New Space Launch System has a New Design

**ghaspacer** · #1 10-22-2015, 10:52 AM

Just saw this article while visiting the NASA website showing a picture of the
SLS with its new design - reminds me of the shuttle ET and SRB.

The caption under the picture read;

'Artist concept of the Block I configuration of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS). The SLS Program has completed its critical design review, and the program has concluded that the core stage of the rocket will remain orange along with the Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter, which is the natural color of the insulation that will cover those elements.'

A picture is provided below.

**Dabeer** · #2 10-22-2015, 11:39 AM

Nice, I like it! But the paint on the SRBs is probably not necessary, just adds extra weight.

**luke strawwalker** · #3 10-22-2015, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dabeer

Nice, I like it! But the paint on the SRBs is probably not necessary, just adds extra weight.

Which is precisely why it won't happen on the real thing... that and additional manhours to apply. Now that the boosters are going to be expended on each flight, they'd have to be applied to every pair of boosters, for no reason other than aesthetics. Never happen.

Notice the 'artists rendering' part... that means "virtually no relationship to eventual reality"...

Later! OL JR

**Raja Ahsani** · #4 10-22-2015, 09:16 PM

Somehow I wish my KSP have graphic like that..

**godai** · #5 10-23-2015, 01:57 AM

Guys, wasn't ET's color becasue the paint was NOT applied? The first two ETs were white, and they decided to save 300kg by not painting it. Just a thought.

**Raja Ahsani** · #6 10-23-2015, 03:56 AM

I think they were referring to the artsy curves on the booster

**godai** · #7 10-23-2015, 05:56 AM

Well, yes. Cash. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things Anymore.

And I don't mean Johnny.

**sparky00** · #8 10-24-2015, 08:19 PM

Great! Now how's about getting it built so I can go watch one launch?

**luke strawwalker** · #9 10-24-2015, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparky00

Great! Now how's about getting it built so I can go watch one launch?

For what?? Other than test flights, NOTHING is manifested and Congress has not funded ANY missions beyond test flights or payloads for this rocket... and NO funding has been allocated for the advanced boosters for the Block II vehicle...

SLS is a super-rocket with no payloads and no definable mission...

IOW, cancellation-bait... (no matter how much the "space-state" senators might wish to the contrary...)

Later! OL JR

**Paper Kosmonaut** · #10 10-25-2015, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke strawwalker

For what?? Other than test flights, NOTHING is manifested and Congress has not funded ANY missions beyond test flights or payloads for this rocket... and NO funding has been allocated for the advanced boosters for the Block II vehicle...

SLS is a super-rocket with no payloads and no definable mission...

IOW, cancellation-bait... (no matter how much the "space-state" senators might wish to the contrary...)

Later! OL JR

Hear hear.
I still do not have any trust in seeing this one leave the ground. Prestigious project without a reason for existence. Looks good, perhaps, yeah, but so did the Venture Star. There's nothing NASA cannot launch with the rockets already available to them.