/sci/ - Science & Math

>>15106850
Constellation was so cool

God, the Constellation program was so cool. In hindsight, it never was going to make it, as the current SLS is somewhat similar - but even smaller - to the planned Ares V, and it’s having a million and a half issues. But still, it’s very cool.
The Altair Lunar Lander would’ve cost $15 billion to build, which is 50% higher than even the National Team’s original ILV bid ($10 billion). Crazy!
If Constellation
>Used Shuttle-C instead (no serious development time or money on changing the external tank)
And
>Used proto-HLS selection (makes landers competitive)
It might’ve had a better chance of working.
The final interesting thing is that it was downscaled as the size of the rockets grew. At first, Orion would carry crew to the ISS, as well as cargo via an unmanned Orion capsule similar to Cargo Dragon, and even cargo in an expendable pressurized container 5 meters wide like a fat Cygnus.
Of course, Ares I grew larger still and eventually Orion lost its use as a cargo launcher to the ISS.