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Vice President tells NASA to get to the Moon in 5 years.

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RamjetFDO
RamjetFDO

More to come, I'm sure ... but sneak preview from one of my launch photography buddies.  

RamjetFDO
RamjetFDO

The ones that came on in the 60s/70s were mostly retiring out before the Shuttle Program (and our own ability to launch humans) was ended without a funded follow-on program.  It's the ones that came o

RamjetFDO
RamjetFDO

Yes, we can debate (valid points on both sides) of whether SLS is the right answer for lunar exploration vs private space companies ... but there is no doubt that seeing SLS roll out to LC39B is excit

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atomheartbevo

atomheartbevo 89659

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SpaceX getting some business.

https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-to-launch-nasa-lunar-gateway-modules

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NASA picks SpaceX Falcon Heavy to launch 1st Gateway station pieces to the moon

NASA has selected SpaceX to deliver the first two segments of the moon-orbiting Gateway space station for its upcoming Artemis program, which aims to put astronauts back on the moon. The elements will launch atop a Falcon Heavy rocket, sometime in 2024. 

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The flight, which is the second to be awarded to SpaceX this week (the first was a contract worth $98.8 million to launch NASA's SPHEREx astrophysics mission) will carry the Gateway's power and habitation modules. Launching from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission will cost NASA $331.8 million and is scheduled to blast off no earlier than May 2024. 

Once deposited in lunar orbit, the Gateway will serve as an outpost for astronauts and equipment heading to the moon as part of NASA's Artemis program. Roughly one-sixth the size of the International Space Station, the Gateway will support research investigations, crew, and expeditions to the lunar surface. 

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The outpost will serve as a docking station for visiting spacecraft, such as NASA's Orion spacecraft and will orbit the moon, tens of thousands of miles away. It will be a pit stop on the way to the lunar surface. NASA recently paused its search for a human landing system, which will transport astronauts from the gateway down to the surface of the moon. The agency is expected to resume reviewing those bids soon. 

The pair of modules SpaceX will ferry into space are the power and propulsion element (PPE) and the habitation and logistics outpost (HALO), which are being built by Maxar Technologies and Northrop Grumman Space Systems, respectively. 

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The PPE will provide the Gateway with power, enabling communications as well as helping the station move to various lunar orbits, while HALO will give astronauts a place to stay on their way to the moon. Astronauts traveling to the moon will launch aboard crew-toting capsules, like Orion, and HALO will provide docking support for those vehicles. 

 

 

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atomheartbevo

atomheartbevo 89659

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SpaceX getting more business - selected to build NASA's Lunar Lander

https://www.space.com/spacex-wins-nasa-artemis-moon-lander-contest

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In 2020, NASA awarded contracts to three commercial teams — SpaceX, Dynetics and Blue Origin — for the agency's Human Landing System (HLS) program. They asked each of these companies to develop an innovative landing system to be used under the Artemis program to ferry astronauts down to the lunar surface. 

On Friday (April 16), NASA announced that SpaceX had beat out the other two competitors, winning the $2.9 billion contract to build the Artemis lunar lander. 

"We have awarded SpaceX to continue the development of our integrated human landing system," Lisa Watson-Morgan, HLS program manager, said during a news conference Friday (April 16). "We're confident in NASA's partnership with SpaceX to help us achieve the Artemis mission and look forward to continuing our work toward landing astronauts on the moon, to prepare for the next giant leap towards Mars."

 

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atomheartbevo

atomheartbevo 89659

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Could launch (unmanned) for the moon as early as February.  Stands 322 feet tall.

Homer Simpson Reaction GIF

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-completes-mega-moon-rocket-stacking-invites-media-to-learn-more

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ASA has completed stacking of the agency’s mega-Moon rocket and spacecraft that will launch the next generation of deep space operations, including Artemis missions on and around the Moon. Engineers and technicians successfully secured the Orion spacecraft atop the fully assembled Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida just before midnight Oct. 21. 

