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In a sign of how widespread the information was, Atlantis\u2019 commander Chris Ferguson told the media to expect the announcement on the next vehicle to be made on launch day, following his arrival at the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) from Houston. His statement wasn\u2019t retracted, nor was it corrected, by NASA Public Affairs.<\/p>\n
July 8 came and went, as Atlantis launched on the final NASA shuttle mission \u2013 and most likely the last domestic manned mission for several years.<\/p>\n
General Bolden was then called in front of a \u201cFull Committee Hearing \u2013 A Review of NASA\u2019s Space Launch System\u201c, where lawmakers were given the chance to ask questions about the delay in pressing on with the SLS.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/B3.jpg\" "\\"B3\\"")
After a tough opening question, the General gave arguably his most impressive public performance to date, holding firm on why he was not able to reveal specifics on the vehicle\u2019s configuration. His defence was related to industry restrictions and an ongoing independent cost analysis effort by Booz Allen.<\/p>\nSpaceflight
<\/path>Space Shuttle models <\/path>NASA mission updates <\/path>\n (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n
That costing effort \u2013 which began on July 5 \u2013 is likely to be completed by mid-August, while an announcement on the configuration of the vehicle, is expected \u201csoon\u201d.<\/p>\n
An attempt to request NASA push on with making a public statement on the SLS configuration to the media \u2013 to coincide with Atlantis\u2019 landing at the Kennedy Space Center \u2013 was turned down by NASA\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n
The continued delays to the announcement are now causing numerous managers and workers \u2013 at least those remaining after the massive jobs losses shortly after Atlantis\u2019 return \u2013 to question if the delay is based on politically-aligned tactics to kill the SLS.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/B22.jpg\" "\\"B2\\"")
As many are aware, a second round of job cuts are expected to be carried out soon at key SLS bases \u2013 such as the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans, where managers have attempted to delay and extend WARN notices in the hope of bridging the gap between Shuttle and SLS \u2013 again based on the raised hopes of the June configuration decision by General Bolden.<\/p>\nThe continued delays have now resulted in MAF\u2019s management losing patience, as August 26 was set as the date for all of the remaining workforce \u2013 a key SLS skill set \u2013 to be released.<\/p>\n
In effect, those opposed to SLS \u2013 such as the architects of the FY2011 plan \u2013 only need to delay another month before they can cite the \u201cdifficulties and costs\u201d of having to rehire workers to build a vehicle which could have been announced when the workforce was still in place.<\/p>\n
SLS Configuration and Schedule:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/B41.jpg\" "\\"B4\\"")
The SLS configuration is \u2013 as expected \u2013 based around a SD HLV, using \u201cShuttle\u201d boosters, engines and external tank heritage. However, information \u2013 acquired in the new L2 SLS section \u2013 has provided the most recent and comprehensive overview on the specifics of what is a core vehicle from the onset.<\/p>\nClick here for recent SLS Articles:
\nhttp:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/hlv\/<\/p>\nInitially, the call was to debut the SLS in 2016. As recently noted, the schedule for the opening flight has moved to December 2017 \u2013 although it now has an actual mission.<\/p>\n
The mission will be lunar, with SLS-1 lofting Orion (MPCV) on an unmanned mission around the Moon.<\/p>\n
Ironically, SpaceX recently noted \u2013 during their Falcon Heavy announcement \u2013 they are close to such a mission capability, far sooner than 2017.<\/p>\n
SLS-1 will debut the vehicle in a 2.5 configuration, utilizing three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) \u2013 otherwise known as RS-25Ds, donated by the Shuttle fleet \u2013 on an 8.4m diameter \u201cExternal Tank\u201d core, stretching 212 feet in length, with five segment Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs).<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/B51.jpg\" "\\"B5\\"")
It will also sport a 5m \u201ckick stage\u201d \u2013 which sources claim is a man rated version of the Boeing Delta IV upper stage. This stage was also listed as one of the candidates for the Sidemount SD HLV.<\/p>\nNearly four years will pass before the next SLS launch in August 2021, known as SLS-2, a vehicle which is identical to SLS-1, with the only difference being an element of the mission, which would be a manned trip around the moon in the MPCV, prior to a west coast landing in the Pacific.<\/p>\n
