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Just to add on, if you don't mind: the SLS uses four RS-25 engines, the exact same engines that were used on the Space Shuttle (admittedly, there is a plan to i
by sjm-lbm 2y ago
Just to add on, if you don't mind: the SLS uses four RS-25 engines, the exact same engines that were used on the Space Shuttle (admittedly, there is a plan to improve them later), as well as solid rocket engines that are derived from the Shuttle SRBs.
I actually do think that more than one US-based provider of space launch systems is something important, but it's wild to me that mature US launch systems can basically be cleanly divided into "companies trying to sell the same technology to the government for the fifth time over fifty years" and "SpaceX."
- pram 2y agoAt this point would it have been cheaper to make Shuttle 2.0 with all the various flaws fixed lol
- gangstead 2y agoI'd like to expand on this and clarify for anyone reading this that it's not just using the same type of engines as the shuttle. They are literally the same reusable RS-25 engines taken off the shuttles over a decade ago and used for one final expendable launch. Likewise the SRB segments are reused from shuttle launches, but reconfigured and expended for one more launch on SLS. The $32 Billion spent so far on SLS have been to rearrange pieces from the shuttle parts bin. There are further contracts to make new RS-25 engines and SRBs optimized for expendability once they run out of old shuttle equipment.