Where will Orion end up going?

[fredinno]

19 hours ago, Spaceception said:

 

 

Well then I guess there's no point for a LEO SLS/Orion.

 

Although, now that I'm thinking about it, why can't an Atlas or Delta take up Orion to the ISS? This question does ask how far will Orion go, not SLS.

Because of Constellation- it was mandated a new LV be created for Orion, leading to the Ares 1 disaster. When they moved to a Jupiter-DIRECT-esque SLS, they discarded Orion, because CCDev was supposed to do all LEO tasks.

 

In any case, a propellant depot would be best on a Atlas V Heavy with ION/Xenon space tugs (the high initial mass is one good place that SLS could launch well, in dual launch), or a Centaur-sized H2 Lox Space tug with IVF and propellant launched on a 50T LV ( I don't think Falcon Heavy would have a big enough payload fairing even for 50T of H2 fuel).

 

SLS would actually be great for space tugs- assuming there was THAT much demand. There simply isn't, sadly.

[insert_name]

3 hours ago, fredinno said:

Because of Constellation- it was mandated a new LV be created for Orion, leading to the Ares 1 disaster. When they moved to a Jupiter-DIRECT-esque SLS, they discarded Orion, because CCDev was supposed to do all LEO tasks.

 

In any case, a propellant depot would be best on a Atlas V Heavy with ION/Xenon space tugs (the high initial mass is one good place that SLS could launch well, in dual launch), or a Centaur-sized H2 Lox Space tug with IVF and propellant launched on a 50T LV ( I don't think Falcon Heavy would have a big enough payload fairing even for 50T of H2 fuel).

 

SLS would actually be great for space tugs- assuming there was THAT much demand. There simply isn't, sadly.

I thought Atlas V heavy was cancelled 

[fredinno]

22 hours ago, insert_name said:

I thought Atlas V heavy was cancelled 

It's available if anyone wants it, with a 2 year lead time.

[Matuchkin]

At this point, I expect this to end up like all other epic/ innovative space projects- in the scrap.

[Panel]

2 hours ago, Matuchkin said:

At this point, I expect this to end up like all other epic/ innovative space projects- in the scrap.

It's not really innovative, is it? It is mostly already-developed technology being used to make a new vehicle. 

[Matuchkin]

2 hours ago, Panel said:

It's not really innovative, is it? It is mostly already-developed technology being used to make a new vehicle. 

Oh, then it will probably go somewhere in LEO, then barely fly again.

[Nibb31]

15 hours ago, Matuchkin said:

Oh, then it will probably go somewhere in LEO, then barely fly again.

It's at least going to BEO on its maiden flight.

17 hours ago, Panel said:

It's not really innovative, is it? It is mostly already-developed technology being used to make a new vehicle. 

Isn't every new vehicle?

You don't build an operational vehicle out of unproven new technology. The risk is too high. Each technology has to reach a given TRL level before it can be used in an operational manned vehicle.