Constellation head Horowitz decides to leave NASA in October

by Chris Bergin

One of NASA’s top guns, Scott “Doc” Horowitz is to leave NASA in October, after the Constellation head decided he wishes to spend more time with his family.

Completing his “second tour of duty” – the former astronaut originally retired in 2004, before returning as associate administrator of Exploration Systems. In a memo to the NASA workforce, he noted that he’ll remain in that role for the next three months to help his successor take over.

Huge amounts of VSE related insider news and presentations – THE most comprehensive place to follow Ares/Orion development – are available for download on L2. See list at the end of this article.

**ARES I / ORION LIVE UPDATE PAGES**

**ARES V / Mars Transport Vehicle (MTV) LIVE UPDATE PAGES**

 

The former US Air Force Colonel is a veteran of four shuttle missions, serving as pilot on STS-75 (1996), STS 82 (1997) and STS-101 (2000), and the commander of Discovery on STS-105 (2001).

Horowitz retired from NASA in October 2004 to serve as Director of Space Transportation and Exploration at ATK. In September 2005 he returned to NASA as Associate Administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

‘I will be departing on or about October 1st of this year which will mark the end of my ‘2 year tour of duty,’ he wrote in a memo to the NASA workforce on Wednesday. ‘I need to devote more attention to my family responsibilities. I will discuss in more detail at our All Hands meeting next week.

‘It is an honor and a privilege to serve our country, NASA, our administrator, and to work with such an outstanding group of people on such an incredible adventure.

‘We have come a long way and have a lot more to do during the next three months until my successor takes the helm.’

The 50 year old joined NASA in 1992, following an extensive career with the air force. He logged over 1,138 hours in space.

His successor is not yet known.

The news comes ahead of what is rumored to be more changes at Constellation – not least with the Ares I/Orion vehicles – as Constellation starts to pick up after a period of scheduled ‘standdown’.

Selection of L2 Resources For Ares I, V and Constellation: Updates Constellation launch schedule through to Orion 15. Orion Seat test photos. New ML Graphic and info. New Ares V graphic and baseline data. Large collection of hi res Orion paracute drop tests. SIX Part Series of Ares I Upper Stage Graphical Overviews. DAC-1C DDD Vast Slides on Vehicle Design. ATK First Stage Presentation. 39B Lightning Towers Slides. DAC-1C Departure points to DAC-2 Upper Stage Graphcs (Many Changes).

Orion/CEV Display Layout Presentation (40 pages). ATK figures on the 5-Seg Booster weight for CLV. Weather Shield (Rain Shield) for Orion on the pad. New Super hi-res images of Ares I. ATK Cutaway graphics of Ares I – perspective and axonometric – Feb 1. Ares I/Orion CxP 72031 Requirements Validation Matrix Information. CEV Paracute Assembly System (CPAS) Presentation.

Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) overview presentation. Major changes to Ares I Upper Stage – expansive details and data. Ares I/Orion CxP 72031 Requirements Validation Matrix Information. Saturn Twang Test Video for use with Ares I-1R. CLV Umbilical Trade Matrix XLS.

Vehicle interfaces for the DAC 1C version of Orion Ares – Jan 3. Ares I-1R Test Flight Plan (full outline) Presentation. Ares I-1 timeline and modification expanded info. Ares I troubleshooting latest. Ares I Reference Trajectory. Boeing’s STS to Ares – Lessons Learned Presentation. Latest Ares I and Ares V baseline Configuration image and data. CLV DAC-1C (Changes to CLV Upper Stage).

Ares I-1: Four Seg+Dummy ‘Tuna Can’ stage. Ascent Developmental Flight Test Presentation. CLV Pad 39B Handover Info and Latest. New images of CLV on top of new MLP and LUT. Lockheed Martin CEV/Orion Updates. Constellation news updates. ATK figures on the 5-Seg Booster weight for CLV.

90 Minute Video of Constellation all hands meeting. CLV TIM Meeting Information. CLV/CaLV Infrastructure, Timelines and Information. Escape System Trade Study Presentation.

CEV-CLV Design Analysis Cycle Review (DAC-2) Presentation. Constellation SRR updates. CLV Stick – Troubleshooting/Alternatives/Updates. New CEV Images (include abort mode). Flight Design and Dynamics Division CEV update. CLV Mono-propellant RCS system. CEV pressurisation system review. CLV/CEV Configuration Images. The 2×3 Seg SRB Crew Launch Vehicle Option Presentation…plus more.

**NASASpaceflight.com Job Opportunities** 

Related Articles