Tag: EFT-1
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NASA’s EFT-1 Orion into 17 months of outfitting at KSC
The Exploration Flight Test Orion (EFT-1) is into its first month of outfitting operations, aimed at turning what is a shell of a structure into a real spaceship. The outfitting operations at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) will take 17 months, using the bulk of the processing flow timeline ahead of its scheduled launch atop of a…
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Orion program deep into production, processing and testing for EFT-1
After a somewhat unhappy childhood, that included an abrupt and costly cancellation, the Orion program is now full speed ahead for its Exploration Flight Test (EFT-1). The Orion tasked with the 2014 mission is now being outfitted in Florida, as adaptor hardware related to EFT-1 – and its debut on the Space Launch System (SLS)…
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JSC conducting EFT-1 sim runs as Orion prepares for journey to KSC
Preparations for Orion’s first journey into space are accelerating, as flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) fire up the former Shuttle Flight Control Room (FCR) for mission simulations, while Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) engineers finalize the vehicle’s baseline construction, ahead of shipping Orion to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for outfitting. EFT-1 Vehicle…
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EFT-1 Orion parts set for closeout welds – Next parachute test in April
The Orion Program is continuing to push forward at a lively pace, as the first MPCV (Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) set to launch into space heads into the final pathfinder welds, ahead of closeout work. While work continues on the Exploration Flight Test -1 (EFT-1) Orion, the critical parachute system is set for another drop test in…
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Major KSC refurbishment work continuing ahead of SLS and Orion debuts
A significant amount of refurbishment work is taking place at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), as the spaceport prepares to welcome the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) to the world-famous launch site. Work is taking place throughout the center, with the focus on the refurbishment being conducted on SLS’ launch pad, Pad 39B.…
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Orion PTV preparing for drop test on Wednesday – EFT-1 Orion progress
The Orion Parachute Test Vehicle (PTV) is on track for its drop test on February 29 at the US Proving Grounds in Yuma, Arizona. The vehicle has completed processing prior to boarding the C-17 aircraft for the test of the parachute system. Elsewhere, the Exploration Flight Test (EFT-1) Orion is continuing construction in New Orleans, while…
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EFT-1 Orion hitting construction milestones – first backshell tile manufactured
Engineers at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans are making good progress with the construction of the Orion spacecraft tasked with the Exploration Flight Test in 2014 (EFT-1). Construction of the Back Bone panels for the Crew Module was completed around the same time as the first tile was manufactured for the vehicle’s…
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EFT-1 set to receive Spring, 2014 launch date after contract negotiations
The first launch into space for NASA’s new Orion spacecraft is expected to receive a realigned Spring 2014 launch date, once contract negotiations between NASA and Lockheed Martin are finalized at the end this month. The mission, which will see Orion launched on an uncrewed flight, will be launched by a Delta IV-Heavy. EFT-1: The…
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EFT-1 Orion receives hatch door – Denver Orion ready for Modal Testing
The Exploration Test Flight (EFT-1) Orion has received its hatch door panel on one of the cone longerons, as welding of the test vehicle structure continues at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans. Meanwhile, another Orion – this time kitted out with a Launch Abort System (LAS) is moving from acoustic to modal…