NASA Announces Next Heavy-Lift Vehicle to Replace the Space Shuttle

[quagmire]

So basicly they cancel the consolation project then turn around and bring back a new version of it?

This is not so much NASA fault as Washington fault for forcing NASA to keep redesigning late threw a process to something new as the political winds change.

My big question is what states is this new project going to be based in.

The big problem with Constellation was that it was massively over budget on just the development of the Ares I rocket. They didn't even begin development of the Ares V and the lunar module.

SLS is more flexible. Instead of developing multiple rockets to do different jobs( like the Saturn and Ares rocket family), the SLS will be able to do everything with variable configurations. Depending on the load that needs to be carried, the SLS can be configured with 3 SSME's, 4 SSME's, or 5 SSME's either with two 5 segment SRB's or the F-1 powered boosters if this plan goes through.

Ya the article says for trips to the moon and mars, I thought that whole thing was scrapped.

Why not move on to the F-1a?

I am sure the F-1 will be upgraded just like Rocketdyne is doing with the J-2 engine with the upcoming J-2X.

 

[MacNut]

The big problem with Constellation was that it was massively over budget on just the development of the Ares I rocket. They didn't even begin development of the Ares V and the lunar module.

SLS is more flexible. Instead of developing multiple rockets to do different jobs( like the Saturn and Ares rocket family), the SLS will be able to do everything with variable configurations. Depending on the load that needs to be carried, the SLS can be configured with 3 SSME's, 4 SSME's, or 5 SSME's either with two 5 segment SRB's or the F-1 powered boosters if this plan goes through.



I am sure the F-1 will be upgraded just like Rocketdyne is doing with the J-2 engine with the upcoming J-2X.

So what is NASA's goal now, is it still the Moon and Mars just with a new vehicle strategy?

 

[iJohnHenry]

So what is NASA's goal now, is it still the Moon and Mars just with a new vehicle strategy?

Whatever, it's still the 'ladyfinger' of space exploration, more like Solar system exploration.

 

[quagmire]

So what is NASA's goal now, is it still the Moon and Mars just with a new vehicle strategy?

Moon, Mars, and asteroids.

The first flight of the SLS in 2017 is probably going to be a LEO test flight. The next launch in 2021 will be manned and loop around the moon.