Son of Apollo

[Dr Mordrid]

NASA has (unwisely IMO - too expensive) been given clearance by Congress to build the Space Launch System launcher and the Orion MPCV (multi-purpose crew vehicle) capsule.

Space Launch System will be built in 2 scalable blocks;

Block 1:

Payload to low Earth orbit: 70 metric tons (150,000 lb)

Block 2:

Payload to low Earth orbit: 129,000 kg (280,000 lb)

First stage

Core diameter:8.4 meters (27.56 ft)

Liquid engines: 3 to 5 RS-25D/E (disposable Shuttle engines)
Sea level thrust (each): 1,817,400 newtons (408,600 lbf)
Vacuum thrust (each): 2,278,000 newtons (512,000 lbf)
Fuel/oxidizer: LH2/LOX

Solid rocket boosters (SRBs): 2 five-segment
Sea level thrust (each) 12,500,000 newtons (2,800,000 lbf)
Fuel/oxidizer (by weight): 16% aluminum, 12.04% PBAN (polymer), 1.96% epoxy, 0.4% iron oxide/69.6% ammonium perchlorate

(a competition will be held later to either keep the SRBs or replace them with liquid side boosters)

Second stage

Core diameter: 8.4 meters (27.56 ft)
Liquid engines: 1 or 2 Rocketdyne J-2X (upgraded Saturn V J2 2nd stage)
Vacuum thrust: 1,310,000 newtons (294,000 lbf)
Fuel/oxidizer: LH2/LOX

The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is a conical capsule build with the same mold line as Apollo, but larger.

Crew: 4
Diameter: 5 meters (16.5 ft)
Pressurized volume: 19.56 m3 (691 cu ft)
Habitable Volume: 8.95 m3 (316 cu ft)
Mass: 8,913 kg (19,650 lb)
Service Module Mass: 12,337 kg (27,198 lb)
Service Module Propellant Mass: 7,907 kg (17,433 lb)
Endurance: 21.1 days

Penciled-in flight manifest:

Here's is a huge weakness - the SLS & Orion are so expensive the funds for flying it will be very short -



Pics:

[Evildead666]

Why don't they just throw this money at SpaceX ?

Another 12 years before a cargo launch ? What would SpaceX do ?

[Dr Mordrid]

SpaceX will be flying Falcon Heavy @53 metric tons by 2013. If there aren't too many delays it could launch a bunch of cargo before SLS ever flies.

Possibly, Falcon Heavy-H (LH2 Raptor 2nd stage) @70 metric tons a couple years later.

We might know more Thursday when Elon Musk addresses the National Press Club in DC. The last trip he announced Falcon Heavy and the Vandenberg SLC-4E launch complex. Most everyone is expecting news on FH, a new spaceport, possibly Merlin 2 (which could bring in Falcon X/X-Heavy) and surprises.

[Evildead666]

I'm sure they could do better, earlier, and put this out of business before its gets momentum.
Shame that so much cash would be lost on it for so long.

[Dr Mordrid]

You're praching to the choir. The space community is calling it the Senate Launch System - because so many senators in both parties see it as s aource of pork for their states. IOW, it's a high tech jobs program.