Tag: Orion
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SLS manifest targets Europa and Mars Sample Return missions
NASA is moving up a gear with its manifest planning for the Space Launch System (SLS). A new internal manifest portrays a tag team approach, alternating SLS between crewed missions for Orion and major flagship science missions that includes sending a spacecraft to Europa and conducting a Mars Sample Return mission, all before the middle…
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EFT-1 Orion completes assembly and conducts FRR
The stars are aligning for the December 4 debut mission of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, following the completion of the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) – albeit with three “actions” to satisfy ahead of flight. The vehicle also completed all assembly tasks and is almost ready to meet up with her Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle for…
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EFT-1 to boost ATK Launch Abort System test path
ATK’s Launch Abort System (LAS) – a key element for crew safety during the ride uphill on the Space Launch System and Orion – continues to make good progress during its test schedule. With the Exploration Flight Test -1 (EFT-1) flight set to provide key data ahead of the Ascent Abort (AA-2) test in 2019,…
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Orion EFT-1 mission enters pad flow milestones
Years in the planning, and NASA’s first step toward returning humans to deep space exploration, Exploration Flight Test -1 (EFT-1) is now into the business end of launch preparations. With the Delta IV-H rolled out to the pad, the EFT-1 Orion is in the final flow milestones ahead of joining forces with the ULA rocket…
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Photo gallery: Delta 4-Heavy moved to launch pad
The United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket for Exploration Flight Test-1 is rolled to the launch pad and lifted to the vertical position in the mobile service tower on the pad at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Delta 4-Heavy is being readied to launch Orion on its…
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Orion’s Delta 4-Heavy rocket moved to launch pad
The Delta IV Heavy rocket is lifted to the vertical position at Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral. Photo: NASA/KSC. The booster rocket that will launch NASA’s next-generation Orion space capsule on a two-orbit, four-hour shakedown cruise in December has been rolled to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral. United Launch Alliance’s triple-body Delta…
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EFT-1 Orion completes outfitting, ready for fueling
NASA’s first space-worthy Orion spacecraft is preparing for her next key milestone in the flow towards December’s Exploration Flight Test -1 (EFT-1) mission. The completed Orion, now stacked on the Service Module, will be moved from her home in the Operations & Checkout (O&C) building this week, ahead of fueling operations. EFT-1 Orion: It’s been…
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SLS searching for missions to solve flight rate dilemma
Space Launch System (SLS) managers are continuing to look at potential – and as yet unfunded – science missions to provide their monster rocket with a viable number of flights. The flight rate dilemma was recently highlighted when it was admitted NASA had looked into “how slow” a launch rate could be viable for the…
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EFT-1 Orion targets morning launch on December 4
The long-awaited debut flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft has been scheduled for a morning launch on December 4, a major milestone after nearly 10 years of development. With a window of around 60 minutes, her ride uphill on the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV-Heavy rocket is targeting a T-0 of 08:03 Eastern Time, from…
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RS-25 engine installed for Stennis testing amid SLS schedule debate
The Stennis Space Center is just weeks away from returning to RS-25 engine testing, following the installation of Engine 0525 on the A-1 Test Stand. The milestone comes as the launch date for the first Space Launch System (SLS) mission – Exploration Mission -1 (EM-1) – is almost certain to slip by at least six months,…