SLS in Big Problem! Can NASA use SpaceX Crew Dragon to the Moon...

we're going back to the Moon that's the promise NASA made with the emis program but while the mission itself is ambitious the biggest obstacle isn't the destination it's the system they've chosen to get there the space launch system with delays skyrocketing costs and questions about its long-term sustainability is there a better way for NASA to reach the moon what if spacex's Dragon variant could be the solution let's dive into this exciting possibility in today's episode of Great Space a the day NASA promised humans would return to the Moon is fast approaching however the road to achieving that goal is proving more challenging than expected problems continue to mount at both NASA and boing and rumors are swirling that the space launch system and Orion projects could be on the verge of cancellation if the US wants to return to the Moon before China a backup plan must be put in place one alternative is to leverage spacex's proven reliable launch systems and spacecraft to carry out the mission however before NASA can consider using crew dragon as a substitute we need to assess whether it's truly suited for the task crew dragon has already established itself as a highly capable space CRA in low earth orbit although slightly smaller than Orion it can still accommodate four astronauts and SpaceX has stated that it could be configured to carry up to seven one of crew dragon's standout features is its integrated Pusher launch Escape system unlike traditional capsules that rely on a disposable escape tower Kuru Dragon uses eight super Draco engines to rapidly separate from the launch vehicle in case of an emergency the spacecraft's trunk serves as both an interface between crew dragon and the falcon9 rockets second stage and as a housing unit for key components like solar panels a heat dissipation radiator and stabilizing fins used during emergency aborts the trunk also offers unpressurized cargo space which has been used to transport crucial ISS Hardware like the roll out solar array A fitting known as The Claw securely attaches the trunk to the capsule scw dragon is designed to operate in the vacuum of space and in the event of a rapid cabin depressurization astronauts are protected by SpaceX designed space suits the spacecraft is engineered to safely function even with a leak equivalent to an orifice diameter of 6.35 mm additionally crew Dragon features fully autonomous docking capabilities with the ISS though astronauts can manually override the system when necessary and because it's built by SpaceX the spacecrafts Reus AB ility provides a significant economic Advantage however despite these strengths crew Dragon would need several modifications to support deep space missions one major concern is radiation protection Orion is specifically designed to withstand the increased Cosmic and solar radiation found beyond Earth's magnetosphere crew dragon on the other hand was built primarily for Leo missions where Earth's magnetic field offers natural protection for it to be viable for lunar travel additional radiation shielding would be necessary to safeguard astronauts from harmful exposure another critical upgrade would be its life support system crew dragon's environment control and life support system or eclss is optimized for short duration missions lasting a few days to a week in contrast lunar missions require systems that can sustain astronauts for extended periods anywhere from weeks to months this means significant modifications would be needed to to improve water and oxygen storage as well as recycling capabilities thermal protection during re-entry is another consideration returning from the Moon requires Surviving High velocities and temperatures compared to ELO re-entry while crew dragon's Pika X heat shield has proven effective for Earth orbit re-entry it hasn't yet been tested under lunar conditions however this might not be as much of a challenge as it seems Elon Musk has repeatedly emphasized that dragon heat shield is designed for interplanetary re-entry the now cancelled red dragon mission was the original Catalyst for developing the Pika X heat shield as it was meant to survive high-speed atmospheric entry on Mars while red dragon would have re-entered the Martian atmosphere at speeds of up to 13,000 mph crew Dragon heat shield is designed to handle even more extreme conditions up to 25,000 mph for interplanetary re-entry NASA Stardust capsule which used a standard Pika heat shield still holds the record for the fastest re-entry speed into Earth's atmosphere reaching 28,900 mph in 2006 spacex's Pika X an enhanced version of that heat shield has been tested and shown to outperform its predecessor meaning crew Dragon likely has the necessary thermal protection for lunar re-entry even if all technical hurdles were overcome there's still one major ch challenge thrust the original aremis 3 plan involves launching Orion aboard the space launch system with a cryogenic propulsion stage performing a trans lunar injection maneuver to send the spacecraft toward the moon Orion would then rendevu with the human Landing system in near rectilinear Halo orbit around the Moon Falcon 9 and crew Dragon however are optimized for Leo operations and lack the necessary thrust for translunar injection but what about Falcon heavy technically Falcon heavy does have the thrust needed to send crew dragon to the Moon in fact it has been suggested multiple times as an alternative to the costly SLS program however there is a major