NASA's SLS rocket. Questions about it

The SLS is the next giant rocket that will be used for long range manned spaceflight, or the moon as a target. But it's way over budget (how much is really left for it after the ISS sucks up so much?). Some of the technology being used to built it is different. Like friction welding to put the tanks (outboard, like the Shuttle) together in sections.

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

On Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 10:20:03 PM UTC-8, RichA wrote:
The SLS is the next giant rocket that will be used for long range manned spaceflight, or the moon as a target. But it's way over budget (how much is really left for it after the ISS sucks up so much?). Some of the technology being used to built it is different. Like friction welding to put the tanks (outboard, like the Shuttle) together in sections.

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

Looks like the French Ariane rockets from the 90's /w solid boosters on the side!
http://www.normandale.edu/Images/wor...ane_france.jpg

On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 6:08:45 AM UTC-5, StarDust wrote:
On Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 10:20:03 PM UTC-8, RichA wrote:
The SLS is the next giant rocket that will be used for long range manned spaceflight, or the moon as a target. But it's way over budget (how much is really left for it after the ISS sucks up so much?). Some of the technology being used to built it is different. Like friction welding to put the tanks (outboard, like the Shuttle) together in sections.

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

Looks like the French Ariane rockets from the 90's /w solid boosters on the side!
http://www.normandale.edu/Images/wor...ane_france.jpg

After a while, all of these spacecraft start to look alike.

On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 3:13:03 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 6:08:45 AM UTC-5, StarDust wrote:
On Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 10:20:03 PM UTC-8, RichA wrote:
The SLS is the next giant rocket that will be used for long range manned spaceflight, or the moon as a target. But it's way over budget (how much is really left for it after the ISS sucks up so much?). Some of the technology being used to built it is different. Like friction welding to put the tanks (outboard, like the Shuttle) together in sections.

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

Looks like the French Ariane rockets from the 90's /w solid boosters on the side!
http://www.normandale.edu/Images/wor...ane_france.jpg

After a while, all of these spacecraft start to look alike.

Specially the Chines and Russian ones!

On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 6:20:23 AM UTC-5, StarDust wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 3:13:03 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 6:08:45 AM UTC-5, StarDust wrote:
On Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 10:20:03 PM UTC-8, RichA wrote:
The SLS is the next giant rocket that will be used for long range manned spaceflight, or the moon as a target. But it's way over budget (how much is really left for it after the ISS sucks up so much?). Some of the technology being used to built it is different. Like friction welding to put the tanks (outboard, like the Shuttle) together in sections.

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

Looks like the French Ariane rockets from the 90's /w solid boosters on the side!
http://www.normandale.edu/Images/wor...ane_france.jpg

After a while, all of these spacecraft start to look alike.

Specially the Chines and Russian ones!

The Soviets copied the Shuttle and the Chinese copied the Soyuz.

The Soyuz design plan has been in use for 52 years. The Shuttle should have been replaced by 1990.

On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 5:29:50 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 6:20:23 AM UTC-5, StarDust wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 3:13:03 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 6:08:45 AM UTC-5, StarDust wrote:
On Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 10:20:03 PM UTC-8, RichA wrote:
The SLS is the next giant rocket that will be used for long range manned spaceflight, or the moon as a target. But it's way over budget (how much is really left for it after the ISS sucks up so much?). Some of the technology being used to built it is different. Like friction welding to put the tanks (outboard, like the Shuttle) together in sections.

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

Looks like the French Ariane rockets from the 90's /w solid boosters on the side!
http://www.normandale.edu/Images/wor...ane_france.jpg

After a while, all of these spacecraft start to look alike.

Specially the Chines and Russian ones!

The Soviets copied the Shuttle and the Chinese copied the Soyuz.

The Soyuz design plan has been in use for 52 years. The Shuttle should have been replaced by 1990.

Why develop? $$$$$$$
When copying cheaper?
You crazy?

On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 1:20:03 AM UTC-5, RichA wrote:
The SLS is the next giant rocket that will be used for long range manned spaceflight, or the moon as a target. But it's way over budget (how much is really left for it after the ISS sucks up so much?). Some of the technology being used to built it is different. Like friction welding to put the tanks (outboard, like the Shuttle) together in sections.

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

So what were the questions?

On Friday, 15 February 2019 06:13:39 UTC-5, wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 1:20:03 AM UTC-5, RichA wrote:
The SLS is the next giant rocket that will be used for long range manned spaceflight, or the moon as a target. But it's way over budget (how much is really left for it after the ISS sucks up so much?). Some of the technology being used to built it is different. Like friction welding to put the tanks (outboard, like the Shuttle) together in sections.

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

So what were the questions?

I guess the main one is, why didn't they just rebuild the Saturn V or create a minor variant? The stages of that rocket were disposable as are the rocket boosters (a la the Space Shuttle) on this new one, so why re-invent the wheel and risk unforeseen problems developing as well as dragging out the initial launch time to the mid-2020's?

On Fri, 15 Feb 2019 06:11:21 -0800 (PST), RichA
wrote:

On Friday, 15 February 2019 06:13:39 UTC-5, wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 1:20:03 AM UTC-5, RichA wrote:
The SLS is the next giant rocket that will be used for long range manned spaceflight, or the moon as a target. But it's way over budget (how much is really left for it after the ISS sucks up so much?). Some of the technology being used to built it is different. Like friction welding to put the tanks (outboard, like the Shuttle) together in sections.

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

So what were the questions?

I guess the main one is, why didn't they just rebuild the Saturn V or create a minor variant? The stages of that rocket were disposable as are the rocket boosters (a la the Space Shuttle) on this new one, so why re-invent the wheel and risk unforeseen problems developing as well as dragging out the initial launch time to the mid-2020's?

Too expensive. Too unsafe. Too full of obsolete materials and
technology.

(Of course, it's not clear why we need a heavy lift vehicle at all.)

On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 9:35:19 AM UTC-5, Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Fri, 15 Feb 2019 06:11:21 -0800 (PST), RichA
wrote:

On Friday, 15 February 2019 06:13:39 UTC-5, wrote:
On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 1:20:03 AM UTC-5, RichA wrote:
The SLS is the next giant rocket that will be used for long range manned spaceflight, or the moon as a target. But it's way over budget (how much is really left for it after the ISS sucks up so much?). Some of the technology being used to built it is different. Like friction welding to put the tanks (outboard, like the Shuttle) together in sections.

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html

So what were the questions?

I guess the main one is, why didn't they just rebuild the Saturn V or create a minor variant? The stages of that rocket were disposable as are the rocket boosters (a la the Space Shuttle) on this new one, so why re-invent the wheel and risk unforeseen problems developing as well as dragging out the initial launch time to the mid-2020's?

Too expensive. Too unsafe. Too full of obsolete materials and
technology.

(Of course, it's not clear why we need a heavy lift vehicle at all.)

Not clear to you, obviously.