NASA Orion launch used the Jumbo-64?

[davidpsummers]

Watching the Orion lift-off.

Nice that they used the Rockomax Jumbo-64 Fuel Tank. (They are orange, what else could they have used?)

[zarakon]

Found these cool replicas on youtube:

[Whirligig Girl]

Heh. The orange is actually a spray-on insulation. Used on the Space Shuttle Tanks, and on the Saturn V tanks (Though there's a shell covering up the actual tanks themselves on the Saturn V)

On the very first Space Shuttle launch, they actually painted the orange tank. But they removed the paint because of how much it weighs. I predict they will actually do the same for the Space Launch System.

Note: If I'm wrong, please politely correct me

[SciMan]

Maybe this time they just made the foam insulation have different colors instead of painting it?

After all, you can get styrofoam in a bunch of different colors. I know they aren't using styrofoam, but there's no reason you can't make the foam they are using different colors with a similar method. Of course if that changes the mechanical or thermal properties of the foam then it won't work because it would require a bunch of new studies to make sure the new foam won't get knocked off of the rocket by aerodynamic loads or ice impacts.

Or maybe they haven't even considered what color to make the rocket yet. After all, everything we've seen of the SLS so far has been computer generated.

On topic, I think the Delta-IV tanks look more like the long un-painted 2m and 3m tanks from KW.

Of course that might be because those tanks were made to look like the Delta-IV, but I don't know if that's imitation or coincidence.

Edited December 10, 2014 by SciMan

[KevinW42]

Maybe this time they just made the foam insulation have different colors instead of painting it?

After all, you can get styrofoam in a bunch of different colors. I know they aren't using styrofoam, but there's no reason you can't make the foam they are using different colors with a similar method. Of course if that changes the mechanical or thermal properties of the foam then it won't work because it would require a bunch of new studies to make sure the new foam won't get knocked off of the rocket by aerodynamic loads or ice impacts.

Or maybe they haven't even considered what color to make the rocket yet. After all, everything we've seen of the SLS so far has been computer generated.

On topic, I think the Delta-IV tanks look more like the long un-painted 2m and 3m tanks from KW.

Of course that might be because those tanks were made to look like the Delta-IV, but I don't know if that's imitation or coincidence.

Or maybe the color is used to identify the type of foam.

[AngusJimiKeith]

On the very first Space Shuttle launch, they actually painted the orange tank. But they removed the paint because of how much it weighs. I predict they will actually do the same for the Space Launch System.

Note: If I'm wrong, please politely correct me

Only thing wrong is that they SLS will probably never be painted -- the artists' impressions showing the Saturn V style paint are for publicity. SLS' core stage will be orange from the start as far as I'm aware. Of course, it's still possible that they do paint the first one. They should have plenty of mass margin and it would be great for publicity -- throwback to the Saturn V! I doubt it'll happen, but it could.

[kerbiloid]

With what software, do you think, they have designed this launcher?

[Brainlord Mesomorph]

With what software, do you think, they have designed this launcher?

Guess: AutoCAD and Mathmatica? Or some kind of USA (United Space Alliance) opensource/in-house versions of those??

[kerbiloid]

Guess: AutoCAD and Mathmatica? Or some kind of USA (United Space Alliance) opensource/in-house versions of those??

Mmm...

I mean: whether there is any software except Kerbal Space Program with these Jumbo-64 tanks?

And so... It works!

[King Arthur]

USA (United Space Alliance)

The name you're looking for is the ULA, the United Launch Alliance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Launch_Alliance

[prophet_01]

When I was looking for the launch lifestream, I first stumed across that ksp orion video kinda weired how popular ksp has become compared to the public's continuously low interest in space agencies...

but the orange tanks reminded me of ksp aswell

[MAFman]

Guess: AutoCAD and Mathmatica? Or some kind of USA (United Space Alliance) opensource/in-house versions of those??

I bet they used Blender. I mean, JPL used Blender for their "Seven Minutes of Terror" video of Curiosity.

[sndrtj]

Only thing wrong is that they SLS will probably never be painted -- the artists' impressions showing the Saturn V style paint are for publicity. SLS' core stage will be orange from the start as far as I'm aware. Of course, it's still possible that they do paint the first one. They should have plenty of mass margin and it would be great for publicity -- throwback to the Saturn V! I doubt it'll happen, but it could.

What's wrong with orange?!

[Whirligig Girl]

Only thing wrong is that they SLS will probably never be painted -- the artists' impressions showing the Saturn V style paint are for publicity. SLS' core stage will be orange from the start as far as I'm aware. Of course, it's still possible that they do paint the first one. They should have plenty of mass margin and it would be great for publicity -- throwback to the Saturn V! I doubt it'll happen, but it could.

I wonder if they could just tint the foam for the proper Saturn-Esque colors

[Bill Phil]

Why are Saturn-esque colors important?

Personally I would rather have a grey-white-red style, like STS-1 but with some red in there somewhere.

BTW, Saturn tanks didn't have the same insulation as the External Tank, the orange foam was actually an EPA-approved insulation that was made a requirement (even though the SRBs are MUCH worse for the environment, but who cares?).

[King Arthur]

Why are Saturn-esque colors important?

Better PR.

Having rockets and space vehicles that simply look cool are rather important if you want to garner the public's attention and care.

[kerbiloid]

Why are Saturn-esque colors important?

Personally I would rather have a grey-white-red style, like STS-1 but with some red in there somewhere.

For grey-white-red they should use KW Rocketry, but they were ordered to use stock.

[Nibb31]

Better PR.

Having rockets and space vehicles that simply look cool are rather important if you want to garner the public's attention and care.

PR is a secondary goal for a rocket. The primary goal is getting to orbit. If an unpainted tank offers better performance, the PR folks' job is to explain why it's orange and not white.