Tag: Orion
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Constellation battle numerous Top Risks – Orion loses unmanned capability
The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) is undergoing further reductions in its capability – including the elimination of the vehicle’s unmanned ability – as Constellation managers attempt to resolve numerous issues ahead of the Orion Project PDR (Preliminary Design Review). Issues noted in the recent “Top Risks” review list 10 serious issues with the Ares and Orion vehicles, ranging from…
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Discovery handed special heatshield coating DTO on behalf of Orion
Shuttle Discovery has been tasked with a special DTO (Detailed Test Objective) – on behalf of the Orion Project Office – to be carried out during STS-128’s re-entry. A “Catalytic Coating” has been applied to two of Discovery’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) tiles, providing Orion – and shuttle – engineers with refined aeroheating data. STS-128…
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Refining Constellation’s plans to make 2015 – Hanley proposes major changes
Citing schedule concerns and technical challenges, Constellation manager Jeff Hanley has outlined a series of proposed solutions to avoid further slips in the Ares/Orion schedule. Mr Hanley proposes deleting the Ares I-Y test flight, making Ares I’s first stage disposable, switching from Orion 4 to Orion 3 as the Full Operational Capability (FOC) date, along…
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Study finds EELV capable of Orion role – Griffin claims alternatives are fiction
A study by the Aerospace Corporation, conducted at the request of NASA to disprove the viability of an option to switch Orion to an alternative Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV), has found both the Atlas V Heavy and Delta IV Heavy are capable of launching Orion on both ISS and Lunar missions. Meanwhile, former NASA…
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Ares/Orion slipping up to 18 months – Shuttle extension gains upper hand
NASA’s Constellation Program (CxP) will conduct a “Content and Schedule” summit meeting in the next few months, after it was evaluated their current schedules are “broken”. The meeting will aim to protect against a slip that is estimated to be as serious as 18 months, or outright cancellation for Ares I. Meanwhile, the push for…
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Orion opts for Hybrid Lite comms system due to mass/power issues
Lockheed Martin have recommended a switch of a 8Mbs Phased array on its Communications and Tracking (C&T) system to a combination phased array S-Band at low data rates with a High Gain Antenna – called Hybrid “Lite” – due to Orion’s mass and power issues. The decision for the change was made in February at…
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Orion opts for Hybrid Lite comms system due to mass/power issues
Lockheed Martin have recommended a switch of a 8Mbs Phased array on its Communications and Tracking (C&T) system to a combination phased array S-Band at low data rates with a High Gain Antenna – called Hybrid “Lite” – due to Orion’s mass and power issues. The decision for the change was made in February at…
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Extra NASA funds: An initial step towards gap reduction options/extension
US lawmakers have agreed on a stimulus package that includes just over $1 billion in additional funds for NASA, to be utilized during 2009 and 2010. While the $400m allocated towards “Exploration” is not specifically earmarked for extension of the shuttle program, it could allow NASA to take the first steps in reducing “The Gap”…
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Ares I Thrust Oscillation meetings conclude with encouraging data, changes
A series of Ares I Thrust Oscillation (TO) meetings have concluded with the decision to recommend baselining Ares I’s Tuned Mass Absorber (TMA) on the aft of the vehicle as a passive – as opposed to active – system, as the latest analysis – which has included human tests – reduce TO as a potential…
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Altair project buying into Orion lessons for development process
As Orion and Ares progress towards PDR (Preliminary Design Review) and the next phase of development cycles (DACs), the Altair Project is beginning to seriously study potential configurations for the lunar lander.While still a long way off a final design, the project is working on its alignment with the ongoing changes to the capabilities of…