When is the NASA SLS launch date?

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They're still testing beacons, boilers, cabin temps, batteries - recovery still on going "Text Book" entry!
Now that you mention it, they do kinda gotta get data with which to write the Orion recovery textbook.
 
Briefing on the re-entry and recovery later today.
Musings:
So by all accounts the mission has been a spectacular success.
But if NASA is to realize its' vision of a lunar orbiting space station (Gateway), they will have to be able to re-supply and re-crew Gateway regularly. None of this "next mission in two years" garbage.
Can they afford to launch SLS or its' replacement every 3 months or so? What if the economy turns sour and NASA's budget is cut? What about the continuous scrubs that delayed this mission?
Things to think about.
 
Thanks for posting the choice pix of reentry and landing. So glad it went well.
 
Briefing on the re-entry and recovery later today.
Musings:
So by all accounts the mission has been a spectacular success.
But if NASA is to realize its' vision of a lunar orbiting space station (Gateway), they will have to be able to re-supply and re-crew Gateway regularly. None of this "next mission in two years" garbage.
Can they afford to launch SLS or its' replacement every 3 months or so? What if the economy turns sour and NASA's budget is cut? What about the continuous scrubs that delayed this mission?
Things to think about.
I watched a video the other day about why so long between Artemis 1 and 2, turns out there are multiple issues.
  • A change to avoid a $100M budget hole was misguided.
  • Use/reuse Block 1 vehicle and tower for the first 3 launches. Given the damage incurred for the 1st launch, it will be a while for it is ready again.
  • Build of new taller Block 1B launch tower. Was to have been $383M but will cost at least $1B and earliest will be available is Nov '26 for Artemis 4. And most likely later. Blame Bechtel.
  • 2 new spacesuits have to be designed for Artemis 3. 1 for astronaut protection in flight and the other for EVAs on the surface. An EVA suit is not a simple thing to design because of the microdust issue.
  • Avionics boxes from Artemis 1 to be recovered and reused in Artemis 2 and will take 2 years?
  • It will cost $341M for every month in delay.
  • Lunar landing vehicle by SpaceX may not be ready until '28.
  • Anyway what was to have been a May '24 launch for Artemis 2 will be lucky if it will be late '24 or likely early '25.
  • Cadence of 1 launch per year is desired for Artemis 3 and later launches.
 
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I watched a video the other day about why so long between Artemis 1 and 2, turns out there are multiple issues.
  • A change to avoid a $100M budget hole was misguided.
  • Use/reuse Block 1 vehicle and tower for the first 3 launches. Given the damage incurred for the 1st launch, it will be a while for it is ready again.
  • Build of new taller Block 1B launch tower. Was to have been $383M but will cost at least $1B and earliest will be available is Nov '26 for Artemis 4. And most likely later. Blame Bechtel.
  • 2 new spacesuits have to be designed for Artemis 3. 1 for astronaut protection in flight and the other for EVAs on the surface. An EVA suit is not a simple thing to design because of the microdust issue.
  • Avionics boxes from Artemis 1 to be recovered and reused in Artemis 2 and will take 2 years?
  • It will cost $341M for every month in delay.
  • Lunar landing vehicle by SpaceX may not be ready until '28.
  • Anyway what was to have been a May '24 launch for Artemis 2 will be lucky if it will be late '24 or likely early '25.
  • Cadence of 1 launch per year is desired for Artemis 3 and later launches.

Based on the delays in the Artemis program I think that Gateway is realistically out the door.
 
From the briefing:
Reporter: Is there anything you would want to change from Artemis 1 to Artemis 2?
Mike Sarafin: I would like to see humans on board for Artemis 2.
Nyuk nyuk.
Reminds me of the fictitious comments offered for the Ares program at the end of The Martian: “This time we hope to bring all of our astronauts back at the same time”
 
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