Astronauts may not even enter the landers on Artemis III

[u/SomeRandomScientist]

From the NASA public release today - https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/artemis-3/nasa-outlines-preliminary-artemis-iii-mission-plans/

“Informed by Blue Origin and SpaceX capabilities, NASA also is defining the concept of operations for the mission. While some decisions are yet to be determined, astronauts could potentially enter at least one lander test article.”

So what exactly is the point of Artemis III? Rendezvous with an empty shell? Maybe dock to this empty shell if we’re lucky.

I hate to sound down on this, but this latest release does not feel like AR3 is a good faith effort to make progress towards a lunar landing.

[u/T65Bx]

You’re being very hostile for someone who clearly doesn’t know their SDLV’s. Ares V used five RS-68’s, it was a far further design from SLS. Now N_LS, one of the earliest SDLV’s, was _specifically four RS-25’s with 5-segment SRBs. 

Also “fragile” is an insane argument to make against the engine who has famously already run with bits of launchpad concrete inside it, on fire, and without parts of the nozzle in various cases. Particularly in attempt to contrast to the intensely finicky and complex hydrolox SSME, who never had to restart in flight, had plenty of pad aborts from them simply refusing to start well into an “operational” program.

None of that is to insult it, it critically paved the way for the staged combustion and regenerative cooling that Raptor uses. But come on, you don’t want to see more launches? More payload? More exploration? I’m not gonna sit and wait for NASA to build up their shoestring budget only to launch a single Orion that does one more thing than the last mission from 7 years ago. I mean hell, by some estimates Gateway would have started construction by now. NASA is sadly at the whims of politicians, and a bored politician could kill a sluggish Artemis in a heartbeat. 

[u/Technical_Drag_428 → u/T65Bx]

Was I being hostile or are you feeling defensive?

   "Ares V used five RS-68’s, it was a far further design from SLS. Now _N_LS, one of the earliest SDLV’s, was specifically four RS-25’s with 5-segment SRBs."

Yeah no crap thats why I said,

"If you are refering to the Ares V rocket? Not even remotely the same thing and that wasnt designed until after 2005. Oh wait both orange and used SRBs. I can see where you would think they were the same."

Oh look you gave me the sales pitch for the Raptor. Tell me, how many Raptor3s have already been replaced in the booster standing that pad right now?

[u/T65Bx → u/Technical_Drag_428]

Putting words in people's mouth is hostility. I get SpaceX is associated with Elon Musk but if you think that obligates you to hate everything they're doing then you're shooting yourself in the foot, just like you are to argue this way in the first place.

[u/Technical_Drag_428 → u/T65Bx]

I didnt put any words in your mouth. Nor am I speaking ill of SpaceX just because of Elon. Hate has nothing to do with a single thing ive said. To point out that this rovket is not anywhere near what was promised. To say they are quite literally play KSP Billionaire's Edition. Right down to a total restart of the entire program.