Artemis 1 Launch

[Aimelie]

… is now scrubbed until Friday.

What a bummer. Oth, it’s obviously better that everything is optimal before proceeding.

To be continued—





P.S. For so many good and bad reasons, these are interesting times indeed. The Artemis project is, for me, one of the good (really exciting, in fact) ones and helps me feel like there is some balance in the greater scheme of things. So, yay!

[DavidE]

Predictable. That's why I didn't head to my place in Titusville. I have gigs starting Wednesday and just had the feeling it wasn't going to go on day 1. I'd love to hear the giant rumble from this one.

[dnf777]

Always wondered how they abort a failed launch with SRBs? Once lit, theres no stopping them. Or mass detonation.

[Gitfiddlemann]

I'd feel better if it was a weather related delay, rather than "technical" troubles.🙁

[ewalling]

These shenanigans are costing an absolute fortune, apparently. I wonder if now is the right time to be so extravagant.

[rllink]

Originally Posted by ewalling

These shenanigans are costing an absolute fortune, apparently. I wonder if now is the right time to be so extravagant.

I would imagine it has been years in the making and when they started planning for launch day there wasn't any way to pick the right time.

[ozzman]

as a kid I loved Apollo, and I love spacex program.its hard for me to understand how sent men to the moon 1969, and today they're using basically the same set up fifty years later. besides two solid boosters from the shuttle.they can't seem to make it work? 5 years behind and 4 billion over budget. its embarrassing.

[dnf777]

Originally Posted by ozzman

as a kid I loved Apollo, and I love spacex program.its hard for me to understand how sent men to the moon 1969, and today they're using basically the same set up fifty years later. besides two solid boosters from the shuttle.they can't seem to make it work? 5 years behind and 4 billion over budget. its embarrassing.

All new engines and fuel. Not 50 year old tech.

[ozzman]

Originally Posted by dnf777

All new engines and fuel. Not 50 year old tech.

are spacex rockets using the old stuff? they work pretty good.

[Dirk Hofman]

Originally Posted by ozzman

are spacex rockets using the old stuff? they work pretty good.

The last SpaceX moon mission crash landed on the surface. It's a tough business.

[ozzman]

Originally Posted by Dirk Hofman

The last SpaceX moon mission crash landed on the surface. It's a tough business.

yea, it is. I want it to be successful. its disappointing. now they have to roll it back to the shop, then who knows when they'll try again?

[ozzman]

Originally Posted by dnf777

All new engines and fuel. Not 50 year old tech.

well apparently they're reusing space shuttle engines developed in the 70s literally the same engines.

[fumei]

Originally Posted by ozzman

well apparently they're reusing space shuttle engines developed in the 70s literally the same engines.

This is correct.

Engine E2045: The most veteran engine with 12 flights, including a docking with Mir in 1998 and John Glenn's flight, also in 1998

Engine E2056: Four flights, including STS-109, a Hubble Telescope servicing trip and Columbia’s last successful mission

Engine E2058: Six flights, all to build the space station

Engine E2060: Three flights, most notably STS-135 Atlantis, the final shuttle mission

All these old RS-25 engines will be dropped into the Atlantic, old style. So while many components of Artemis are new, the main thrust comes from oldies. Not new tech at all.

As for it is "embarrassing", no, not at all. That is the reality of space launches. Nothing to be embarrassed about.

However....when you look at the roomy, high tech look of SpaceX interiors, yikes, yeah, old school is looking a wee bit shoddy.

I am convinced that REAL space travel/work will not be reality until private industry takes over. Watching that double re-landing was incredibly impressive. SpaceX did something NO ONE, ever, did before. Plus it dropped the per pound launch cost by 75%. That is what will move us forward.

[Bob Womack]

Ad Astra Per Aspera These things happened throughout the 1960s program. Better a postponement than a catastrophe. Look up the Atlas booster program. Those who were around at the time know to be patient.

Incidentally, the discarded range safety officer's control panel from the Mercury program launch block house ended up in my family's basement. I eventually scabbed the big abort plunger switch from it and used it to launch my Estes rockets. Fun, but uncertain, times.

Bob

[Murphy Slaw]

Originally Posted by fumei

I am convinced that REAL space travel/work will not be reality until private industry takes over. SpaceX did something NO ONE, ever, did before. Plus it dropped the per pound launch cost by 75%. That is what will move us forward.

I have to agree.

Government is not well known for doing projects with a budget.

Any Government.