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I'm arguing that we have the SLS today and we don't have another compatible option. Is SLS the best outcome? Of course not, if we had a time machine would we go

I'm arguing that we have the SLS today and we don't have another compatible option. Is SLS the best outcome? Of course not, if we had a time machine would we go do it differently, of course. But it's sitting on the pad today and nothing else is.

panick21_ 4y ago
We don't have 'the SLS' as a viable rocket. We have a single SLS, when this one launches. SLS will not exist anymore for many years to come, hopefully launching again in 2024 more likely 2025. So SLS really doesn't exist practically. That is the problem with incredibly low launch rates. > But it's sitting on the pad today and nothing else is. Falcon Heavy has been ready to use for 3 years and you could easily design a moon mission around Falcon Heavy. Hell you could even use Atlas or Falcon 9.
- killyourcar 4y ago
  Ok, get a falcon heavy configured to launch a mission around the moon by, say, Friday. When the SLS is on the pad. You cannot just wave your hand and say SpaceX. As much as I think it's the better option to use falcon heavy, it's not ready this week.
  - panick21_ 4y ago
    That is such a ridiculous statement to make. Its literally trolling and not making an argument. Nobody says this first SLS shouldn't launch. Not that it would matter much if it didn't, but still. The discussion is about forward looking space policy for the next 10 years, for the whole Artemis program. SLS will fly LITERALLY 1 and then not again for 2-4 years. In that time a strategy change can and should be made.
    - killyourcar 4y ago
      This thread is full of people hoping it fails to launch.
      - panick21_ 4y ago
        Some people say that, reading all the discussion far few people hope that it fails then that the program overall should get reformed, ie. SLS/Orion should get dropped.
      - bottlepalm 4y ago
        If it succeeds then billions more will be wasted on SLS. If it fails, there’s a good chance those billions will redirected into in actually sustainable launch system. It does suck to want something to fail, but you have to think about the bigger picture here and the greater good. No one is going to die.

panick21_ 4y ago

We don't have 'the SLS' as a viable rocket. We have a single SLS, when this one launches. SLS will not exist anymore for many years to come, hopefully launching again in 2024 more likely 2025. So SLS really doesn't exist practically. That is the problem with incredibly low launch rates. > But it's sitting on the pad today and nothing else is. Falcon Heavy has been ready to use for 3 years and you could easily design a moon mission around Falcon Heavy. Hell you could even use Atlas or Falcon 9.

killyourcar 4y ago
Ok, get a falcon heavy configured to launch a mission around the moon by, say, Friday. When the SLS is on the pad. You cannot just wave your hand and say SpaceX. As much as I think it's the better option to use falcon heavy, it's not ready this week.
- panick21_ 4y ago
  That is such a ridiculous statement to make. Its literally trolling and not making an argument. Nobody says this first SLS shouldn't launch. Not that it would matter much if it didn't, but still. The discussion is about forward looking space policy for the next 10 years, for the whole Artemis program. SLS will fly LITERALLY 1 and then not again for 2-4 years. In that time a strategy change can and should be made.
  - killyourcar 4y ago
    This thread is full of people hoping it fails to launch.
    - panick21_ 4y ago
      Some people say that, reading all the discussion far few people hope that it fails then that the program overall should get reformed, ie. SLS/Orion should get dropped.
    - bottlepalm 4y ago
      If it succeeds then billions more will be wasted on SLS. If it fails, there’s a good chance those billions will redirected into in actually sustainable launch system. It does suck to want something to fail, but you have to think about the bigger picture here and the greater good. No one is going to die.