Meanwhile, Starship and Super Heavy is developing at a record pace. With the benefit of full reusability, the only thing SLS does that Starship does not is to employ people in legacy aerospace jobs at incredible expense to the taxpayer.
This piece on Ars Technica all but speculates that SLS will be cancelled. SLS gained political support from Republicans, and now that their influence is fading, I believe that it may ultimately be cancelled. https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/nasas-space-launch-s...
They should cancel it. And create a TSTO (Two Stage to Orbit) space plane system.
The first stage being fully reusable. With a major focus on quick turnaround, like 1 hour of post-flight inspection and refueling, then back in the launchpad again.
There was a slick Soviet design for a rocket system, that had 4 boosters with swept wings that glided back to base. I think the core stage also glided back to base.
Although this design might be obsolete, now that SpaceX has proven their suicide burns.
All the initial designs for the original space shuttle included a so-called 'fly-back booster' with wings; this was cut from the program to reduce development costs.
3 comments
[ 5.4 ms ] story [ 26.2 ms ] threadThis piece on Ars Technica all but speculates that SLS will be cancelled. SLS gained political support from Republicans, and now that their influence is fading, I believe that it may ultimately be cancelled. https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/nasas-space-launch-s...
The first stage being fully reusable. With a major focus on quick turnaround, like 1 hour of post-flight inspection and refueling, then back in the launchpad again.
There was a slick Soviet design for a rocket system, that had 4 boosters with swept wings that glided back to base. I think the core stage also glided back to base.
Although this design might be obsolete, now that SpaceX has proven their suicide burns.