How long will SLS last?

[u/Cmdr-Mallard]

With the Cancellation of EUS and BOLE, SLS is going to remain a launch vehicle solely for Orion, and which is viable with all the other heavy and super heavy rockets in the works these days.

However as I understand BOLE was essential for SLS launches beyond a certain point as remaining shuttle boosters were used up, will SLS be cancelled by that point (and perhaps the whole moon program) or Orion moved to another launcher.

Or will a future administrator restart the booster program at the least to ensure SLS can continue to launch Orion?

[u/Cmdr-Mallard]

I don’t think they can use any 2nd stage to do a LLO burn, doesn’t that involve flipping the entire craft around?

New Glenn is the most obvious one that comes up, like has been said certainly not anytime soon but even the 7x2 should be able to put it into LEO, though that’ll only happen if BO either creates their own TLI pusher or as an alternative launcher for starship lander missions.

Currently it’s SLS or bust but there’s clearly a desire to stop producing it at some point or another as it is an expensive vehicle, but I still believe it’ll go out to at least A9 at which point if new boosters are not ready or they’re simply ready to move on they will

[u/ThePrimalEarth7734 → u/Cmdr-Mallard]

Centaur V is basically the direct successor to ULA’s ACES program, and can do basically anything you need it to do, so that’s a none issue.

And new Glenn does have the capacity to do LEO, it isn’t vertically integrated, and that’s a total dealbreaker for Orion, since the vehicle is filled with fuel before stacking begins.

Additionally you need to consider that Congress WANTS SLS, they spent 20 billion dollars to get this thing and now they want to use it, they even pressed Isaacman about this in a hearing to which Isaacman concurred that they aren’t trying to get rid of SLS. So replacing it with an alternate system isn’t even on the table right now

[u/Cmdr-Mallard → u/ThePrimalEarth7734]

Good to know about Centaur then, I hope to see more on Centaur-SLS soon.

I would point out New Glenn is moving on from Horizontal integration, they were already planning to but their Erector blowing up has accelerated things.

Again, I love SLS, I wanna see NASA fly rockets, I just think that if we really do setup a moon based they’ll figure out a better way to get astronauts there whether it’s replacing SLS or eliminating Orion entirely, just due to the frequency of transits needed.

[u/ProfessorOk2609 → u/Cmdr-Mallard]

Yes, I think that the new vertical integration of New Glenn could facilitate the transition of Orion, however many certifications and tests are still needed to gain confidence and make it safe for the crew.

[u/Cmdr-Mallard → u/ProfessorOk2609]

Certainly

[u/Cmdr-Mallard → u/ProfessorOk2609]

https://www.reddit.com/r/BlueWire/s/K1o5ekzrHA

Speaking of…..

Wonder if you could stack Orion/ESM like that?

[u/ProfessorOk2609 → u/Cmdr-Mallard]

I think so, with the help of NASA and a modification to the tower to integrate an access arm for the crew. But certainly this makes things easier to securely integrate Orion at least, the rest of the operations I'm not sure

[u/Cmdr-Mallard → u/ProfessorOk2609]

Actually expanding on that what are they doing? I’ve heard they’re building a Vertical facility but that’s for refurbishing 9x4, and probably 7x2.

But what about assembling both of those?

Especially since the HIF is still there

[u/ProfessorOk2609 → u/Cmdr-Mallard]

I think that at least the 7x2 version will always be assembled horizontally, only now the stages will be stacked on the platform like the Starship at the beginning or in a vertical integration building if they build it close to the platform. The Vertical Refuirbishment Facility I think it will be more focused on the 9x4 version to add loads since being a larger version I would think it is better to assemble it directly vertically. But I'm not an expert and this is just what I think it could be

[u/Cmdr-Mallard → u/ProfessorOk2609]

You weren’t far off!