/sci/ - Science & Math

NOMINAL AS FUCK

congratulations, Orbital Sciences!

>>5691614
diagram. (Antares was called Taurus II during development. Maybe they changed the name because the last 3 of 4 Taurus launches failed.)

>>4971489
In terms of cargo to ISS, there are many existing systems, and more in development:
* Russian Progress (unmanned Soyuz)
* European ATV on Ariane 5
* Japanese HTV on H-IIB
* SpaceX Dragon on Falcon 9 (first run in October, only system that can return intact)
* Orbital Science Cygnus on Antares (Antares test in October, Cygnus test in December, operational in 2013)

>>3772706
The SLS has fuckall to do with science. It is a jobs program for the Shuttle workers and major contractors. If it actually makes it off paper, it will be used for national prestige projects, where science is a far secondary goal.

The launchers the actual scientists are waiting for are the Falcon 9 and Taurus II, which fall into the medium-lift price/performance sweet spot for Discovery level missions (5-10 ton) recently vacated by the retiring Delta II launcher. Bigger is not better for science missions with limited budgets.

>>3426959
>implying NASA doesn't already purchase flights for their science missions

NASA is literally BEGGING for a commercial spaceflight industry to take off, because competition will reduce launch costs. The Delta II was the most economical launcher for NASA, but it is being discontinued. They are drooling over the prospect of the Falcon 1/9 and Taurus II competing for their business.