https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/indias-2019-space-plans/ Thu, 03 Jan 2019 19:43:26 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/indias-2019-space-plans/#comment-1062861 Thu, 03 Jan 2019 19:43:26 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=55494#comment-1062861 If SH-Starship development moves as quickly as current SpaceX plans call for, the first Starship landing on the Moon will happen years before even the first piece of Gateway is delivered to lunar orbit. This will be true even if there are two or three years of schedule slippage for SH-Starship. But I think SH-Starship will be pretty much on-time arrivals. If this is even approximately true, I hope it results in the cancellation of Gateway – and of SLS and Orion, too, if both have not already been cancelled even earlier.

]]> https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/indias-2019-space-plans/#comment-1062810 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 20:36:58 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=55494#comment-1062810 India could, if it wanted, put a crew on the Moon before China, via a 4-launch scenario using GSLV mk. III. They’re clearly capable of designing an Apollo LM-class lander to go with Gaganyaan. EOR for LM+transstage. EOR for Gaganyaan+transstage. Then LOR for LM+Gaganyaan. It’d be little, but it’d be done, and probably before the Chinese get to the Moon. Of course, a SpaceX Starship will probably get there first, and they can call be cheered on by the crew of the LOP-G.

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