Tuesday, September 20, 2022

SLS questions

(cont'd from yesterday's post)

There's a decade's worth of problems haunting the Space Launch System (SLS) since it took the place of the Space Shuttle program back in 2011. 

One problem is that SLS technology is old. The main engines are the ones used on the Space Shuttle, using liquid hydrogen propellant and liquid oxygen. The shuttle was scrubbed at least once on most launch attempts due to hydrogen problems.

SLS is not even reusable. Starship (SpaceX) will be.

A former NASA Deputy Administrator tried to get the agency to use a private company for Artemis but couldn't do it. She says the government status quo is too strong. The Planetary Society says the problem is politics.

So, it looks like lots of people have asked that question at the end of yesterday's post.

from Interesting Engineering

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