4 ms·
With the exception of computers, most of the engineering and materials of 1969 and 2024 are remarkably similar.
by d_silin 3y ago
With the exception of computers, most of the engineering and materials of 1969 and 2024 are remarkably similar.
- Animats 3y agoThere's been progress. Carbon fiber works now. Titanium quality is much better. 3D printing of rocket engines works for smaller engines. (A rocket engine is a big piece of metal with a lot of internal voids and channels, which is what 3D printing is good at.) Cutting tools are better; tungsten carbide and diamond are widely used. That's all non-computer stuff.
- sgt101 3y agoI would love to see a comparison of the properties of the Apollo launch systems and the current generation. My guess is that Starship is technically a jump ahead, while SLS is comparable.
- Animats 3y agoWikipedia: "As a Shuttle-derived vehicle, the SLS reuses hardware from the Shuttle program, including the solid rocket boosters and RS-25 first stage engines."