More Flights of SLS Block 1
NASA is apparently having problem with their new upper stage and is
now planning on flying at least the next three missions on the
original SLS Block 1 hardware. Current estimates say the new upper
stage won't be ready until at least the mid-2020's.
This means a couple of things.
1) NASA is talking about flying three missions and using 12 of their
small stock of Shuttle engines on missions that don't really further
their plans. Block 1 hardware with Ares on it is about 9 tonnes short
in payload, which means none of the Lunar Gateway deployment can
happen.
2) They could just as easily fly those missions on something like
Falcon Heavy and save a lot of money (and those engines).
By the time they get the new upper stage ready, they'll need funding
for a new contract to produce more engines so that Block 1B can fly.
--
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable
man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore,
all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
--George Bernard Shaw
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