So they are going to pick the crews by merit instead of diversity?
More powerful than the Saturn V?
How much of what we want to do in space can not be done by robotics? Other than the novelty of humans in space, why spend double or triple or more on the costs of manned space flight just to call it ‘manned’?
Payloads will be measured in tons.
They need to use EM rails up a mountainside to achieve launch velocity without all the extra weight of fuel and tanks.
Or have they started already.
I worked for the head manager for the Space Shuttle production. Smartest man alive.
He said an engine firing test would create earthquake ripples across the desert floor.
He also said that Astronauts would tell wild stories of their many women. Tell how you walked on the moon, probably attracted many female fans.
But the top Shuttle manager, should have been studied at top management schools. He was absolutely brilliant. He was a one of a kind.
When you need something steam cleaned in a hurry...
They’re taking old reusable (mostly) Space Shuttle engines and making them into single use throwaway engines.
SLS will be an impressive vehicle, but it’s crawling along due to budget and will probably only fly once every couple years. And it has no real mission besides some vague eventual Mars idea.
The SLS first stage is being built at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. This is the same facility that built the Saturn V first stage and also the Space Shuttle External Tanks. The Orion space capsule hulls are also fabricated at this facility then shipped to KSC for installation of all flight systems.The main building at Michoud was built for WWII aircraft production and also built engines for Patton tanks for the Korean war. It is over 40 acres under one roof and was constructed by the man who designed and built the WWII landing crafts; Andrew Higgins! The taxpayer got their money’s worth with this facility!!