Although the manifest is very much \u201cto be decided\u201d \u2013 August, 2022 would be the next launch date, with SLS-3 again using the same configuration, as would SLS-4 one year later.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/B42.jpg\" "\\"B4\\"")
SLS-5, in August 2024, would be the debut of the Cargo SLS, with a new fairing and a vehicle hardware change possible \u2013 as the winner of the booster competition would debut with this HLV.<\/p>\nWhile ATK\u2019s Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) boosters may continue, should they win the competition, sources claim a likely switch to an RP-1\/LOX booster \u2013 although an actual engine for such a booster has not been cited at this time.<\/p>\n
Sources note the potential options for the liquid booster engine range from a TR-107, to a cluster of AJ-26-500s, to maybe even SpaceX\u2019s Merlin 2. Based on such a manifest becoming a reality, such options would have well over a decade to provide such an option for the SLS.<\/p>\n
SLS-6 \u2013 August 2025 \u2013 would return to the manned configuration, although no mission other than \u201cexploration\u201d \u2013 possibly as part of a Near Earth Object (NEO) mission \u2013 has been cited by the information.<\/p>\n
SLS-7 \u2013 August 2026 \u2013 a Cargo SLS launch, would see one change to the vehicle, as the expendable SSME \u2013 known as the RS-25E \u2013 would be employed on the vehicle, taken over from the exhausted Shuttle SSME stock. Again, three engines would be required, as much as all of the SLS vehicles will be designed to have \u201cspace\u201d for five engines.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/B6.jpg\" "\\"B6\\"")
With the manned and cargo SLS\u2019 taking it in turns for the single mission per year role, SLS-11 \u2013 August, 2030 \u2013 would be the next change, as the five engine core is filled with the two extra RS-25Es, utilizing the full core power plant.<\/p>\nThis configuration\u2019s debut would be a cargo based mission, followed by a crewed mission one year later.<\/p>\n
And then, in August of 2032, the evolved SLS is expected to debut (see image left), again based on the same 5xRS-25E driven core, but this time with a full Upper Stage, becoming the 130mt+ HLV. This debut (SLS-13) would be \u2013 as expected \u2013 based around a cargo mission.<\/p>\n
Sources note the Upper Stage for the evolved SLS would utilize three J-2Xs, an engine which was originally set be involved with the since-cancelled Ares vehicles.<\/p>\n
Other notes of interest claim the Ares Mobile Launcher (ML) has earned a reprieve, after it was initially claimed it would be cheaper to build a new launch platform, as opposed to carrying out expensive changes to the Fixed Service Structure (FSS) and Launch Mount \u2013 both of which were very specifically designed with the Ares I in mind.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/A3171.jpg\" "\\"A317\\"")
The Ares ML \u2013 currently parked near the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) \u2013 was also going to be hooked up to the Roller Coaster Emergency Egress System (ESS), a massive structure which was to be built in-situ at Pad 39B. However, it is understood that despite a large amount of money being spent on the design phase, this concept has been scrapped and won\u2019t return for the SLS.<\/p>\nOther efforts, such as the modifications and long-term life extension of at least one of the Crawler Transporters (CTs) to provide the ride for the SLS to the pad, are continuing.<\/p>\n
As noted at the start of the article, sources have noted this schedule is preliminary, based on a poor funding forecast \u2013 a \u201cworst case scenario\u201d manifest, although no one was able to provide even a draft version of an improved schedule.<\/p>\n
(Images: Via L2 content, driven by L2\u2032s new SLS specific L2 section, which includes, presentations, videos, graphics and internal updates on the SLS and HLV.<\/p>\n
(L2 is \u2013 as it has been for the past several years \u2013 providing full exclusive future vehicle coverage, available no where else on the internet. To join L2, click here: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/l2\/)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A new schedule, created by NASA, has provided a \u201cpreliminary, budget restricted\u201d manifest which places the first flight of the fully evolved Space Launch System (SLS) in the year 2032. The information includes details on the chosen configuration and hardware, but provides a depressing schedule, with a flight rate of just one mission per year, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29671,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[9034,640,9169,624,7806,8116],"class_list":["post-40368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-hlv","tag-orion","tag-rp-1","tag-sls","tag-srb","tag-ssme"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40368"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40368"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40368\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}