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“With stacking and integration of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft complete, we’re getting closer and closer to embarking on a new era of human deep space exploration,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Thanks to the team’s hard work designing, manufacturing, testing, and now completing assembly of NASA’s new rocket and spacecraft, we’re in the home stretch of preparations for the first launch on the Artemis I mission, paving the way to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond for many years to come.”

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The stack now stands 322 feet tall inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA Kennedy as it enters the final phase of testing before launch.

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Next up, NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems teams will conduct integrated tests of Orion and SLS along with the ground equipment, prior to rolling the rocket and spacecraft to the launch pad for a final test, known as the wet dress rehearsal. This final test will run the rocket and launch team through operations to load propellant into the fuel tanks and conduct a full launch countdown. Following a successful rehearsal, NASA will roll the stack back into the VAB for final checks and set a target date for launch.

 

artemisi.jpg

 

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Captainant

Captainant 27660

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13 minutes ago, elfenix said:

L3 due to solar shading or are L1 and 2 full of junk?

 

IIRC, it's due to solar shading from Earth, as well as fewer celestial bodies between the telescope and what it's trying to look at. I think Scott Manley and some of the other spacetubers have a few vids on the topic. The linked video is a solid explainer from Dr. John Mather

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atomheartbevo

atomheartbevo 89659

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Mega moon rocket testing delayed.

https://www.space.com/artemis-1-launch-march-april-2022-engine-issue

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The agency is now targeting a launch in March or April 2022 for its Artemis 1 flight, an uncrewed mission around the moon and the first flight of its massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. NASA was previously targeting Feb. 12, 2022, for the flight, which is the first in the Artemis program that aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface later this decade. But hiccups in the mission's integrated testing program have forced another schedule delay.

"After performing a series of inspections and troubleshooting, engineers determined the best course of action is to replace the engine controller, returning the rocket to full functionality and redundancy while continuing to investigate and identify a root cause," NASA officials wrote in a statementpublished Friday (Dec. 17). "NASA is developing a plan and updated schedule to replace the engine controller while continuing integrated testing and reviewing launch opportunities in March and April."

The RS-25 engines date back to the Space Shuttle, so they are proven tech.

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RamjetFDO

RamjetFDO 10575

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SLS for Artemis 1 (unmanned) flight moved to Launch Complex 39B for a pre-launch integration/engine fire test.  (nostalgia throwback - same crawler used for Apollo and Shuttle programs with refurb/refit for SLS)

1364125377_SLSrollout1.thumb.jpg.9949bf360635cc8f9db4e1a31741921f.jpg

 

534706269_SLSrollout2.thumb.jpg.b09312569f3404729bce819ca9056b75.jpg

 

1679574274_SLSrollout3.thumb.jpg.40c50f69babd1be2565c5cee12c0dc6d.jpg

 

1498844223_SLSrollout4.thumb.jpg.c4820c9b037843905b96932a52a02348.jpg

 

And - if you were ever wondering about size comparison to the Apollo Saturn V:

2135017770_SaturnVvsSLS.thumb.jpg.4013106996bf873b10c98f1bc3f61b12.jpg

 

The current near-term test schedule is continuing to check out avionics and data paths for the next week or so with a Hot Fire Test on 3/31 and a "Wet Dress Rehearsal" (WDR) on 4/3.

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RamjetFDO

RamjetFDO 10575

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Yes, we can debate (valid points on both sides) of whether SLS is the right answer for lunar exploration vs private space companies ... but there is no doubt that seeing SLS roll out to LC39B is exciting and evocative of the Apollo Saturn V days.

I, for one, continue my "all of the above" desire for human spaceflight with NASA continuing the edge-of-the-envelope exploration while promoting, funding, and encouraging commercial space to expand horizons as only they can.

SLS is too expensive for long-term lunar/Mars exploration - I'm excited to see what SpaceX and peers can do to bring down that launch cost while maintaining human spaceflight safety margins.

