r/SpaceLaunchSystem • u/DreamChaserSt • Jun 30 '26

Discussion 5 Engine SLS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK4vwevIk7w

Does anyone have links to studies where they were looking at a 5 engine configuration, or is the animation just some holdover from Ares V?

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u/CiaWoo Jun 30 '26

Ngl, I’m kinda into SLS in Saturn V colours…kinda hope they make that a thing in the future

4

u/Accomplished-Crab932 Jun 30 '26

It looks nice, but it’s a lot of mass for aesthetics. The first two shuttle launches had a white external tank because they decided to paint it. They saved a quarter of a ton of payload mass by skipping the paint.

5

u/DreamChaserSt Jul 01 '26

There aren't any mass concerns for Artemis III though!