Orbiter Screenshot Thread

WIP new NASSP VC lighting.

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In a totally hypothetical scenario, the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE 🐶) has stopped the production of the SLS-launcher as being too costly. Fortunately, there is a commercial option to send the Orion spacecraft to the Moon: Launch it on a Falcon Heavy, then dock to a Centaur upper stage in orbit and boost the Orion onto a lunar trajectory.

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An early morning double-launch at the Cape! The Orion is stacked on a Falcon Heavy on SLC 40 in the background,
while a Vulcan Centaur is made ready on LC 41.​

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Launch! The weight of the Orion spacecraft forces the Falcon Heavy to take a steeper launch trajectory,
while the unloaded Vulcan Centaur speeds ahead on a flatter, faster trajectory.​

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The space race!

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Booster separation, Launch Escape System away!

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The stack of Centaur and Orion is maneuvering for Trans Lunar Injection.​

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The Youtuber Apogee made interesting proposals to use an upgraded 'Lunar Dragon' and the HLS Starship to perform Artemis missions. One option is to use an HLS Starship as a 'tow truck' to push a Crew Dragon into Lunar orbit, and after the mission back to Earth.

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Using the reinforced rear docking port of the Dragon, which was developed for the Hubble rescue mission, the Dragon docks to a HLS Starship and is pushed on a Trans Lunar trajectory.

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After the TLI burn, the Dragon undocks and re-docks with its front docking port, allowing the crew to use the spacious rooms of the Starship.

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Lunar capture. The crew will then change to a Lunar lander (this will be a different ship).
After the mission the 'tow truck' will push the Dragon back home. The Dragon makes a direct atmospheric reentry, while the tow truck brakes propulsive into an elliptical Earth orbit, ready to be refilled for the next mission.
 
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