Aries Orion CM

NASA has completed the Ares I crew launch vehicle system requirements review -- bringing the agency one step closer to developing a new mode of space transportation for astronauts on missions to explore the moon, Mars and other destinations.

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Howto & Style

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• nasa
• mars
• moon
• harry
• hmon
• earth
• space
• travel

[grovermatic]

NASA goes old-skool! I guess the "keep it simple" principle wins again. Two thumbs up here!

But what I really want to know is who did the fantastic music? Sounds a lot like The Crystal Method.

[hmon]

you're right it's the Crystal Method.

"Don't Stop" from NIke Original..

[YogaNate79]

Apollo on steroids.

[hmon]

I like that! Your so right too. Guess That's best the government can do after 40 year.

[bigbear1963]

They could use the shuttle to transport the LEM to the space station and then the Aries could dock with it there and continue on. But the big question is "Why do we need to go to the moon again?"

[hmon]

I think they're going to get ready for the manned landing on Mars

Or maybe they need to hide the MIRVs the apollo missions left up there before the Chinese find them.

[LordFuhquaad]

WVB was a genius ahead of his time, but even he was wrong about some things. Solids today are more reliable and robust than liquid-fueled rockets, and CAN be shut down in an abort mode.

The shuttle's two major failings are that it has no abort/escape capability during the first stage, and the likelihood of TPS damage during ascent. Ares/Orion has neither of these problems.

[LordFuhquaad]

Yes, solids can be shut down safely IN AN ABORT MODE, by using pyros/detcord to cut the nozzle section free. Pressure and thrust drop to nearly zero, like a road flare, so your abort system can take you away safely.

Solids are actually MORE reliable than liquids and can be stored ready-to-go at a moments notice. But, they can't be dynamically throttled, or shut down and restarted, which is why it makes sense to use a liquid-fueled engine for an orbital insertion stage.

[1138thz]

I think the Space X dragon has pushed this gold plated NASA gizmo out of the picture. And the Space X Falcon9 and Falcon9 Heavy WILL take the place of over priced and thankfully the now defunct shuttle based medium and Heavy lift launch vehicles at a fraction of the cost and with greater reliability and payload. I say good riddance to NASA's bumbling and over priced tin. If it weren't for the golden goose AKA the Space Shuttle who knows what would have been possible.

watch?v=UTwRxtmQ9IY

[Doctor699]

It would work, just after trans lunar injection, put stage 3 on a free return course so it too can be recovered.

[giannivee1]

Shuttle has many benefits, but as time marched on, the long term problems of what could go wrong couldn't be overcome by reengineering. What other thing, unanticipated, might happen. But considering over 20 years of shuttle service, it was a superb product for its time. I think in the future a better shuttle will emerge, and in turn we can bridge the gap with standard manned rockets. A step back, but a bridge till science brings us back to a better shuttle. God Bless!

[haleycbrrr]

well how bout this steve, you compare this to " a commercial airliner, a cargo ship" but I don't remember when those left the atmosphere, and then reentered it...theres kind of a slight difference, and im SURE they have put a lot more thought into it than you or I...or am I talking to a rogue NASA employee, with his hand all of their planning of this new spacecraft?

[TheCottonTop]

SteveNovak. Why don't you leave the thinking to us, huh geniuns?

Funding is the main reason. One time use rockets are much safer and cost effective than "fully reuseable hardware". We don't have to maintain and rebuild something that is used once.

Think about this. What kind of "Commercial airliner or cargo carrying ship" would you rather travel in? A new one, or one that is 30 years old?

[crusader810]

Saturn V on steroids

[AblePumper]

Apollo was the epitomization of what a manned DSEC should be. Ares 1 and 5 are used to recycle Shuttle tech and not have to develop a whole new launch system.

Ares 5 is actually based on several studies done in the 1970's to compliment the Shuttle system

Also, Orion CEV is actually based on a 1966 Lockhed engineering study called "Apollo-M". M for Mars!!!!!!

[vox2007]

I think this idea is cool. In my thoughts they took The Saturn V apollo program and made it better, and thus we have the Project Constellation program with Aries.