Large solid rockets have never been a very good way to build launchers that might have crews on top, especially because of the problems in getting the crew away from a failing launcher. Henry Spencer buildcrewcrow Change image and share on social
Sometimes a malfunctioning test setup actually gives the tested system a chance to show what it can do in an unrehearsed emergency. During a test of an Apollo escape system in the 1960s, the escape system successfully got the capsule clear of a malfunctioning test rocket. Henry Spencer 1960sapollocapsule share on social
Supplying fuel for a Mars expedition from the lunar surface is often suggested, but it's hard to make it pay off - Moon bases are expensive, and just buying more rockets to launch fuel from Earth is relatively cheap. Henry Spencer basisbuycheap share on social
An experienced designer with more freedom to act might have realised that there was just too much optimism in the Ares I concept: that a shuttle SRB was simply too small as a first stage for a rocket carrying the relatively heavy Orion spacecraft. Henry Spencer actarecarry share on social
Testing a parachute drop of a heavy object is not simple. Henry Spencer dropheavyobject Change image and share on social
Not until the space shuttle started flying did NASA concede that some astronauts didn't have to be fast-jet pilots. And at that point, sure enough, women started becoming astronauts. Henry Spencer astronautconcedefast Change image and share on social
The Moon may not be quite as appealing as Mars, but it's still a complex and poorly understood world, with many questions still unanswered. Henry Spencer appealcomplexmar Change image and share on social
Solid-fuel rockets can't easily be shut down on command. Henry Spencer commandeasilyfuel Change image and share on social
Technically and financially, it might still make sense to give up on Ares I and simply write off the money spent on it, but politically, that's probably impossible. Henry Spencer arefinanciallygive Change image and share on social
Historically, the U.S.'s big launchers fly seldom enough that their costs are dominated by annual upkeep of facilities and staff, not by the actual cost of each launch. The expensive part is maintaining the launch capability, not actually conducting launches. Henry Spencer actualannualbig share on social
