Boeing SLS and Starliner, not just Airplanes

[privateer]

Something that doesn't get discussed on here since the constant ridicule of Boeing and its 737MAX is the NASA SLS and and Starliner programs. We are at the cusp of new space age with private sector about to get NASA crew back into space. The amount of thought and engineering that goes into these programs is staggering. Not to mention the money. Canada's contribution to the James Webb Space Telescope is almost $200 million and counting.
https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellite ... efault.asp

[Dry Guy]

And I'm asleep.

[goldeneagle]

SLS = Senate Launch System. A never ending money pit that's producing an obsolete launcher with no mission.

['97 Tercel]

[privateer]

Ya it's real boring when billionaires start launching their electric sports cars on 3 rockets strapped together that later land upright.

[plhought]

The SLS is a disappointing launch platform.

Let's throw 4 used space shuttle engines on the back of the old external tank and throw an extra segment on some used SRBs.

Meh, guess it's the safest bet for the future manned flights beyond LEO.

[ahramin]

The point is they already had those engines sitting there. 29 of them I think, enough for the entire mission set. Why not use the existing proven hardware that's already been paid for? The goal isn't "Invent a new rocket", the goal is "Go to the moon". SLS does that.

[ogc]

At $2 billion ish per launch and what 11 billion already invested and it hasn't even flown. It's a major disappointment and is hindering access to space because it is way to expensive.

It's also a shame the RS-25 engine they are putting on SLS is one of the best and most capable rocket engines ever made. It is also one of the most expensive because it was designed to be REUSABLE and now they are going to throw them in the ocean.

SLS is a political plan and I dont have high hopes for its success.

[goldeneagle]

The goal isn't "Invent a new rocket", the goal is "Go to the moon". SLS does that.

Actually, no, that is not the goal. the goal is, how much money can be spent in specific congressional districts. If it gets the moon that's a bonus side effect, but, it's not a given at this point in time.

[Daniel Cooper]

Oops.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/20/boeings ... ation.html

[Eric Janson]

A more detailed look at what happened.

https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/20/210 ... lure-orbit

The source of the problem was a glitch in the Starliner’s internal clock, which caused the vehicle to register a different time than it actually was.

The whole situation was compounded by a communications issue, too. Once they realized that Starliner wasn’t burning its engines, the engineering team tried to send a command to jumpstart the process. The only problem: Starliner was in a communications dead zone, too far from satellites that would have relayed the commands to the spacecraft.

Doesn't look like they're going to the moon anytime soon imho.