NASA's New Heavy-Lift Rocket - Animated Look

Deep space manned exploration just moved a little closer to reality with the announcement of that development is beginning on the new Space Launch System (SLS). The first developmental flight is targeted for end of 2017.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• announcement
• space launch systems
• animation
• vehicle
• Launch
• deep space exploration
• rocket
• NASA
• heavy-lift
• videofromspace
• SLS
• lift-off
• video

[pesticidepopsicle]

I'm just happy to see NASA has finally learned from its great history. The Apollo design was the best space exploration platform ever built. The space shuttle had its uses but was a turn in the wrong direction for long term space exploration. I'm glad that pride didn't factor in the decision to revert back to older yet more useful and efficient designs. If it ain't broke, don't fix it (just improve on it). I'm excited to see where this rocket takes us.

[VideoFromSpace]

@pesticidepopsicle This is not the reversion you imagine. The US Congress demanded that this SLS system use as many components of the Shuttle – and the contractors who made them – as possible. It uses virtually no technology from Apollo. It does use a crew capsule instead of a winged vehicle - a constraint demanded by the deep space destination requirement. But what you see is a system designed as much for political purposes as for exploration. And it may be a very long time before it flies.

[falco830]

Yeah we need something better!!!! Well at least its something.

[ti994apc]

Thiokol Corporation and Lockheed Martin FAILED us with Shuttle. So why we are dealing with the same contractors with SLS is a total slap in the face to all people who care about progress.

If you buy a car and it ends up costing over 20 time what the dealer told it would cost and blows up 1/65 times you use it, are you going to buy from the same car company? If you did, you would be stupid. So why do we do it? Campaign contributions by the above contractors.

[ti994apc]

@pesticidepopsicle The only thing in common this Senate Launch System has with Apollo it the way its painted. That is to fool the public. All those Apollo era rocket scientists for SpaceX.  Space X has a Falcon XX design that is much better than this.

[bigdrevideo]

@ewtng

Exactly.

Or a Stubby Saturn V

[ewtng]

0:05 The Heavy Lift Version is the Saturn INT 21 on Steroids.

0:15 The SLS is the Apollo Saturn V on Steroids.

[pesticidepopsicle]

@VideoFromSpace I'm just trying to be optimistic. It's a step in the right direction in terms of design. But I also agree that this is as much a political move as an engineering move. Thousands would have lost their jobs if shuttle components were scrapped completely, and that public relations battle isn't one politicians feel like fighting. This is another compromise to keep both sides content while Congress pushes its own agenda by cutting more NASA funding.