The first flights of next-generation Orion spacecraft would be pushed back at least a year or two if NASA is directed to scrap the Ares I rocket and switch to another launcher, officials said today.NASA would have to recomplete design work that already has been finished on Orion spacecraft -- Apollo-like capsules designed to fly U.S. astronauts on moon missions or to the International Space Station.
"Swapping out rockets seems like it's just a straight-forward thing, but we have to keep the entire mission in mind," said Jeff Hanley, manager of NASA's Project Constellation, which is developing Ares rockets and Orion spacecraft.
"We would have to go back..and redo part of the (design) phase that we just completed."
Hanley's assessment came as NASA completed a preliminary design review for the Orion spacecraft -- a checkpoint prior to freezing spacecraft design and proceeding with manufacturing.
It also came as a blue-ribbon panel prepares to present President Obama with options that include canceling the Ares I rocket in favor of other launch systems.
Those systems include upgraded Atlas V or Delta IV Heavy rockets, a simpler version of NASA's Ares V heavy-lift launcher, or a heavy-lift launcher more directly derived from shuttle components. Commercial rockets still under development are another option.
NASA says the Ares I and Orion still could be ready to fly by March 2015 at a total cost of $35 billion.
Since 2004, $7.7 billion has been spent on Project Constellation; $3.1 of that has going to Orion development. Ares costs to date are about $3 billion.
The remainder has been spent on advanced spacesuit development and other Constellation projects, such as early design work on a lunar lander.
The presidential panel in August wrapped up a 90-day study of NASA human space flight plans.
The group said Ares and Orion probably would not fly until 2017 or 2018.
The panel's final report is expected at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy around mid-September.
3 comments:
As a longtime follower of the space program of the US, it would be a disaster if the US is not be able to bring into space their own astronauts for more than 8 years! A country with such a legacy regarding spaceflight - NASA must be funded continuosly above political changes, it is an investment regarding science and technology. And it is also involved with foreign investors looking to the ISS, the US will make a bad move regarding credibility. Who will participate with an agency that`s not credible.
I hope president Obama will make a move like President J.F. Kennedy did in the sixties, not in a Cold War move, but from a move of investing in education, science and technology and international participation!
Success USA and NASA
All of the Augustine panel options have Orion flying on the heavy lifters, none of which will be ready before 2020. That gives NASA at least two years to make the necessary changes. What is Hanley complaining about?
Personally i think this is completely crazy.You make them put the already designed for the ares rocket system, orion capsule onto another heavy lift rocket.
More money needs to be spent,time wasted in redesign. Fund NASA properly and fully,and let them get on with this project(the world is watching you know ).!!
A UK space fan
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