Orion's first test flight

[Huntn]

IMHO, liquids are safer than solids for manned vehicles. It's why I am rooting for the Pyros booster.

I can't imagine an aircraft being powered by solid fuel, although solid fuels have been used as boosters for takeoff. As someone said, having solid fuel like having Roman candles strapped to your vehicle... Primitive.

The bigger problems with a trip to Mars is the distance and the inability to have any chance of rescue. The moon was 3 days away and they were on their own. Now we are talking about a 6 - 9 month trip. There are going to be so many points of failure. The first of which is getting a crew of 4 to get along for a very long car ride with no pit stops.

Mixed gender crew with sexual tension reduction therapy should help make the time move faster..

 

[orestes1984]

I think it was the Russians who were practicing being stuck in a can with the same people for that extent of time here on earth. It is fraught with danger, but if we as humans are ever going to continue as a species after the next 4 billion years when it becomes too hot to live on this planet then we have to do this.

 

[aaronvan]

Image

I see now why they chose he name Orion.

Great observation! However, technically Orion is the capsule which will never again be launched on a Delta IV Heavy (which isn't man-rated.) Next launch in 2018 should be on a SLS.

 

[obeygiant]

Great observation! However, technically Orion is the capsule which will never again be launched on a Delta IV Heavy (which isn't man-rated.) Next launch in 2018 should be on a SLS.

will it look different?

 

[elistan]

will it look different?

Yeah, the Delta IV Heavy and SLS do look fairly different.
Delta IV is three SRBs, SLS is two SLBs and a liquid propellant center.

 

[quagmire]

Yeah, the Delta IV Heavy and SLS do look fairly different.
Delta IV is three SRBs, SLS is two SLBs and a liquid propellant center.

Image

Mixing things around.

Delta IV Heavy is three common cores strapped together powered by three RS-68A liquid hydrogen engines. The SLS will be powered by SRB's and 4 RS-25's( the SSME's from the Shuttle).

 

[aaronvan]

will it look different?

Reminiscent of the Saturn V. NASA still hasn't decided on liquid propellent strap-on boosters. The first flights will probably use solids, though.

http://www.collectspace.com/review/sls_referenceconfig01-lg.jpg

 

[elistan]

Mixing things around.

Delta IV Heavy is three common cores strapped together powered by three RS-68A liquid hydrogen engines. The SLS will be powered by SRB's and 4 RS-25's( the SSME's from the Shuttle).

Ah, yes, sorry, the Delta IV Heavy does use three Common Booster Cores (CBCs) which indeed are liquid oxygen/hydrogen fueled.