Space and Science BS Thread

It’s what the crawler crawls under, jacks a bit then brings the whole enchilada out to the pad.

 

Oh. This is the big block thing that SLS sits directly on then.

 

The big block thing with the Launch Utility Tower sticking out of it.

 

Kinda makes ya wonder what they are making this thing out of. A titanium/platinum alloy?

 

I’d put $10 on SpaceX completing their Tower at KSC within a year.

 

Imagine how much engineering would go into designing and building something like this. What isnt being said to the public is Nasa's uncertainty that ML1 will be structurally ok for Artemis II and III launches.

While my company does support SLS, it's not largely dependent on it for long term success. That's why I'm here and not there.

 

That didn’t take long. Guess it’s not their fault:
https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1534962034013523994?s=21&t=Fe758D0tNUr39JTP_VpxkQ

 

https://twitter.com/planetdeimos/status/1534973358315556895?s=21&t=Fe758D0tNUr39JTP_VpxkQ

 

Oh, for certain. And for much less money.

Are they worried ML1 will experience too much material fatigue from the rockets?

 

Heh lemme introduce you to archydro ...

 

Isn't the tower only needed for like 1 or 2 launches that the standard tower can't support and Starship, if successful, could?

 

Cant speak to that 08, I'm not sure which missions are designed for which tower. That's quite a ways above my pay grade. I do know they are fueling the SLS skirts Sunday am and I will be there bright and squirrely.

 

Dont blink, the aft skirts are made for SLS at the Booster Fabrication Facility and then tested at Aft skirt test facility by Northrup Grumman.

 

I still don't understand why the skirts are fueled. Is it just another prop tank?

 

Core stage or the big orange tank is lh2/lox. Very little ability to steer.

The skirts, which are fueled by hydrazine, have the thrust vector control system which controls 70% of the steering that SLS will do.

 

That must have been exciting. Kinda like taking a header while on lead but in no particular direction.

 

They’ve said they can fly x number of times without major refurbishment. Waiting on the day an F9 has one…
https://twitter.com/free_space/status/1535038750811619331?s=21&t=Hd90jK2oJrEL6h8Ib1Vbxg

 

Can’t remember if I posted this here whennit was first announced but this is big and completely shuns Starliner and any dream of a manned Dreamchaser going to the ISS. Maybe Orbital Reef could be a destination but by the time BO gets it up there, teleportation might obsolete the need for short hops..
https://arstechnica.com/science/202...ats-needed-for-space-station-crews-into-2030/

 

In response to the NASA IG report of the 2nd mobile launcher whose cost are estimated to inflate 2.5 times to $1B

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1535136753224491012?s=21&t=BH9sQWwDnsNi2SpDm1eBbQ