NASA Unveils New Giant Rocket for Deep Space Missions

[Donger]

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.

[GordonGekko]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Exactly. I dont care what happens to this earth, anyone or thing once i take my dirt nap. I never fault anyone for keeping their own interests at heart.

In all probability, any space exploration is a waste of money for any current generation.

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.

[cwhocares]

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.

[Shaid]

Originally Posted by vailpass

But I thought I was clever/you

[mikey23545]

Originally Posted by GordonGekko

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.

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.

[mikey23545]

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...

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by cwhocares

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.

That form of propulsion is already in use, its just that it will never be admitted to like the stealth bomber etc.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

That form of propulsion is already in use, its just that it will never be admitted to like the stealth bomber etc.

You think we've presently got a form of propulsion which can power a ship at the speed of light and/or faster?

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Donger

You think we've presently got a form of propulsion which can power a ship at the speed of light and/or faster?

Artificial singularity caused by the sheer massiveness of Direckshun's mother.

[teedubya]

The Orion engineers at Lockheed Martin will be hosting a Reddit AMA on Monday from 1-2pm EST (again, if you're into Reddit)

[Donger]

Orion's in orbit!

[Donger]

Watch Live:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#.VIGkTMlNcsc

[mikey23545]

Originally Posted by Donger

Orion's in orbit!

Maybe when you can post "Americans are in orbit once more!" there will be a little more excitement.

[Donger]

High orbit insertion burn was good, and Orion is about to separate from the Delta IV booster and head home.

[Donger]

Splashdown in 30 minutes, 270 miles west of Baja and 450 miles SW of San Diego.

[FlaChief58]

We had a great view from the west coast of Florida