Posted on 01/15/2014 1:55:44 PM PST by MarkBsnr
It is set to become the largest rocket ever built, dwarfing the rockets that took man to the moon and paving the way for manned missions to Mars.
Nasa today reveal stunning new pictures of its SLS (Space Launch System), which will eventually be capable of lifting 130 tonnes into orbit.
The rocket will be used to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station, and to help us explore the outer reaches of the solar system.
It is even hoped the craft could play a role in manned missions to Mars, being able to launch 'stepping stone' bases into orbit. 'The potential use of SLS for science will further enhance the synergy between scientific exploration and human exploration,' said John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
'SLS has the promise of enabling transformational science in our exploration of the solar system and cosmos.' Currently under construction, NASA’s Space Launch System will be the world’s most powerful launch vehicle. Designed to enable human exploration missions to deep space destinations, including an asteroid and Mars, SLS is working toward a first launch in 2017.
For that first flight test, the rocket will be able to launch 70 metric tons (77 tons) of payload into low-Earth orbit, almost three times what the space shuttle could carry. From there, SLS will be evolved to a configuration that will be able to carry 130 metric tons (143 tons), more weight than any rocket ever has been able to carry.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Yes it was. Primarily intended for military missions, it was expensive, inefficient, delicate, and dangerous. The military ended up flying a minority of missions and giving up on it. The Shuttle finished out its life doing busy work that could have been accomplished by much cheaper and safer rockets.
Still, it was a symbol of American prestige for many years.
I was referring to Obama. I somehow misread "Hansen" as "Hussein". Don't ask.
It was, and the two losses ... primarily the loss of life associated with them ... hurt personally. Columbia, in particular. I was doing contract work for NASA at the time.
Ten quatloos says the SLS Blunderbuss will never launch.
I don’t think Hanson was mentioned in the article...I don’t know if he is still with NASA but he was a big global warming idiot who never missed a chance to push his politically correct BS. I just could not stand him!!!
Why not just build a “re-usable” larger shuttle with the same capacity planned for this rocket?
Re-entry & weight???
Ha!
What is Hussein and his crews $$$ cut with this project I wonder.
Dream on, NASA. There aren’t enough muslim rocket scientists to build it.
The shuttle was never all that re-useable. It was a major pork project by defense contractors. Not to say it wasn’t cool, pretty much established the United States as top dog in flight, we had a true hypersonic airframe.
The Saturn moon rocket engines are being analyzed for this new design.
http://www.space.com/19379-saturn-5-f1-engines-test-firing.html
The fuel pump was 55,000 brake horse power for one engine. There were 5 engines :)
It was and still is a very impressive feat of engineering.
I agree with others here though -— I doubt we will see SLS ever launch. NASA is too mired in politics now, and their mission is vague. I think we will see the most space development from the billionaire silicon valley executives who like to play at space exploration.
And SpaceX is doing pretty well with their rocket designs as well. They are learning rapidly in the field of ultra high performance rocketry.
You mean beside the picture of the actual blueprints that I already posted?
Besides doing another Google search for you, would you like me to hold your wanker while you pee, too??
if they nput the goofy muzzie flag on the thing, it will NEVER get off the ground.........way overloaded with bullsh**
US Won’t Lead New Manned Moon Landings, NASA Chief Says
http://www.space.com/20557-nasa-moon-missions-bolden.html
As I originally stated:
“I read once that all or most of the original drawings for the Saturn V rockets have been lost....................”
I did, in fact read that in a magazine article many years ago, before there was a Google, back in the 80’s. If the article was wrong, I apologize. I merely stated the summary of the contents of the article, as I remembered it. I did not intend to mislead, or to ‘repeat false information’...........................
China probably can..................
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