|
09-14-2011, 08:46 AM | |
"Think BOOM!"
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W
Casino cash: $10009900
VARSITY
|
NASA Unveils New Giant Rocket for Deep Space Missions
http://www.space.com/12941-nasa-unve...ch-system.html
NASA has finally revealed its design for the agency's next-generation heavy-lift rocket to carry astronauts on future deep space missions. The agency announced today (Sept. 14) that the Space Launch System (SLS) will include hardware and technology that are legacies from the space shuttle and now-defunct Constellation programs. The $10 billion booster will use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel, and will have solid rocket boosters for initial tests flights, agency officials said. NASA administrator and former space shuttle astronaut Charles Bolden unveiled the new design during a press conference at the Senate Dirksen Building in Washington. [Photos and Video of NASA's New Giant Rocket] "This launch system will create good-paying American jobs, ensure continued U.S. leadership in space, and inspire millions around the world," Bolden said in a statement. "President Obama challenged us to be bold and dream big, and that's exactly what we are doing at NASA. While I was proud to fly on the space shuttle, kids today can now dream of one day walking on Mars." The rocket's first test flight is targeted for the end of 2017, agency officials said in a statement. Last year, Obama challenged NASA to send astronauts to an asteroid by 2025 and on to Mars by the mid-2030s, shaping the agency's deep space exploration plan following the retirement of the 30-year space shuttle program. [Gallery: NASA's SLS Rocket for Deep Space Flights] The Space Launch System is a cornerstone of the plan to launch a crewed space capsule on deep space missions beyond low-Earth orbit. This capsule, called the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), is based heavily on initial designs for NASA's Orion spacecraft in the moon-oriented Constellation program that was canceled last year. "NASA has been making steady progress toward realizing the president's goal of deep space exploration, while doing so in a more affordable way," NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver said in a statement. "We have been driving down the costs on the Space Launch System and Orion contracts by adopting new ways of doing business and project hundreds of millions of dollars of savings each year." Bolden was joined for the announcement today by U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who have both been steadfast SLS supporters. The huge rocket has been embroiled in controversy, and lawmakers have accused the White House and NASA of stalling on fixing the rocket's design plans and inflating budget estimates for the new booster. Last week, two U.S. senators accused the Obama administration of trying to sabotage the next-generation launch vehicle by "wildly" inflating the program's cost. The accusation came after internal NASA cost estimates totaling nearly $63 billion through 2025 were leaked in a report published in The Wall Street Journal. |
Posts: 181,664
|
11-08-2014, 03:36 PM | #46 |
On the inside
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: San Antonio, TX
Casino cash: $10008880
|
Except the opposite. The race in the 60's prompted a huge push in technology advancement that transcended aeronautics and space flight and found its ways into other industries, which reaped hug rewards and helped grow economies with new technology advancement. A new 'space race' would no doubt excite many young people into becoming scientists and engineers who would create new technologies and advance us further.
|
Posts: 3,080
|
11-08-2014, 03:50 PM | #47 |
Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Casino cash: $8650068
|
Unless they come up with another form of propulsion, gong to another star system will never happen in our life time. Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to us and at 20,000 mph it would take 178,000 years to reach it. Even at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) it would still take 4.5 years to get there. No need to start saving money for a plan ticket.
|
Posts: 393
|
11-08-2014, 06:53 PM | #48 |
Supporter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Casino cash: $2845783
|
__________________
|
Posts: 5,690
|
11-08-2014, 07:47 PM | #49 | |
MVP
Join Date: Aug 2000
Casino cash: $10015321
|
Quote:
Dude...this is like trying to explain the operation of your iphone to a Neanderthal. It's a complete waste of your time and his. |
|
Posts: 12,314
|
11-08-2014, 08:06 PM | #50 |
MVP
Join Date: Aug 2000
Casino cash: $10015321
|
It's so damn unfair.
There has never been a more ardent supporter, a more fervent believer in the space program than me...I have watched it since I was a little boy, watched the first steps on the soil of the moon, when I could barely contain the emotions I felt. Back then in the late 60's I was so sure we'd be planting a flag on the surface of Mars in the 1980's and planning incredible voyages and feats of exploration I could barely imagine...and we just turned our back on it all to buy a few votes with what amounts to a few crumbs of our national budget in a typical short-sighted, penny wise, pound foolish idiocracy run wild. Now, with my health failing and man still exploring the stagnant pools of low earth orbit, I will never get to see the incredible journeys man might have made and the huge benefits mankind could have derived from them. I guess in my own way I am as selfish and bitter as BWillie... |
Posts: 12,314
|
11-08-2014, 08:24 PM | #51 | |
pie is never free
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: the drivers seat
Casino cash: $3367775
|
Quote:
|
|
Posts: 92,093
|
11-09-2014, 11:31 AM | #52 | |
"Think BOOM!"
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W
Casino cash: $10009900
VARSITY
|
Quote:
You think we've presently got a form of propulsion which can power a ship at the speed of light and/or faster?
__________________
I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you? |
|
Posts: 181,664
|
11-09-2014, 11:35 AM | #53 |
"You like to drink?"
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: "I like to drink."
Casino cash: $2896869
|
Artificial singularity caused by the sheer massiveness of Direckshun's mother.
__________________
Chiefs 2016 Opponents: Home: JAX, TEN, NO, TB, NYJ. Away: HOU, IND, ATL, CAR, PIT Chiefs 2017 Opponents: Home: BUF, MIA, PHI, WSH, AFC North. Away: NE, NYJ, NYG, DAL, AFC South |
Posts: 42,931
|
11-16-2014, 11:50 PM | #54 |
Most Valuable Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Casino cash: $9470002
|
The Orion engineers at Lockheed Martin will be hosting a Reddit AMA on Monday from 1-2pm EST (again, if you're into Reddit)
|
Posts: 36,659
|
12-05-2014, 06:26 AM | #55 |
"Think BOOM!"
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W
Casino cash: $10009900
VARSITY
|
Orion's in orbit!
__________________
I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you? |
Posts: 181,664
|
12-05-2014, 06:27 AM | #56 |
"Think BOOM!"
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W
Casino cash: $10009900
VARSITY
|
__________________
I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you? |
Posts: 181,664
|
12-05-2014, 08:37 AM | #57 |
MVP
Join Date: Aug 2000
Casino cash: $10015321
|
|
Posts: 12,314
|
12-05-2014, 09:29 AM | #58 |
"Think BOOM!"
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W
Casino cash: $10009900
VARSITY
|
High orbit insertion burn was good, and Orion is about to separate from the Delta IV booster and head home.
__________________
I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you? |
Posts: 181,664
|
12-05-2014, 10:00 AM | #59 |
"Think BOOM!"
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W
Casino cash: $10009900
VARSITY
|
Splashdown in 30 minutes, 270 miles west of Baja and 450 miles SW of San Diego.
__________________
I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you? |
Posts: 181,664
|
12-05-2014, 10:08 AM | #60 |
SuperChiefs
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Florida
Casino cash: $1899822
|
We had a great view from the west coast of Florida
|
Posts: 19,039
|
|
|