limitation Falcon heavy is not yet rated for crude missions certifying Falcon heavy for human space flight would require extensive modifications which SpaceX has little interest in pursuing the company is already focused on developing Starship a fully reusable spacecraft Des designed specifically for deep space missions rather than investing time and resources into modifying Falcon heavy for human transport SpaceX is prioritizing starship's development as its long-term solution for lunar and interplanetary missions while crew dragon is an incredible spacecraft adapting it for lunar travel would require significant upgrades even then the lack of a crew rated launcher poses a fundamental challenge for now spacex's Focus remains on Starship which is designed to handle deep space missions from the outset so while crew Dragon might not be the perfect solution for Artemis it does highlight a larger issue NASA's Reliance on the expensive and troubled SLS program with commercial Alternatives advancing rapidly it might only be a matter of time before NASA shifts its approach or risks falling behind in the new space race the Artemis plan must be adapted to optimize efficiency and here here's how it'll unfold SpaceX will first establish a storage Depot in Earth orbit where reusable tank or spacecraft will transport propellant to refuel the human Landing system for lunar missions the Starship hls will then be launched to low earth orbit where it'll undergo refueling by these tankers an essential step under the Artemis program next the crew Dragon spacecraft will be launched to Leo where it will dock with Starship hls the crew will then transfer from Dragon to Starship hls which will then transport them directly to the lunar surface after completing their mission hls will lift off from the Moon and return directly to ELO where crew Dragon will be waiting to bring the astronauts safely back to Earth meanwhile hls will remain in orbit ready for refueling and preparation for future lunar missions this approach allows crew Dragon to operate within its intended altitude range while still enabling Moon missions but what if crew Dragon were to venture Beyond Leo the near rectilinear Halo orbit while unusual offers near constant Earth communication and access to various lunar locations NASA notes that it is gravitationally balanced between Earth and the Moon making it fuel efficient so how could crew Dragon take advantage of these benefits Dr Robert Zubin an aerospace engineer and Ardent advocate for space exploration has a a solution known for co-developing Mars direct a plan to simplify Mars missions Zubin proposed an alternative lunar approach in a June 30th of 2020 memo to NASA administrator Jim brightenstein along with the National Space Council executive secretary Scott Pace he calls it Artemis 8 an Apollo 8 style Mission using crew Dragon Falcon heavy and Falcon 9 the mission begins with launching a crude Dragon spacecraft into Leo for a falcon9 rocket a separate Falcon heavy launch would follow carrying an upper stage with excess propellant this upper stage would then Rendevous with crew dragon in orbit and perform a trans lunar injection burn although Falcon heavy is not yet human rated using its upper stage for in space Maneuvers is comparable to Falcon 99's role in orbit this method provides an alternative to Orion while leveraging proven commercial technology yet the conversation doesn't end there another strong Contender exists Starship not just the hls variant but the fully reusable Starship system the completed Starship is envisioned as a multiplanetary vehicle designed for Mars and Beyond sending astronauts to the Moon should be well within its capabilities in fact some critics argue that Elon musk's Starship could achieve lunar Landings more swiftly efficiently and at a fraction of the cost compared to existing Artemis components former NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver echoed this sentiment in her 2022 book escaping gravity my quest to transform NASA and launch a new space age she criticizes NASA's continued investment in outdated systems advocating for a shift toward commercially available Solutions Garver stated if successful Starship alone could perform the entire Artemis Mission without SLS Orion or the lunar Gateway at significantly reduced cost and increased capability though ship is still under development and must undergo rigorous testing before human flights its potential impact is undeniable once operational it will redefine space exploration making lunar and interplanetary travel more accessible than ever despite these advancements NASA is not abandoning the space launch system recently the agency released an exciting promotional video highlighting the upcoming Artemis 2 mission time remains a crucial Factor as Cs and Orion must quickly prove their reliability while any alternative approach whether a crew Dragon Starship or another commercial solution requires Swift development and thorough testing the race to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon is accelerating whether through incremental enhancements to emis or a bold leap with Starship the next few years will shape the future of lunar exploration and Beyond this has been Kevin with great SpaceX don't forget to like the video and subscribe if you haven't already to stay up to date with yours truly in the latest details of spacex's progress thank you so much for tuning in and remember curiosity imagination and inspiration will always follow you as long as you keep looking up