shuttle-derived solid rocket boosters for the SLS launch vehicle.

On September 14, 2011, NASA announced that it had selected the design of the new Space Launch System. NASA declared that it would take the agency's astronauts farther into space than ever before and provide the cornerstone for future human space exploration efforts by the U.S. For early flights SLS has an 8.4-meter diameter core with three RS-25D/E engines, 8.4-meter upper stage with a J-2X engine, and two 5-segment solid rocket boosters. Later versions will use five RS-25D/E engines and the boosters will be upgraded as well. Selection of the upgraded boosters will be by competitive bid. The proposed SLS is visually similar to the legacy Saturn V booster and in particular the proposed, two-stage, Saturn INT-20. The initial two stage variant will have a similar lift capability to the Saturn INT-20's 60,000 kg. The proposed final variant will have similar lift capacity and height compared to the original Saturn V.

As of November 2011 NASA has selected five rocket configurations for wind tunnel testing. Said configurations are described in three Low Earth Orbit classes; 70 mt, 95 mt, and 140 mt.


During the joint Senate-NASA presentation in September 2011, it was stated that the SLS program has a projected development cost of $18 billion through 2017, with $10B for the SLS rocket, $6B for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and $2B for upgrades to the launch pad and other facilities at Kennedy Space Center. An unofficial NASA document estimates the cost of the program through 2025 will total at least $41B for four 70 metric ton launches (1 unmanned in 2017, 3 manned starting in 2021). The 130 metric ton version should not be ready earlier than 2030.  Another NASA unofficial study shows that a propellant depot architecture is cheaper and more flexible than a heavy lift.