Main Engine Cut Off

Orbital ATK posted a video over on YouTube showing their ideas for placing Cygnus-derived habitats in lunar orbit, and using them as the base for SLS-Orion missions throughout the 2020s. It also hints at the station staying there beyond the initial missions and supporting European (or other international) missions to the lunar surface.

I’ve been doing a good amount of reading of these reports already, and I’ll write something longer after I’ve finished up, but they’re interesting to read through.

Aside from this being an election year plea to avoid cancellation of a struggling program, I’m not sure where the idea comes from that SLS will be rid of development in the 2020s.

The mere existence of ARM on NASA’s #JourneyToMars roadmap is an admission of just how flawed that roadmap is in its current state.

It’s absolutely true that Orion’s timeline is ridiculous, but I can’t stand comparing post-Shuttle projects with those that came before it.

Sounds like there’s been some internal debating, and the Astronaut Office must now be fine with flying EM-2 with the EUS without having flown previously, contrary towhat I’ve been talking about this week regarding the future roadmap of SLS.

NASA still seems to be somewhat confused in their public statements about what is the SLS’ second flight. The Europa missions have been mandated to fly on SLS no later than 2022, per the FY 2016 budget, but some NASA representatives keep saying EM-2 is on the docket for 2021.

Our political system is increasingly incapable of supporting a thriving national space program. Congress battling the executive branch tooth and nail for Orion/SLS and the Europa mission is only the tip of the iceberg. Factor in the massive amounts of pork and governmental overhead…it runs away from you quickly.