- \n
- Orion Forum Section<\/li>\n
- L2 Orion\/Future Spacecraft Section<\/li>\n
- Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Such a deal would build on current agreements with ESA, which calls for a number of ATVs to resupply the International Space Station (ISS), as part of their role with the orbital outpost.<\/p>\n
Internally, meetings on this subject are starting to involve Orion teams, via strategy meetings relating to development roadmaps and exploration mission content.<\/p>\n
\u201cMet with HEOMD AA\/W. Gersteinmaier and the Director, Exploration Systems Development (ESD) on MPCV strategy,\u201d noted an Orion (MPCV) memo (L2). \u201cTalking with ESA about potential future partnerships. ESA in for discussions on possible collaborations based on ATV technology.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/A333.jpg\" "\\"A33\\"")
The ATV \u2013 three times the size of the Russian Progress resupply vehicle \u2013 was built with a human rating role in mind from the onset. However, these ranged from a mini space station \u2013 involving the mating of two or more ATVs, through to a crewed version of the Cargo Ascent and Return Vehicle (CARV) variant of the ATV.<\/p>\nBuilt by EADS Astrium, two ATVs have successfully visited the ISS, with three more set to launch as part of the ISS contract. Any potential change of direction for ATV\u2019s evolvability into an Orion role as the Service Module would likely come after 2015. However, a decision on moving forward with this option will come much sooner.<\/p>\n
Aerospace & Defense
<\/path>Company News <\/path>Space Technology <\/path>\n (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n
Click here for recent Orion articles: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/orion\/<\/p>\n
\u201c(Orion manager) Mark Geyer and MPCV (Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) are serious about getting ESA to build the Orion Service Module,\u201d added Orion memo notes last week (L2). \u201cThere will be an SR (Systems Review) in December and a decision will be made in early spring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Orion Elsewhere:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/A331.jpg\" "\\"A331\\"")
The first real test of Orion will come at the end of 2013, when it\u2019s launched by a Delta IV-Heavy on a multi-hour orbital test. This test was known as the Orion Flight Test (OFT-1).<\/p>\nHowever, as is commonplace for NASA, the name of this test has changed into the Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1), as much as the entire mission content remains unchanged.<\/p>\n
Orion \u2013 which will be in a \u201ccrew capable\u201d vehicle configuration, as much as it\u2019ll be unmanned \u2013 will still ride on a Delta IV-H Upper Stage during the orbital flight, testing all systems through to entry and splashdown.<\/p>\n
The test will also be a joint ops mission, carried out by the Orion contractor Lockheed Martin and NASA\u2019s Mission Operations Directorate (MOD). As such, meetings are continuing to set up the flight operation procedures between the two teams.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/A413.jpg\" "\\"A413\\"")
\u201cFlight Test and Mission Ops is setting up a Joint Program Control Board and the Flight Ops Panel will eventually be charted under this board,\u201d added Orion notes (L2). \u201cThe charter for the (test) Flight Ops Panel will stay the same and will be co-chaired with Lockheed.<\/p>\n\u201cThe Orion project has requested MOD Flight Ops support for their flight software validation activities. (Management) is looking to make sure that this is in our current budget, and are awaiting more details.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the EFT-1 Orion continues construction at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans, major testing is being carried out at Lockheed Martin\u2019s facilities in Denver.<\/p>\n
These tests are focusing on the acoustics of Orion in several configurations \u2013 including with the Launch Abort System (LAS), a stack known as the Launch Abort Vehicle (LAV).<\/p>\n
\u201cMulti Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV)\/Orion Acoustics Testing: NASA Flight Structures and Thermal Protection Systems (NE-M5) branch supported another round of MPCV acoustics testing at the Lockheed Martin Denver facilities,\u201d added Orion status notes.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/A73.jpg\" "\\"A73\\"")
\u201cThe two configurations (2 and 2a) tested were with the LAV fillets and ogive panels installed. In the first test configuration (2) ogive panels were preloaded to simulate the launch configuration using bumpers that are extended from the ogive panels to the backshells. These bumpers provide circumferential hard points for load transfer from the ogive panel to the backshells.<\/p>\n\u201cThe second test configuration (2a) is with the bumpers fully retracted allowing only the circumferential bulb seals to transfer the vibro-acoustic loads into the backshells. Retracting the bumpers is intended to simulate a flight condition of differential pressure loading on the ogives during ascent unloading the bumpers on one side of the LAV. The loads and dynamics team is reviewing the data and performing model correlations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ironically, given the aforementioned notes on the potential role of ESA\u2019s ATV as the Service Module, Lockheed Martin testing will next move on to an Orion which involves the full stack of the LAS on top and a \u201csimulated\u201d Service Module underneath.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next acoustics test configuration (3) is scheduled for late October and adds a simulated service module assembly beneath the LAV assembly.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Images: Via L2 content and NASA. This article was collated from L2\u2032s new Orion and Future Spacecraft specific L2 section, which includes, presentations, videos, graphics and internal updates on Orion and other future spacecraft.<\/p>\n
(L2 is \u2013 as it has been for the past several years \u2013 providing full exclusive future vehicle coverage, available no where else on the internet. To join L2, click here: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/l2\/)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Orion managers are becoming more interested in the idea of the European Space Agency (ESA) taking over a role in NASA\u2019s exploration future. Adhering to the international cooperation angle for the Agency\u2019s future, managers have told their teams they are \u201cserious\u201d about ESA building the Service Module (SM) for Orion, via Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29579,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4140,246,640],"class_list":["post-40307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-atv","tag-esa","tag-orion"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40307"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40307\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}