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If SLS is only getting a few launches, and we’re planning to establish a permanent presence on the moon, what will replace SLS? Starship and New Glenn?
by devoutsalsa 2y ago
If SLS is only getting a few launches, and we’re planning to establish a permanent presence on the moon, what will replace SLS? Starship and New Glenn?
- imtringued 2y agoWhy are you so oddly fixated on SLS? SLS is a launch vehicle for Orion. What is needed is a replacement for Orion so NASA can ditch SLS. The only alternative to Orion is to use a capsule to LEO, transfer crew to a second fully fueled Starship, dock with HLS in NRHO, do the landing and come back, dock with the crew Starship and then do a deceleration burn, dock in LEO with the capsule and then return to earth. Why? Because the lunar Starship doesn't have enough delta V to return LEO and landing crew on earth via aerobraking is too risky at lunar return velocities. If you want to do aerobraking, you're back to Orion. Fundamentally speaking, the problem is that SpaceX hasn't built a moon optimized upper stage. Someone needs to build a crew transporter that is optimized for LEO -> NRHO -> LEO, like the cislunar transporter, but that one only carries fuel to NRHO.
- devoutsalsa 2y ago>> Why are you so oddly fixated on SLS? Because I'm not a rocket scientist & if I knew how this stuff worked I wouldn't have to ask!
- ikekkdcjkfke 2y agoIt's insane that there were multiple crewed trips to the moon, in the 70's!