Which means they don't have anything that can take Humans to the Moon. That certification requires the technology to be much more proven. Also Falcon Heavy only carries 26t into LEO so I actually doubt it would be enough (don't know for sure). At the very least you need a transfer stage of course.
Next problem would be Crew Dragon itself. It's probably not able to return from the moon, the speed and thus the temperature is higher so you need a capsule designed for this. Which Orion is and Dragon isn't.
> Which means they don't have anything that can take Humans to the Moon.
Neither does the SLS/Orion stack. What are you even comparing here?
A lander is required anyway.
> Also Falcon Heavy only carries 26t into LEO
I assume you don't mean LEO.
> Next problem would be Crew Dragon itself. It's probably not able to return from the moon, the speed and thus the temperature is higher so you need a capsule designed for this. Which Orion is and Dragon isn't.
Actually, the Crew Dragon Heat Shield is designed for moon reentry. There might be a few updates for avionics but nothing to big.
SLS/Orion/Orion SM and Falcon Heavy/Dragon stack are both underpowered. There are solution to this is you were willing to invest the smallest amount of money.
Dragon could be extend by adding a extra fuel tank into the trunk. That would be a reasonably cheap solution. Alternatively a separately launched Service Module. That would likely cost a few 100M, but that is jump change compared to SLS/Orion.
Or even better, don't launch the capsule to moon orbit at all, switch to the moon lander in LEO. Then you can simply use commercial crew to get the astronauts up and down and the lander to go to the moon and back.
bayesian_horse|3 years ago
Next problem would be Crew Dragon itself. It's probably not able to return from the moon, the speed and thus the temperature is higher so you need a capsule designed for this. Which Orion is and Dragon isn't.
panick21_|3 years ago
Neither does the SLS/Orion stack. What are you even comparing here?
A lander is required anyway.
> Also Falcon Heavy only carries 26t into LEO
I assume you don't mean LEO.
> Next problem would be Crew Dragon itself. It's probably not able to return from the moon, the speed and thus the temperature is higher so you need a capsule designed for this. Which Orion is and Dragon isn't.
Actually, the Crew Dragon Heat Shield is designed for moon reentry. There might be a few updates for avionics but nothing to big.
SLS/Orion/Orion SM and Falcon Heavy/Dragon stack are both underpowered. There are solution to this is you were willing to invest the smallest amount of money.
Dragon could be extend by adding a extra fuel tank into the trunk. That would be a reasonably cheap solution. Alternatively a separately launched Service Module. That would likely cost a few 100M, but that is jump change compared to SLS/Orion.
Or even better, don't launch the capsule to moon orbit at all, switch to the moon lander in LEO. Then you can simply use commercial crew to get the astronauts up and down and the lander to go to the moon and back.
All of these idea would save 10s of billions.
adastra22|3 years ago
Human rating certification is more about paperwork, not technology demonstration.
hef19898|3 years ago
panick21_|3 years ago
Its not like Orion has actually flown, Crew Dragon and Falcon Heavy are more proven then SLS/Orion and would be easier to certify.