SLS: Nasa 'megarocket' assembly begins in Florida:
Nasa has started assembling the first Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on a launch platform ahead of its maiden flight next year.
The SLS is the giant rocket that will send US astronauts back to the Moon this decade - with the first crewed landing targeted for 2024.
Engineers in Florida have begun stacking the segments that make up the vehicle's two solid rocket boosters.
[...] Teams at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida lowered the first of 10 booster segments into place on a structure known as the mobile launcher on 21 November. The process is taking place inside the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy.
The boosters will burn six tonnes of solid, aluminium-based propellant each second when the SLS launches. They provide 75% of the vehicle's thrust at lift-off.
The mobile launcher they're being stacked on is a 115m (380ft) -tall structure that's used to process and assemble the SLS before moving it to the launch pad.
It's a huge symbolic step, not only for the SLS - which has been under development for a decade - but also Nasa's plan to send the next man and the first woman to the lunar surface by 2024, known as Artemis.
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NASA wants to buy SLS rockets at half price, fly them into the 2050s
NASA has asked the US aerospace industry how it would go about "maximizing the long-term efficiency and sustainability" of the Space Launch System rocket and its associated ground systems.
[...] In its request NASA says it would like to fly the SLS rocket for "30 years or more" as a national capability. Moreover, the agency wants the rocket to become a "sustainable and affordable system for moving humans and large cargo payloads to cislunar and deep-space destinations."
[...] Among the rocket's chief architects was then-Florida Senator Bill Nelson, who steered billions of dollars to Kennedy Space Center in his home state for upgraded ground systems equipment to support the rocket. Back in 2011, he proudly said the rocket would be delivered on time and on budget.
"This rocket is coming in at the cost of... not only what we estimated in the NASA Authorization act, but less," Nelson said at the time. "The cost of the rocket over a five- to six-year period in the NASA authorization bill was to be no more than $11.5 billion. This costs $10 billion for the rocket." Later, he went further, saying, "If we can't do a rocket for $11.5 billion, we ought to close up shop."
After more than 10 years, and more than $30 billion spent on the rocket and its ground systems, NASA has not closed up shop. Rather, Nelson has ascended to become the space agency's administrator.
Previously:
Artemis Program Requires More Cash to Reach Moon by 2024; SLS Could Cost 1,000x More Than Starship
NASA OIG: Tell Congress that Moon Rocket is Over Budget and Behind Schedule
NASA Spent a Decade and Nearly $1 Billion for a Single Launch Tower
NASA Will Pay a Staggering $146 Million for Each SLS Rocket Engine
Charlie Bolden Says the Quiet Part Out Loud: SLS Rocket Will Go Away
NASA Lays out $28 Billion Plan to Return Astronauts to the Moon in 2024
NASA SLS Megarocket Shortage Causes Tug-of-war Between Moon Missions, Europa Exploration
SLS: Nasa 'Megarocket' Assembly Begins in Florida
NASA's Europa Clipper has been Liberated from the Space Launch System
After a Decade, NASA's Big Rocket Fails its First Real Test
NASA's Massive Artemis Moon Rocket Set for Second Hot Fire Test Today 1500 EDT (1900 UTC)
NASA Has Begun a Study of the SLS Rocket's Affordability [Updated]
COVID-19 Pandemic Estimated to Cost NASA $3 Billion
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by legont on Monday November 30 2020, @01:33PM (6 children)
The Bitch makes perfect candidate for the Moon, but I am all right with her riding Musk to Mars as well.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Monday November 30 2020, @02:21PM (5 children)
I don't follow, what is your point?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 30 2020, @03:02PM (1 child)
It's either a Melania or a Hilary joke. Bitch, you see? That was the clue. Very clever.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Monday November 30 2020, @03:32PM
It was probably a reference to Artemis [wikipedia.org], the Moon goddess.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 30 2020, @04:53PM (2 children)
Legont is frustrated. As you *should* know, the difference between a "bitch" and a "slut" is that that a slut will fuck anyone and a bitch will fuck anyone *but you*.
Does that clear things up for you?
(Score: 2) by legont on Monday November 30 2020, @05:52PM (1 child)
That's exactly what I wanted to say. She will not fuck me - no way - I am prepared. However, she will fuck up you - all of you - because your brain was melted by propaganda.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 01 2020, @01:43AM
Nevada has legal prostitution, why don't you avail yourself of such services instead of lashing out at the world?
(Score: 5, Interesting) by takyon on Monday November 30 2020, @01:40PM
SpaceX sets dates for Starship static fire, high-altitude launch debut [teslarati.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 30 2020, @02:24PM (9 children)
There’s been a change of plans (or soon will be) https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-agenda-for-nasa-space-exploration-2020-11 [businessinsider.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 30 2020, @03:03PM
Yeah, first 4 years will be solving the Iran crisis. Not much time for anything else.
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Monday November 30 2020, @03:04PM (3 children)
That's a bit speculative. Biden hasn't announced any specific plans, just some people who would be in charge.
That said, there's often a "change of plans" when an election changes the folks in charge. This makes long term plans a bit difficult, whether they're good or not.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 30 2020, @03:19PM (1 child)
I'm worried when Kushner leaves there will be nobody to solve the Middle East crisis, nor reimagine the entire Federal government. Perhaps Joe Biden can tempt him to stay on and finish his important work [google.com].
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 30 2020, @04:20PM
He is so busy he doesn't even have time to finish Jared Jr.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Tuesday December 01 2020, @01:14AM
Indeed - in fact that's why the SLS is still plodding forward despite the fact that it's likely to be obsolete before its first real launch. The program was packed with so much pork as to make it cancel-proof, after previous programs were canceled when administrations changed.
Sadly, but not surprisingly, faced with a cost-plus contract that couldn't realistically be cancelled, the contractors are grossly over budget and far behind schedule.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Monday November 30 2020, @03:33PM
It's extremely likely that SLS launches at least once, and that the Artemis program continues, albeit with less urgency (no crewed landing in 2024) and funding.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday November 30 2020, @04:12PM (2 children)
By delaying the Artemis program, this will give SLS the necessary time to continue development on their rocket under their cost plus contract. Can't rush things.
Those last three words sound like they could have been said by someone at Blue Origin.
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Monday November 30 2020, @04:23PM
Gradatim Ferociter!
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 30 2020, @04:59PM
That's not the issue *at all*. This is the issue [youtube.com]. It was the beginning of the great age of human exploration of space.
(Score: 2, Informative) by iWantToKeepAnon on Monday November 30 2020, @07:47PM (1 child)
"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." -- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Monday November 30 2020, @08:13PM
It's the Brit way.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 01 2020, @08:24AM
meanwhile, it was reported that a power supply unit in Orion's Service Module has fritzed out and needs to be replaced.
https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2020/11/30/21726753/nasa-orion-crew-capsule-power-unit-failure-artemis-i [theverge.com]