But for now, let's get this sucker tested and let's go fly!

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atomheartbevo

atomheartbevo 89659

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9 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

What’s the flight plan?

A bunch of teenagers ostensibly at a space camp that doesn't exist at KSC, along with a 12 year-old genius, are going to be allowed to climb in the capsule during an engine test, along with a bitter astronaut who hasn't gotten a mission yet, and who is stuck babysitting the youngsters.  Unbeknownst to the teens and the bitter astronaut, the 12 year-old has befriended an AI that was used to interact with kids during STEM activities.  The AI knows the 12 year-old wants to go to space, and somehow works its way into computer systems tied into the launch, and plans on launching the rocket when the youngsters and bitter astronaut are on board.  Unfortunately, the AI doesn't know that the capsule is not fitted out for space travel, so the youngsters and bitter astronaut are going to die during launch.

 

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Biff Tannen

Biff Tannen 45680

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On 3/18/2022 at 8:25 PM, RamjetFDO said:

Destination: Moon

f335e4fb1f2b20f846dbb6f410f4ac88.jpg

 

On 3/18/2022 at 8:50 PM, miguelito said:

Shoot, it doesn't look very far away.

Anyway, Swindon, I'm nearly at the moon. Actually, that's an understatement. Have you got more ladder? We're not quite at the moon yet.

But I can see right over the top of the houses. Fantastic!

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Captainant

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Yikes, NASA is rolling Artemis 1 back off the pad into the VAB after failing its wet dress rehearsal. Seems like a combination of stuck valves (again) and leaking liquid hydrogen from one of the launch tower umbilicals. Doesn't seem great for hitting their summer launch target for the unmanned flight

I think there's supposed to be a presser today at 2PM CDT to update on troubleshooting and talk next steps for another wet dress rehearsal

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RamjetFDO

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On 4/18/2022 at 11:32 AM, Captainant said:

Yikes, NASA is rolling Artemis 1 back off the pad into the VAB after failing its wet dress rehearsal. Seems like a combination of stuck valves (again) and leaking liquid hydrogen from one of the launch tower umbilicals. Doesn't seem great for hitting their summer launch target for the unmanned flight

I think there's supposed to be a presser today at 2PM CDT to update on troubleshooting and talk next steps for another wet dress rehearsal

Yeah - not the program's finest hour.

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Dahobbs

Dahobbs 17534

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On 4/19/2022 at 2:02 PM, RamjetFDO said:

Yeah - not the program's finest hour.

I don't know, it isn't like the program had a bunch of great moments until now. Failing the dress rehearsal arguably is one of its finest moments. At least it got dressed up and made it out to the party. 

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Dahobbs

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4 minutes ago, Captainant said:

Liftoff is good, but nothing that Boeing built has been driving yet... Hold on to your hats everyone!

Less interested in watching an animation. I had hoped they would have cameras for starliner itself. Maybe we will get a live feed again later or no?

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RamjetFDO

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There are a lot of Boeing execs with serious "puckering" until ISS docking tonight is completed.  Considering they lost 2 (of 12) aft thrusters already, there's a lot of concern about how the rest will perform.  It's entirely possible they'll perform flawless, but there's still a lot of eyes on this one, so "any more" failures won't look good. 

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Captainant

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2 hours ago, RamjetFDO said:

There are a lot of Boeing execs with serious "puckering" until ISS docking tonight is completed.  Considering they lost 2 (of 12) aft thrusters already, there's a lot of concern about how the rest will perform.  It's entirely possible they'll perform flawless, but there's still a lot of eyes on this one, so "any more" failures won't look good. 

Yeah, and it's entirely possible that I win the powerball. Based on past experience though, it's not very likely lol. 

Boeing is in the depth of integration hell and so far have not had a nominally successful flight in YEARS, and are billions over budget.

I can't see how NASA certifies this boondoggle for human flight, considering it's still suffering major system failures

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