Space is hard.Looks like Artemis/SLS launch won't be until 2022 (Page 1/2) maryjane AUG 31, 06:58 PM https://arstechnica.com/sci...y-summer/?comments=1 Some excerpts from the article... Publicly, NASA is still holding on to the possibility of a 2021 launch date for the debut flight of its Space Launch System rocket. This week, an agency spokesperson told Ars that "NASA is working toward a launch for the Artemis I mission by the end of this year." However, a source said the best-case scenario for launching the Artemis 1 mission is spring of next year, with summer being the more realistic target for a test flight of the heavy lift rocket and Orion spacecraft. The space agency is already running about two months behind internal targets for testing and integrating the rocket at Kennedy Space Center, and the critical pre-flight tests remain ahead. Although years late and many billions of dollars over budget, the launch of this rocket will in some ways be a minor miracle. For a large bureaucracy like NASA, completing complex human spaceflight tasks is difficult. And the SLS rocket is complex both technically and politically. Concerned about job losses after the space shuttle retired, Congress imposed this rocket on the space agency, down to dictating its various components to ensure that space shuttle contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Aerojet Rocketdyne continue to receive substantial space program funding. Each contractor was given a "cost plus" contract that ensured funding but provided little incentive for on-time delivery. "This rocket is coming in at the cost of what not only what we estimated in the NASA Authorization act, but less,” Nelson said at the time. “The cost of the rocket over a five- to six-year period in the NASA authorization bill was to be no more than $11.5 billion.” Later, he went further, saying, "If we can't do a rocket for $11.5 billion, we ought to close up shop." More than a decade later, NASA has spent more than $20 billion to reach the launch pad. And Nelson is no longer a US Senator—he is the administrator of the space agency. The shop remains open. Earlier this month, Boeing's 2nd attempt to send an unmanned cargo vehicle (Starliner) to dock at the space station was scrubbed because of sticking valves and the capsule had to be sent back for investigation & repairs. https://www.fool.com/invest...ce-capsule-grounded/ Rocket Lab and Astra have both seen failures this yer. https://www.space.com/astra...military-test-flight https://www.space.com/rocke...nch-failure-may-2021 Raydar AUG 31, 07:08 PM quote Originally posted by maryjane: ... Concerned about job losses after the space shuttle retired, Congress imposed this rocket on the space agency, down to dictating its various components to ensure that space shuttle contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Aerojet Rocketdyne continue to receive substantial space program funding. Each contractor was given a "cost plus" contract that ensured funding but provided little incentive for on-time delivery. ... Earlier this month, Boeing's 2nd attempt to send an unmanned cargo vehicle (Starliner) to dock at the space station was scrubbed because of sticking valves and the capsule had to be sent back for investigation & repairs. Meanwhile, Bezos and Musk are about to open Amazon Fulfillment Centers and Tesla dealerships on on Mars... maryjane AUG 31, 08:25 PM Bezos has yet to put anything even into low Earth orbit. Notorio SEP 01, 11:56 PM Wow, I thought cost-plus contracts could not be awarded anymore by the Federal Government. It's sad to think about what NASA accomplished in the 60's compared to today blackrams SEP 02, 12:36 AM quote Originally posted by Notorio: Wow, I thought cost-plus contracts could not be awarded anymore by the Federal Government. It's sad to think about what NASA accomplished in the 60's compared to today There were a lot more unknowns back then. Technology has made huge leaps for "Mankind". The companies doing it today have the advantage of those who went before them. There's also a big difference in how a company runs versus a federal agency. Rams maryjane SEP 03, 08:26 AM Evidently, there are still a lot of unknowns. Another one exploded about 2 minutes into it's flight yesterday. blackrams SEP 03, 09:15 AM quote Originally posted by maryjane: Evidently, there are still a lot of unknowns. Another one exploded about 2 minutes into it's flight yesterday. I'd agree, the unknown of who screwed up is prevalent in this. We (and others) have been successfully launching rockets for decades. Doing it cheaper, differently, using alternative methods, materials, vendors, ect.... always carries risks. Rams Zeb SEP 03, 05:58 PM Yes, space is hard. Very hard. About 2:27, it loses balance. Once that happens, it's all over. As these guys found out, you can't drift a rocket. Jake_Dragon SEP 03, 06:46 PM That's what she said Click to show FieroSTETZ SEP 03, 08:39 PM quote Originally posted by Zeb: Yes, space is hard. Very hard. About 2:27, it loses balance. Once that happens, it's all over. As these guys found out, you can't drift a rocket. Can you imagine xgames when they figure out rocket drifting?