Tag: Orion
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SLS on track for successful PDR conclusion
The Space Launch System (SLS) is expected to pass its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) when the NASA Board meets on July 31. All “Element Level” PDRs have now been completed, ahead of the summit meeting, with zero “Red Risks” found with NASA’s new Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV). SLS Progress: In what is a major…
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EM-1: NASA managers request ambitious changes to debut SLS/Orion mission
Just months after changing Exploration Mission -2 (EM-2) into an asteroid rendezvous mission, NASA managers have issued a Change Request to alter the debut flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) with Orion. The change would result in Orion being sent 70,000 km past the Moon on a 25 day flight. Exploration Roadmap: As SLS…
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NASA Authorization Act pushes for Moon and Mars priority
The House Science space subcommittee’s 2013 Authorization Act intends to refocus NASA’s exploration path towards prioritizing the goal of landing humans on both the Moon and Mars, according to draft document. Ahead of a hearing on Wednesday, the political direction also pours cold water on the realigned Exploration Mission -2 (EM-2) to explore a captured…
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EFT-1 Orion team enter final leg of preparations and testing
With the Exploration Flight Test -1 (EFT-1) mission now at the T-15 months stage, Orion teams on land and at sea are deep into preparations for the key test of NASA’s next exploration spaceship. Major test milestones include the evaluation of sea recovery assets, Kennedy processing and stacking, parachute testing and heat shield preparations. EFT-1…
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EFT-1: Delta IV-H set for shipping to Florida next March
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy – that is set to launch the Exploration Flight Test -1 (EFT-1) Orion into space next year – has passed the 50 percent mark in its fabrication process in Alabama. The vehicle will be shipped to the Florida Space Coast next March, ahead of its September, 2014…
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UK’s Major Peake delighted by historic ISS assignment
British astronaut Major Timothy Peake is to become the first British government-sponsored astronaut to fly on the International Space Station (ISS), following his assignment to a long-duration mission from late 2015 to mid-2016. Major Peake’s flight to the ISS, which will be made via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, comes amid a period of increased UK…
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A return to the Moon would send NASA back to square one – Bolden
NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden has strongly ruled out missions to land on the Moon as part of NASA’s exploration roadmap, claiming any future political re-direction to return humans to the lunar surface would send the Agency “back to square one”. Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman have completed their Lunar Lander Study on behalf of the Golden Spike…
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NASA’s Commercial Crew Catch 22 as another $424m heads to Russia
NASA administrator Charlie Bolden emphasized the need for Congress to fully support funding for the Agency’s Commercial Crew Program, after signing a $424m extension for the use of Russian Soyuz vehicles to transport NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. The deal, which reaches through to June 2017, is likely to receive further extensions. Domestic…
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Europe’s ATV-4 prepares for launch amid contributions to future exploration
Europe’s latest space freighter, the Automated Transfer Vehicle-4 (ATV-4), is currently undergoing preparations for a realigned launch date following the replacement of a faulty unit inside the spacecraft. While the primary mission of ATV-4 will be to deliver a large load of cargo and propellants to the International Space Station, it will also help to…
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Captured Asteroid mission – Redefining EM-2 for the bold challenge
NASA administrator Charlie Bolden has officially announced an ambitious mission to send a crew to a captured asteroid as early as 2021. Mission planning is scheduled to begin in the summer, with the potential to redefine the 2021 Exploration Mission -2 (EM-2) flight, involving the Space Launch System (SLS) and the first crewed Orion spacecraft.…