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re: Artemis II Mission - GO for launch, April 1st at 5:24 CST - 80% weather favorability

Posted on 2/3/26 at 12:35 pm to
Posted by MoarKilometers
Member since Apr 2015
21128 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 12:35 pm to
quote:

Falcon Heavy could put men on the Moon within the week.

they could not. Not gonna get a rocket to the VAB, let alone roll it out on the crawler-transporter, nor do preflight anything... on top of 39a being currently occupied. In a week, no less. I needed that laugh.
Posted by nicholastiger
Member since Jan 2004
56017 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 12:46 pm to
I wouldnt be going up in that if I was an astronaut
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
25828 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 1:27 pm to
quote:

Yeah, but see that number below the H. It makes it super useful for spaceflight. There is nothing in the universe that is more energetic for the weight...


It comes with problems, namely Hydrogen's amazing ability to leak.

Leak + energetic for the weight = Boom


We are well on our way, that once in space, we will not need to rely on chemical rockets. There is no solve yet for not needing chemical reactions to get out of our atmosphere, but that can be done with methalox a lot easier than hydrolox.
Posted by LSU Jonno
Huntsville, AL
Member since Feb 2008
621 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 1:31 pm to
The part that is leaking isn’t flight hardware, it’s on the mobile launcher. It is a concern for combustion during liftoff, that’s why it’s monitored and controlled, but the vehicle is in great shape.
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
16988 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 1:36 pm to
I chuckle every time I see that meme. I call it the Van Halen belt all the time.
Posted by LSU Jonno
Huntsville, AL
Member since Feb 2008
621 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 1:39 pm to
quote:

Cost per Launch Artemis II $2–4+ billion (very high due to expendable nature & program structure) Starship: Current estimates $100M+; long-term goal <$10M


You are comparing empirical numbers to projections. That never pans out. Plus you are comparing apples and potatoes.


Cost per launch isn’t a valid metric. Cost per mission is the metric.

A moon mission currently takes 1 SLS launch plus some number of Starship Launches. SpaceX originally estimated 7 starship launches to get to the moon. I think their official number is now 10-12. Some estimates have it at 20+ launches (that is not a joke).

Let’s split the difference…

Moon mission cost:
1x SLS+Orion at $2B
Plus
15x Staships at 100million each or $1.5B

Total cost = $3.5B


SpaceX is great, but let’s not pretend that the ship that was promised to us 2 years ago that has blown up time and time again and has yet to reach orbit is our savior just yet. Remember this, Starship hasn’t gotten to the hard part of their mission yet.
This post was edited on 2/3/26 at 1:41 pm
Posted by Tarps99
Lafourche Parish
Member since Apr 2017
12719 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 1:42 pm to
quote:

wet dress rehearsal


Wasn’t there a 1980’s movie based on a group of kids that were at a space camp and they got to sit in the space shuttle while it was going through testing on the launch pad and something went wrong and flight controllers initiated lift off and the shuttle took off with the kids and an instructor aboard.

One issue they had was that there wasn’t enough oxygen pumped on board yet so they had to do a space walk and put in a spare canister.

They also had to land at White Sands New Mexico instead of Florida.


If I find it, I will post a trailer or YouTube upload. The movie was called Space Camp.


This post was edited on 2/3/26 at 1:46 pm
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
74272 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 1:50 pm to
Space Camp. And I went to Space one summer. But it was in Alabama and we didn't have any launches there. Brit i did get to crash A shuttle on a simulator. The coolest thing was getting to put on a smaller space suit. Though I was in the younger group and didn't do the underwater stuff.
This post was edited on 2/3/26 at 1:50 pm
Posted by need2no
Louisiana
Member since Jan 2006
294 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 1:50 pm to
Yes! It was called Space Camp lol.
Posted by TigerTatorTots
The Safeshore
Member since Jul 2009
82211 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 2:09 pm to
quote:

Hydrogen is a bitch, glad SpaceX and others are moving away from it.

What are they moving to?
Posted by Drank
Member since Jun 1864
Member since Dec 2012
12344 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 2:54 pm to
And that kid on the cover is Joaquin Phoenix
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
25828 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 4:12 pm to
quote:


The part that is leaking isn’t flight hardware, it’s on the mobile launcher. It is a concern for combustion during liftoff, that’s why it’s monitored and controlled, but the vehicle is in great shape.


Hydrolox has been used successfully on many launches, it is just problematic to use. Once the rocket is launched, the pounding of that can create leaks.

Hydrogen leaks easily, that is why you see every new rocket company moving away from it.
Posted by PJinAtl
Atlanta
Member since Nov 2007
14470 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 4:27 pm to
quote:

kid on the cover is Joaquin Phoenix

I think that was his feature film debut, and was back when he went by Leaf. Story was he was upset he was the only sibling not named after something in nature (River, Rain, Summer).
Posted by AlwysATgr
Member since Apr 2008
21011 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 6:21 pm to
quote:

Falcon Heavy could put men on the Moon within the week.


I don't think it's man-rated. Pretty sure it can get to the moon but they have no way of getting onto the lunar surface and back.
Posted by AlwysATgr
Member since Apr 2008
21011 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 6:26 pm to
quote:

What are they moving to?


SpaceX Raptors and Blue Origin's BE-4 run off methane and LOX I think.
Posted by LSU Jonno
Huntsville, AL
Member since Feb 2008
621 posts
Posted on 2/3/26 at 6:46 pm to
It’s not about “getting to the moon” it’s about “delivering payload to the moon”.

You have to deliver a crew, plus life support systems, plus food, plus fuel to get back.

Falcon Heavy’s payload capability to the moon is low. It certainly can’t push Orion to the moon.

There is one operational machine that can complete this mission and that’s SLS plus Orion. As soon as a better machine is available I’m sure the others will be phased out.
Posted by The Pirate King
Pangu
Member since May 2014
68481 posts
Posted on 2/6/26 at 10:52 am to
Second dress rehearsal attempt tentatively coming next Friday, which if successful, could point to a daytime launch attempt on March 3rd.

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Posted by Lonnie Utah
Utah!
Member since Jul 2012
34552 posts
Posted on 2/6/26 at 10:55 am to
quote:

This mission will go further than any person has gone before, surpassing Apollo 13.


Better watch out!! That VH radiation belt gonna get ya!!!





Posted by Auburn1968
NYC
Member since Mar 2019
26519 posts
Posted on 2/6/26 at 4:00 pm to
quote:

Falcon Heavy could put men on the Moon within the week. That is not the point of Starship. Rapid reusability is not easy.


As I recall, Apollo took five F1 engines to get to orbit and one to get to the moon and back.
Posted by Auburn1968
NYC
Member since Mar 2019
26519 posts
Posted on 2/6/26 at 4:16 pm to
quote:

Let’s split the difference…

Moon mission cost:
1x SLS+Orion at $2B
Plus
15x Staships at 100million each or $1.5B

Total cost = $3.5B


Yet, the lift capacity of Starship is greater than the SLS and it has undergone a lot of actual launch tests including the famous "chopstick catch." The SLS was obsolete before it left the drawing board because it is not reusable.


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