- \n
- Orion Forum Section<\/li>\n
- L2 Orion\/Future Spacecraft Section<\/li>\n
- Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Orion is being designed for rides uphill on the Space Launch System (SLS) \u2013 a Shuttle Derived (SD) Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV) which utilizes elements from the Constellation and Shuttle programs.<\/p>\n
However, the vehicle\u2019s status remains convoluted, as NASA\u2019s leadership continue to delay an announcement on what is a chosen design via studies \u2013 and most recently \u2013 independent cost assessments, at the same time as HQ-authored documentation cite an impossible schedule where the first manned flight is manifested as late as 2021 \u2013 although this timeline is cited to be a \u201cworst case\u201d scenario.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A34.jpg\" "\\"A34\\"")
It was initially hoped Orion would be flown on an early version of the SLS, prior to the timeline showing the HLV would avoid a staged test program, instead beginning life as a 70mt launcher in the second half of the decade, which would serve as the baseline configuration until it became a 130mt version.<\/p>\nBecause Orion is significantly further along in the development process, an unmanned test flight requires another ride into orbit, with the Delta IV-Heavy chosen as the preferred option, allowing for a 2013 test in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on \u201can existing vehicle\u201d \u2013 as Orion continues to push through its test program.<\/p>\n
NASA educational resources
<\/path>Rocket building kits <\/path>Rocket launch schedules <\/path>\n (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) spacecraft is making great progress. There has recently been drop tests of the Orion boilerplate test article at the Langley Research Center (LaRC),\u201d noted Orion status notes (L2).<\/p>\n
\u201cThese tests used a relatively low impact angle case at chute out conditions to represent one of the highest expected load cases for the heat shield and peak acceleration in the vehicle X-axis, which will be a key anchor point for the analysis models for future testing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Known as OFT-1 (Orion, or Orbital \u2013 given the name change to MPCV \u2013 Flight Test), the jointly operated mission between NASA\u2019s Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) and Orion\u2019s prime contractor Lockheed Martin will charge the spacecraft with making several orbits of the planet, prior to a splashdown in the Pacific.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A33.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
As seen in a rare internal artistic impression of the vehicle (L2), Orion would be riding on the Delta IV-H Upper Stage, and will be without Solar Panels, instead running off internal batteries.<\/p>\n\u201cThere has been a flurry of activity in the MPCV Program in the last few months. First, the new MPCV program will use the existing Orion Spacecraft design and contract for its human exploration spacecraft,\u201d added MOD \u201c8th Floor\u201d notes (L2). <\/p>\n
\u201cMOD has submitted and MPCV has approved a MOD budget for FY12 and 13. This budget in 12 and 13 is focused on the Orion Flight Test 1 (OFT-1) scheduled for July, 2013.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A92.jpg\" "\\"A9\\"")
\u201cThis will be a multi-hour orbit test of the Orion Spacecraft. From avionics to heat shield and parachute performance, this flight test will validate many high risk systems for the Orion spacecraft. MOD is heavily involved in this flight test.\u201d<\/p>\nWith MOD managers embedded in the Lockheed Martin Test and Verification team, MOD System Integration Lead positions are being created at Lockheed Martin\u2019s Denver base.<\/p>\n
Similar positions in Houston and Florida are also being created, with the aim to have lead managers in place by October, ahead of the OFT-1 Orion arriving at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) half a year later.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A63.jpg\" "\\"A6\\"")
\u201c(The) Orion (Project) has three vehicles. First Orion test vehicle has completed drop tests at Langley,\u201d the 8th Floor notes continued.<\/p>\n\u201cThe second ground test vehicle is in Denver and is scheduled to undergo acoustics and loads testing.<\/p>\n
\u201cTesting results to flow down to the third OFT-1 Orion vehicle which is scheduled to arrive in Florida in March (2012).\u201d<\/p>\n
The Orion for OFT-1 will begin construction later this month at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans, prior to its shipping to Florida next year, where it will be readied for the test flight.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/D3.jpg\" "\\"D3\\"")
Unlike the Ares I-X test launch with a boilerplate Orion, the launch will not take place at KSC \u2013 given it\u2019s riding on a Delta IV-H \u2013 meaning it will be transported from KSC\u2019s Operations and Checkout Building to Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37) for mating with the EELV.<\/p>\n\u201cThe Lockheed Martin (LM) Test and Verification team, which will lead the systems integration for the flight test article build,\u201d the notes added. \u201cThe Orion Flight Test Vehicle is at the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) and the first weld is scheduled to start on August 22.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the structure has been welded, this Flight Test Vehicle will be transported to the KSC O&C building where it will be assembled for the OFT-1 Flight,\u201d the notes added.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A102.jpg\" "\\"A10\\"")
Some elements of the vehicle\u2019s make up are still under discussion, with references to a \u201chuman capable\u201d version of Orion, potentially resulting in OFT-1 including a Launch Abort System (LAS), which is also in the midst of testing.<\/p>\n\u201cPreparations are underway to begin integration of the Orion MPCV Launch Abort System with the Crew Module for acoustic testing. The tests will be conducted in the Reverberant Acoustics Laboratory (RAL) at the Lockheed Martin Waterton facility near Denver, Colorado,\u201d MOD 8th Floor Orion notes added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Orion stack will be exposed to a series of acoustic tests of increasing decibels that simulate the sound pressure levels that the vehicle will encounter during launch, which can exceed 160 decibels.<\/p>\n
\u201cTeam in Denver discussing forward strategy for OFT-1: \u2018Flight-Capable\u2019 (current) versus \u2018Human-Capable\u2019 option.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A44.jpg\" "\\"A44\\"")
Such a human-capable configuration would push the Orion test past the point SpaceX managed with their debut launch of the Dragon capsule last year, which did not feature an abort system.<\/p>\nHowever, it is unknown if the Orion LAS will be ready to fly in time. As such, the notes are more likely to be a reference to a full up Caution & Warning (C&W) system being active during the flight.<\/p>\n
Such a configuration would provide useful data to the joint MOD\/Lockheed Martin team, who will be conducting joint tests, which includes utilizing the Mission Control Center (MCC) in Houston.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the test vehicle is assembled and at KSC, MOD is part of the final test and verification team (which will conduct) joint tests (and) will also have the MCC connected to verify nominal and contingency commands,\u201d noted the update.<\/p>\n
\u201cReal-Time operations of this flight test will be conducted out of the MCC, with a joint MOD, MPCV, and LM team. The modifications required for the MCC for this flight are already underway, lead (manager) will be co-chairing the OFT-1 Flight Operations Panel (FOP).\u201d<\/p>\n
No other tests \u2013 such as OTF-2 \u2013 are currently on the books for Orion, although the 8th Floor notes did mention that the test schedule will be evaluated in a few months time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis fall MOD will begin the budget process working with MPCV to define the future flights of MPCV. This activity will help define the content for MOD support for the program past the OFT-1 flight for fiscal years 14 and out.\u201d<\/p>\n
All such tests will be unmanned, given the Delta IV-H is not classed as a human-rated launch vehicle.<\/p>\n
(Images: Via L2 content, ULA 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":"
The efforts relating to the debut launch of Orion \u2013 otherwise known as the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) \u2013 on a \u201cmulti-hour\u201d test flight are ramping up, as managers discuss the preliminary objectives, which may include a \u201chuman capable\u201d version of the spacecraft being tested. A launch date of July, 2013 has been set, with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"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":[8296,640],"class_list":["post-40358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-delta-iv","tag-orion"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40358"}],"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=40358"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40358\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}