Tag: SLS
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KSC’s historic Pad 39B laying the foundations for hosting big rockets
While most of the recent attention has been on its next door neighbor, Pad 39B is making good progress towards its new role in hosting the Space Launch System (SLS) – and potentially other rockets – with a major milestone completed this month. The last of over 93,000 new bricks was laid in the Flame…
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Testing the controller – RS-25 hot fire test for SLS
The RS-25 engine team has performed the latest hot-fire test in the A-1 test stand at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi on Tuesday. NASA, RS-25 prime contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Stennis facilities contractor Syncom Space Services (S3) are attempting acceptance testing the second engine controller unit (ECU) slated to fly on the first launch…
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NASA will not put a crew on EM-1, cites cost – not safety – as main reason
In what is a highly welcomed, if not somewhat surprising decision, NASA has officially announced that they will not place a crew onboard the first SLS flight, the EM-1 mission. The decision to keep EM-1 uncrewed was based on cost estimates for such a feat, identified as part of a White House initiative that kicked off the…
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SLS Core Stage team recovering from consequences of weld pin change
NASA and Space Launch System (SLS) Core Stage prime contractor Boeing recently resumed welding elements for the launch vehicle’s first flight after a technical issue suspended welding last year. A change to a welding tool in the Vertical Assembly Center (VAC) at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans, Louisiana, had unintended consequences that…
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Pegasus trip to Marshall for SLS engine section STA
As the facility continues repairs of tornado damaged infrastructure and looks to find workspace for displaced tenants, NASA, Space Launch System (SLS) Core Stage prime contractor Boeing, and facility operations and maintenance contractor Syncom Space Services are ready to ship the first SLS hardware element from the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans, Louisiana…
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NASA finally sets goals, missions for SLS – eyes multi-step plan to Mars
After years without concrete missions beyond the current EM-2 test flight, NASA has finally unveiled a plan for multiple missions of its SLS rocket. The plan would see NASA initiate a multi-step approach to human exploration in cislunar space while simultaneously developing the architecture to enable human missions to Mars – all of which is…
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SLC-41 completes EES installation ahead of Starliner missions
An Emergency Egress System (EES) has completed its installation into the Crew Access Tower (CAT) at Space Launch Complex -41 (SLC-41) in preparation for Atlas V launches with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. The EES is a vital element for all crew launch vehicles, with the SLC-41 EES working with the traditional “slide wire” concept. SLC-41 EES:…
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RS-25 engine controller involved in static fire test at Stennis
NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Syncom Space Services have conducted the first hot-fire test of a flight model RS-25 engine controller on Thursday afternoon. The eight-minute long test firing occurred in the A-1 test stand at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. RS-25 engines will power the Core Stage of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) launch…
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SLS Upper Stage arrives at the Cape as the LETF tests its umbilicals
A major milestone in the build-up to the maiden launch of the Space Launch System has seen the arrival of the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) at Cape Canaveral. Meanwhile, tests are continuing on the umbilicals that will feed this Upper Stage, ahead of joining forces when mated on the Mobile Launcher. ICPS: The upper stage…
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MAF recovering from tornado strike, aims to protect SLS critical path
While NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) continues to work through a recovery effort following last month’s tornado, Steve Doering, SLS Stages Element Manager, has provided a recent assessment of the damage. He also overviewed the initial recovery efforts and mitigation work against potential impacts on the core stage production critical paths for the Space Launch…