NASA's SLS just passed its CDR

[Monorail Cat]

This is a huge step for NASA's SLS (Space Launch System).  Being on my school's rocket team, it's really interesting to see them going through the same process they have us go through.  The CDR (Critical Design Review) is pretty much saying "Hey, our rocket is going to work.  We're ready to build the actual thing."  This is the first time in nearly 40 years that a human-rated spacecraft from NASA has passed a CDR, and it's really exciting.  Can't wait for the first launch in 2018!



Oh, also, SLS got a new paint-job:

Spoiler: Old (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: New (click to show/hide)

I really fucking love this for some reasons.  First, it's really cool.  Second, it takes away a lot of weight, which would have been there if it was painted.  However, my favorite thing about the new paint is that IT LOOKS LIKE THE SHADOW OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE.  I bet it was intentional, because the swooping paint on the solid rocket boosters looks just like a shadow of the Shuttle's delta wings.  I did enjoy the old Apollo style, but I FUCKING LOVE this.












HHNNNNNNGNGGG

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-completes-critical-design-review-for-space-launch-system

[ursus]

cool

[Tezuni]

I thought nasa retired the space shuttle because they were done sending humans up, relying in russia now.
Isn't the private sector inching towards that now with companies like spaceX?

If Nasa is getting back in the game here, hell yeah!

[Monorail Cat]

NASA has stopped sending humans to the International Space Station with our own launches.  We've learned nearly as much as we can from it, so NASA turned away and started focusing its tiny budget on the next stage- which is getting further from Earth, capturing asteroids, and eventually going to Mars in the 30's.

So, yes, NASA is really pushing for the private sector to take up transportation to Low-Earth Orbit.  This way, NASA doesn't need to rely on Russian launches to get us up there, and NASA can focus on other, BIGGER, things. 

It seems to be like this:  NASA has become an expert on getting to LEO, and it has no reason to keep doing it.  So, now, it's time for private companies to become the experts, while NASA becomes the expert on getting to places like asteroids and Mars.  And I bet, after NASA becomes an expert with that, they will have the private sector start doing that stuff so NASA can do even bigger stuff. 

It's mutually beneficial- NASA doesn't want to waste time and money doing stuff they know already, but they would like to continue to be present in LEO anyways, so they get the new guys to help out with that instead.

[Deathie]

The new paint job looks like something out of the Kerbal Space Program.