Re:America has more new spaceships on the way
by kanox on Monday June 01, 2020 @06:10PM
(#23384588)
> Orion doesn't have the necessary docking adapter.
NASA actually enforced a standard docking systems for all capsules: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Docking_System . In theory it's androgynous so it might even be possible to dock capsules to each other.
Orion is extremely heavy (26 tons fully fueled) so it would need a Falcon Heavy or D4 Heavy. This would make it very expensive.
It's also politics: since the early 2010s SLS has been the only "supported" vehicle for Orion thus tying the two programs together.
NASA actually enforced a standard docking systems for all capsules: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Docking_System . In theory it's androgynous so it might even be possible to dock capsules to each other.
Orion is extremely heavy (26 tons fully fueled) so it would need a Falcon Heavy or D4 Heavy. This would make it very expensive.
It's also politics: since the early 2010s SLS has been the only "supported" vehicle for Orion thus tying the two programs together.