Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Moonshot, CEV Modifications

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the falling-back-on-pre-1970-tech-is-always-the-answer dept.

DarkNemesis618 writes "In the latest round of budget cuts, NASA introduced plans to modify the CEV for the planned Moon landing in 2018. The original plan called for an engine used on the space shuttle to be modified for the CEV. The new plan is to use an updated J-2 engine. The J-2 engine was first used on the Saturn V rocket which took the Apollo astronauts to the moon in the late 60's early 70's. It is not expected to save any money in the near-term, but in the far term, it should be a cost saver since the technology already exists and is proven. In the 10 Apollo launches aboard the Saturn V rocket, there were no problems with the launch vehicle."

3 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. 2018? by Etnie · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm a bit confused as to how it takes us longer to get to the moon now than it did in the 60s.

    Project Apollo was announced July 28th, 1960. July 20th, 1969, we set foot on the moon. Just under 9 years. (My dates may be a bit off.)

    Even if you say the new project starts now, that's still 12 years. How frustrating.

    1. Re:2018? by Kesch · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There's probably a Murphy's Law of Government somewhere that the time it takes a government body to complete and action is directly proportional to the amount of regulations and oversight that exists. Regualtions and oversight are in turn directly proportional to the age and size of the government.

      --
      If this signature is witty enough, maybe somebody will like me.
  2. Re:Let's see... by SnowZero · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The shuttle engine is not currently capable of in-air ignition, while the J-2 engine did exactly that for Apollo. The shuttle engine would thus have to be modified, while the J-2 engine would not. So it's more like 10 times vs 0.

    P.S. This is pretty clearly written in the article.