3 ms·

This is great news! Hopefully the final version isn't as ugly as the artist's conception: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/multimedia/gallery/sls_lau

This is great news! Hopefully the final version isn't as ugly as the artist's conception: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/multimedia/gallery/sls_launching_2.html http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/multimedia/galle... Kind of reminds me of a rocket used for the Apollo missions (although it's not) with some Space Shuttle SRBs attached to the side. The first version shown in the video actually looks kind of cool -- like something SpaceX would have built. It's a good thing progress in the space industry move at a snail's pace. Our aim is to remain the go-to country for space flight yet the first mission is slated for 2017. It looks like they're trying to save some money by using advancements from the Space Shuttle and Constellation programs. Always a good thing because NASA projects are notorious for going over their budgets (with good reason). >>It will use a liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propulsion system A consequence of using previous propulsion tech is that we're still using dangerous, highly explosive liquid hydrogen and oxygen rockets. I'm still hoping we're able to get higher ISP from hybrid rockets in the near future. Much safer and easier to turn off if there is a catastrophic systems failure on the way up.

cpeterso 15y ago
Why are space ships always white? If the designers are not going to use cool colors, they could at least give the rocket racing stripes or "go Nascar" with tons of advertisements. :)
- nostromo 15y ago
  A guess: it's because it's easier to spot damage, dust, debris, etc.
  - coderdude 15y ago
    Also, in a vacuum does white still absorb the least amount of heat energy from light?
    - ars 15y ago
      The rocket part doesn't go into orbit, only the nose.
- sliverstorm 15y ago
  White reflects the most heat, which is important during re-entry and in regulating internal temperature while being directly irradiated by the sun. As an added bonus, white is the easiest color to see against the backdrop of Space. Photos of spacewalks would be pretty boring if the Shuttle and the astronauts were all wearing black.
- mturmon 15y ago
  The image you see is an artist's rendering, of course. The Shuttle main engines used to be painted white (this is the big central tank supplying liquid hydrogen and oxygen to the engine). But it turned out to save about 600lb to leave it unpainted, so that's what they did for all later launches. The tank already has an insulator. You can see both versions in Shuttle launch imagery. From wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_external_tank http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_external_tank): "The original ET is informally known as the Standard Weight Tank (SWT) and is fabricated from 2219 - a high strength aluminium-copper alloy used for many aerospace applications. The first two, used for STS-1 and STS-2, were painted white to protect the tanks from ultraviolet light during the extended time that the shuttle spends on the launch pad prior to launch.[4] Because this did not turn out to be a problem and in order to reduce weight, Lockheed Martin ceased painting the external tanks beginning with STS-3, leaving the rust-colored spray-on insulation bare, saving approximately 272 kg (600 lb) of weight."

cpeterso 15y ago

Why are space ships always white? If the designers are not going to use cool colors, they could at least give the rocket racing stripes or "go Nascar" with tons of advertisements. :)

nostromo 15y ago
A guess: it's because it's easier to spot damage, dust, debris, etc.
- coderdude 15y ago
  Also, in a vacuum does white still absorb the least amount of heat energy from light?
  - ars 15y ago
    The rocket part doesn't go into orbit, only the nose.
sliverstorm 15y ago
White reflects the most heat, which is important during re-entry and in regulating internal temperature while being directly irradiated by the sun. As an added bonus, white is the easiest color to see against the backdrop of Space. Photos of spacewalks would be pretty boring if the Shuttle and the astronauts were all wearing black.
mturmon 15y ago
The image you see is an artist's rendering, of course. The Shuttle main engines used to be painted white (this is the big central tank supplying liquid hydrogen and oxygen to the engine). But it turned out to save about 600lb to leave it unpainted, so that's what they did for all later launches. The tank already has an insulator. You can see both versions in Shuttle launch imagery. From wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_external_tank http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_external_tank): "The original ET is informally known as the Standard Weight Tank (SWT) and is fabricated from 2219 - a high strength aluminium-copper alloy used for many aerospace applications. The first two, used for STS-1 and STS-2, were painted white to protect the tanks from ultraviolet light during the extended time that the shuttle spends on the launch pad prior to launch.[4] Because this did not turn out to be a problem and in order to reduce weight, Lockheed Martin ceased painting the external tanks beginning with STS-3, leaving the rust-colored spray-on insulation bare, saving approximately 272 kg (600 lb) of weight."