Tag: Orion
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The search for life on Mars – MOD involved in mission sims via PLRP
NASA’s Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) are continuing to expand their involvement in exploration training and simulation by working with the international Pavilion Lake Research Project (PLRP) team on multi-hour missions – a precursor to deep space exploration missions, which will one day involve humans searching for signs of life on Mars. PLRP and MOD: PLRP…
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NASA fanfare for Orion progress as welds begins on the OFT-1 vehicle
Although the space program finds itself lacking long-term direction, managers have marked a major milestone for their next crew transport, as the Orion Flight Test (OFT-1) vehicle began construction at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans. This first “flight worthy” Orion is set to launch on top of a Delta IV Heavy in…
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Orion work at Lockheed Martin ramping up as MPCV is tested with LAS
NASA’s next spaceship, the Orion – otherwise known as the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) – is starting to resemble what it’ll look like ahead of launch, as Lockheed Martin engineers at their Denver facility work through a number of key development tasks. In a milestone for the vehicle, an Orion Ground Test Article (GTA) was…
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NASA preparing to simulate Asteroid EVA protocols via NEEMO mission
NASA’s Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) are preparing for involvement in an underwater simulation of protocols which may become part of a manned mission to a Near Earth Object (NEO). The tests will be carried out during October’s NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) mission, which will be based at the Aquarius underwater habitat in Key…
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NASA interest in an interplanetary highway supported by Propellant Depots
NASA’s Human Architecture Team (HAT) is actively working on a roadmap towards evolvable demonstrations of Propellant Depots – with a potential goal of setting up an “interplanetary highway” to enable low cost exploration. With proposals being sought, industry sources point to a small, 30 metric ton capacity, Centaur derived depot as an initial leading candidate. Propellant…
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OFT-1: NASA gearing up for Orion’s 2013 debut via Delta IV Heavy
The efforts relating to the debut launch of Orion – otherwise known as the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) – on a “multi-hour” test flight are ramping up, as managers discuss the preliminary objectives, which may include a “human capable” version of the spacecraft being tested. A launch date of July, 2013 has been set, with…
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Preliminary NASA plan shows Evolved SLS vehicle is 21 years away
A new schedule, created by NASA, has provided a “preliminary, budget restricted” manifest which places the first flight of the fully evolved Space Launch System (SLS) in the year 2032. The information includes details on the chosen configuration and hardware, but provides a depressing schedule, with a flight rate of just one mission per year,…
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STS-134 Endeavour kicks up a STORRM during final farewell to ISS
Concluding a highly successful docked mission for STS-134, Endeavour and her crew undocked at 22:55 Central on Sunday, ahead of a busy and prolonged farewell to the Station which she was heavily involved in building. It involves nearly five hours of work until Endeavour’s final separation burn, as she performed a debut manuever specific to…
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Joint team structure recommended for Orion Test Flight (OTF-1) in 2013
Planning for the launch of a Block I Orion via a Delta IV Heavy is continuing, with recommendations for a “Joint Test and Mission Operations Team” comprised of Lockheed Martin and NASA-Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) personnel for the test flight. Orion – also now known as Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) – is scheduled to be…
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Orion returning to the forefront with test flight and manned debut evaluations
The Orion vehicle’s return to life is starting to pick up the pace, with planning for an unmanned test flight as early as 2013, along with discussions into the schedule for the manned debut of the vehicle. Key questions revolve around joint government and contractor responsibility for the test flight, while the manned debut may…