Posted on Oct 28, 2014
Where do you stand on commercial spacelift? Did the Shuttle retire too early?
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The first flight test of NASA's new manned spacecraft (replacing the Shuttle) is planned for December 2014. The Orion Flight Test will evaluate launch and high speed re-entry systems such as avionics, attitude control, parachutes and the heat shield. In the future, Orion will launch on NASA’s new heavy-lift rocket, the Space Launch System.
SLS will be capable of sending humans to deep space destinations such as an asteroid and eventually Mars.
The December trial is a vital proving ground, since NASA plans just one more flight test (in 2017) before the capsule's first crewed mission lifts off in 2021.
Currently, we spend $60M per astronaut for Russia to send us to the ISS.
Do you you have confidence that we will have successful manned space flights in 2021? Did we retire the Shuttle too soon and do you worry about our dependence on the Russians? What are some alternate solutions we should consider? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
SLS will be capable of sending humans to deep space destinations such as an asteroid and eventually Mars.
The December trial is a vital proving ground, since NASA plans just one more flight test (in 2017) before the capsule's first crewed mission lifts off in 2021.
Currently, we spend $60M per astronaut for Russia to send us to the ISS.
Do you you have confidence that we will have successful manned space flights in 2021? Did we retire the Shuttle too soon and do you worry about our dependence on the Russians? What are some alternate solutions we should consider? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
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NASA
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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Well I now work at SpaceX. So from where I stand or work. Space travel is far from over. We are just beginning to scratch the surface.
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Capt Brandon Charters
Your team is doing incredible things Sgt Randy Novak. The Spacelift industry needed this innovation badly.
Elon said it best...."Rockets are tricky" That's why we have professionals like you 'scratching the surface'.
Elon said it best...."Rockets are tricky" That's why we have professionals like you 'scratching the surface'.
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Sgt Randy Novak
Thanks Brandon. We are definitely moving forward. Working there has been amazing so far. The future of what is to come with SpaceX is exciting as hell.
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We probably should have kept it going, based on the private space launch failures. I am concerned about the ISS dependence on Russia.
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SFC Boots Attaway
CW5 (Join to see) , I have always stated that NASA should have never retired the shuttle without a tested and operational replacement. Civilian space flight has not been proven and is to young of an industry for our country to rely on it and it is a disgrace for this country to trust our manned spaceflight to our once enemy. We were once the leader in space flight and now we are relegated to being hitchhikers. We landed on the moon in 69 but have done NOTHING of any real accomplishment (except our Mars probes) since then.
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The space shuttle program should not have ended without some overlap, American capability. I agree that it was time to move forward, but not at the risk of mission assurance by surrendering control of assured spacelift with known risks. Not only do we depend on Russia for spacelift, but also for rocket parts. The Russian RD-180 is still the first stage of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V, and the Russian NK-33 is being used in the Orbital/ATK entrant into the NASA commercial contract. I am a big fan of the SpaceX Merlin stage 1, because it is made in the U.S. of A., and is doing well so far.
It annoys me that the Air Force is still spending money evaluating how to copy the Russian design, and not incentivizing an all-American design.
It annoys me that the Air Force is still spending money evaluating how to copy the Russian design, and not incentivizing an all-American design.
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Capt Brandon Charters
Well said Maj Walter Kilar. I share a very similar view. The commercial competition was intended to increase innovation and reduce overall cost of space access. I have no doubt SpaceX will be successful over time, but after this week's tragedy, competition is no longer there... We needed more time for man-rated booster technology to mature.
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