Tag: EM-2
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Orion deep in processing for EM-1, planning for following missions
As US Vice President Mike Pence visited the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), one of the welcoming party, the Orion crew module, is fast taking shape ahead of its Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) flight. With major processing milestones – such as the mating of the heatshield with the Crew Module, NASA managers are already thinking ahead to…
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Solid production – Booster segments readying for opening SLS launches
Orbital ATK recently provided a peek at current production of Space Launch System (SLS) booster segments at their Promontory Propulsion Systems facility in Northern Utah. Work on the segments for the first two SLS launches continues and is on track to ship hardware to the launch site when needed. The last segment for the first launch,…
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Qualifying the life saver – LAS set for two more tests ahead of EM-2
Following Orbital ATK successful test-firing of an Orion launch abort system (LAS) abort motor at their Promontory facility in Utah on June 15, two more qualification tests will be required before the vital crew safety element is officially ready to fly with crewed Space Launch System (SLS) missions, beginning with Exploration Mission -2 (EM-2) mission…
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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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Investigating the potential of including a crew on the maiden flight of SLS
With NASA’s management officially informing the workforce that evaluations are taking place into installing a crew on to the first flight of the Space Launch System (SLS), the challenge of ensuring crew safety will gain additional focus. Without an uncrewed test flight, a modification to the Exploration Mission -1 (EM-1) profile is likely, ranging from…
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Orbital ATK reviews SRB plans and competitiveness for SLS EM-1 and beyond
With booster casting operations for SLS’s EM-1 mission well underway at Orbital ATK’s manufacturing facility in Utah, the company is looking ahead in terms of how the boosters’ flight data will be transmitted to ground stations during flight. Moreso, the company is looking beyond EM-1 to the build operations for the EM-2 flight boosters as…
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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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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…
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MSFC propose Aerojet Rocketdyne supply EUS engines
The Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has issued a “Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC)” solicitation in support of sole sourcing RL10 engines for the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) from Aerojet Rocketdyne. The document calls for an initial order of 10 engines to cover the first two flights of the Space Launch…
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NASA examines options and flight paths for SLS EM-2 mission
As NASA and its contracted partner agencies press forward toward the debut launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket in 2018, the U.S. space agency is beginning to look toward preliminary planning and test objectives for the EM-2 mission of the SLS Program, which is expected to take place sometime in the opening half…