Posts Tagged ‘SLS/Orion’
Crawler repairs pick up – Constellation press ahead with Pad 39B demolition
Replacement power supplies for the two grounded Crawler Transporters (CT1 and CT2) have arrived at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), allowing repairs to take place ahead of STS-133’s…
CxP PDR successful, with exclusions – Strict Commercial requirements
As the Constellation Program (CxP) splutters along, ahead of its “proposed” cancellation, managers have successfully concluded its Preliminary Design Review (PDR), although several major elements – such as…
Unlucky Orion crashing out of the space program as drop test fails
One of the final tests of the now-cancelled Orion Program has ended in failure, when a parachute drop test of an Orion boilerplate resulted in the near-destruction of…
MAF provide positive ET hardware overview for early SD HLV test flight
The Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) have confirmed they have almost enough External Tank resources to allow for one ET-sized “In Line” Shuttle Derived Heavy Launch Vehicle (SD HLV)…
Taking aim on Phobos – NASA outline Flexible Path precursor to man on Mars
With the official opening statements on the overhaul of NASA’s future expected “soon”, the realignment of NASA’s future goals will create a Human Space Flight path that will…
Bolden to review HLV study on Friday – Sidemount in doubt, In-line/SSME boost
NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden will review the findings of his “special team” – which he set up to evaluate all Heavy Lift alternatives to the current plan –…
NASA’s Flexible Path evaluation of 2025 human mission to visit an asteroid
NASA managers have created an evaluation and roadmap for a potential human mission to visit the 1999 AO10 Near Earth Object (NEO) as early as 2025, as part…
NASA’s future direction – extra shuttle flights and commerical launcher touted
MOD Director Paul Hill has hinted that there’s a “remote” chance NASA may add one or more shuttle flights, in addition to “under evaluation” STS-135. Mr Hill’s comments…
Bolden Directs MSFC Special Team to evaluate HLV alternatives
NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden has asked for a “Special Team” at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to evaluate the Heavy Lift alternatives – including DIRECT’s Jupiter launch…
ULA claim gap reducing solution via EELV exploration master plan
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) have created an expansive plan to utilize the Atlas and Delta Launch Vehicle families to provide the United States with an architecture that…
Major Shuttle and ISS extension drive taking place at the Augustine Commission
With NASA authorization language already being drawn up behind the scenes by Congress, Augustine Commission ISS/Shuttle subgroup lead Dr Sally Ride – along with several key NASA and…
MOD has hope in a post-shuttle follow on program despite workforce cull
Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) Director Paul Hill has attempted to rally his troops, following the announcement of six hundred job losses – whilst noting his belief there will…
Constellation battle numerous Top Risks – Orion loses unmanned capability
The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) is undergoing further reductions in its capability – including the elimination of the vehicle’s unmanned ability – as Constellation managers attempt to resolve numerous issues ahead…
DIRECT issue rebuttal over NASA analysis of Jupiter launch vehicle
The team behind the alternative exploration architecture known as DIRECT have released a rebuttal document, countering claims made by NASA’s Constellation Program, ahead of the Blue Ribbon review…
Refining Constellation’s plans to make 2015 – Hanley proposes major changes
Citing schedule concerns and technical challenges, Constellation manager Jeff Hanley has outlined a series of proposed solutions to avoid further slips in the Ares/Orion schedule. Mr Hanley proposes…
Study finds EELV capable of Orion role – Griffin claims alternatives are fiction
A study by the Aerospace Corporation, conducted at the request of NASA to disprove the viability of an option to switch Orion to an alternative Evolved Expendable Launch…
Ares/Orion slipping up to 18 months – Shuttle extension gains upper hand
NASA’s Constellation Program (CxP) will conduct a “Content and Schedule” summit meeting in the next few months, after it was evaluated their current schedules are “broken”. The meeting…
Extra NASA funds: An initial step towards gap reduction options/extension
US lawmakers have agreed on a stimulus package that includes just over $1 billion in additional funds for NASA, to be utilized during 2009 and 2010. While the…
STS-119/Discovery rollover date changed as 2009 shuttle schedule realigns
Only around five weeks will separate Endeavour’s return home from her STS-126 mission, and when Discovery is due to rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) ahead of…
Constellation debate deleting Ares tests to beat 2015
The Constellation Acceleration Study Team are evaluating 160 “brainstorming ideas” in an attempt to reduce the current gap between shuttle and Ares/Orion by up to 18 months. However,…
