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from the bang...zoom...straight...to-the-moon dept.
Submitted via IRC for Bytram
NASA chief says a Falcon Heavy rocket could fly humans to the Moon
[...] Until now, it was thought that only NASA's Space Launch System could directly inject the Orion spacecraft into a lunar orbit, which made it the preferred option for getting astronauts to the Moon for any potential landing by 2024. However, [NASA Administrator Jim] Bridenstine said there was another option: a Falcon Heavy rocket with an Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage built by United Launch Alliance.
[...] This plan has the ability to put humans on the Moon by 2024, Bridenstine said. He then emphasized—twice—that NASA's chief of human spaceflight, William Gerstenmaier, has yet to bless this approach due to a number of technical details. His reservations include the challenge of integrating the Falcon Heavy rocket in a horizontal position and then loading Orion with fuel in a vertical configuration on the launchpad. The Falcon Heavy would also require a larger payload fairing than it normally flies with. This would place uncertain stress on the rocket's side-mounted boosters.
"It would require time [and] cost, and there is risk involved," Bridenstine said. "But guess what—if we're going to land boots on the Moon in 2024, we have time, and we have the ability to accept some risk and make some modifications. All of that is on the table. There is nothing sacred here that is off the table. And that is a potential capability that could help us land boots on the Moon in 2024."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 02 2019, @01:42PM (1 child)
Pork comes with a declared purpose.
A taxpayer may not understand if the purpose is good,
but he sure can see if the execution is below par for government work.
(Not exactly a high bar to clear.)
Eventually, if that goal doesn't happen, some adjustment should be expected.
Burnt pork seems a concept Sen Shelby's voters could embrace given a suitable substitute is provided.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday April 02 2019, @04:20PM
Whatever the declared porpoise, and whether burnt or not, would the FAA certify the pork as airworthy?
(from my journal...)
You cannot have your Pork and eat/fly It too.
If the SLS flies, it will be so expensive that it will quickly implode the program.
In order to keep the program, the SLS must perpetually be in a state of delay, which will cancel the program.
Everyone knows pork does not fly.
Some people need assistants to hire some assistance.
Other people need assistance to hire some assistants.