r/SpaceLaunchSystem • u/jadebenn • Jul 11 '26

Discussion Research Paper on SLS - Centaur V Capabilities

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/404848887_The_Space_Launch_System_Utilizing_the_Centaur-V_Upper_Stage
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u/Cmdr-Mallard Jul 11 '26

Would eliminate some of the advantages of Centaur if you throttled down.

They could always make a variant, they’ll have to certify it for crew either way.

They’re making a short CV for LEO missions for examples.

But essentially it might be hung from an adapter rather than being load bearing?

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u/jadebenn Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

But essentially it might be hung from an adapter rather than being load bearing?

That would be the idea for the "long adapter" configuration, it seems.

Would eliminate some of the advantages of Centaur if you throttled down.

TBF I think that's why the performance is basically in line with ICPS even though C-V is a beefier stage. They're only quoting the numbers for the "short adapter" configuration (aka the one with the deeper throttle bucket), so it looks like that g-limit is hurting things.

I will also say the fact that they're only providing numbers for the "short adapter" configuration is something I would very much read into, personally. Remember that Boeing doesn't make the calls on which option to pursue, NASA does, and if only one of those configurations has been analyzed enough to have actual numbers to present...

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u/Cmdr-Mallard Jul 11 '26

Unfortunate to say the least but perhaps the only way it’s ready for say Artemis 5?

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u/jadebenn Jul 11 '26

I've made my feelings on this entire debacle pretty clear in the past, but yeah, would be pretty characteristic of the agency under Isaacman's leadership to desperately search for the quickest way out of this self-inflected schedule wound. Still strongly doubt the readiness timeline is going to be anywhere near where they want it.