Tag: SLS
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Orbital ATK prepares for final casting of SLS EM-1 flight SRBs
Following the highly successful test firing of the Qualification Motor 2 (QM-2) at their proving grounds near Promontory, Utah, Orbital ATK is preparing for the second half of casting operations for the Solid Rocket Booster segments that will power the SLS EM-1 mission through the first two minutes of flight – while at the same…
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“Statistically significant evidence” for water emissions from Europa
NASA has confirmed “statistically significant evidence” from the Hubble Space Telescope indicating the presence of salty watery ejecta plumes from the Jovian moon Europa. The announcement lends further proof for the existence of a deep, saline ocean under Europa’s icy surface and creates new urgency and objectives for NASA’s upcoming Europa Clipper mission in the…
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Educating the SLS engines – Brains for the RS-25s undergoing certification
The effort to certify the Space Launch System RS-25 engines for the first launch will soon reach a critical milestone with the delivery of the first flight model engine controller unit (ECU). NASA is planning to finish its first-flight certification program next year, culminating in the planned shipment of the four flight engines to the…
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SLS Block 1B Universal Stage Adapter set for boosting payload options
As part of its transition to the powerful Block 1B variant of the Space Launch System (SLS) with the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS), NASA is working on a device called the Universal Stage Adaptor (USA). This adaptor will help connect the large EUS to the Orion spacecraft while accommodating the massive payloads SLS is intended…
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SLS ML revamp after EM-1 included Europa mission considerations
With work continuing on a lengthy project to convert the Mobile Launcher (ML) for use with the Space Launch System (SLS), a NASA manager has spoken about the challenges of preparing the huge structure for the rocket’s undefined manifest. The hope of SLS involvement with a mission to Europa included considerations for a second ML.…
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The Green Run – SLS preparing for milestone static fire tests
The NASA and contractor workforce at Stennis Space Center are nearing completion of structural work on the B-2 test stand that will be used for the Green Run test of the Space Launch System (SLS) Core Stage before its first flight. In addition to SLS Core Stage testing, planning is now also underway for the…
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MAF Roadmap: Preparing the SLS first core stages for testing and flight
The Structural Test Articles (STA) that will make up the first core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is in the final phase of construction at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans. Focus is now switching to the welds on the core that will create the first flight core that will launch…
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SLS Program working overtime to make 2018 debut
Exploration Systems Development (ESD) Deputy Associate Administrator Bill Hill explained plans to mitigate flow concerns – such as recent adjustments to the Space Launch System (SLS) Core Stage delivery schedule – to keep the program on a path to launch Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) in late 2018. Mitigation may include extra shifts to find margin in…
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RS-25 fires up again in latest SLS engine test
The latest static fire test of the development RS-25 engine (E0528) has taken place at the Stennis Space Center. The test is part of a series aimed at validating hardware and software elements, such as the improved engine controller, as the former Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) prepare to launch the opening Space Launch System (SLS)…
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SLS critical flight paths refined for 2018 debut; thrust profiles updated
NASA’s Exploration Systems Development office has completed its review of progress to date as well as forward path activity on the development of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the NASA Advisory Council. While several tasks and issues remain open, SLS continues a steady march toward its planned debut in late 2018 during the…