SLS Update: NASA Completes RS-25 Testing Campaign That Paves the Way for Missions Beyond Artemis 4...

NASA / SSC

NASA Readies for Future Artemis Moon Missions with Rocket Engine Test Series (Press Release)

NASA marked a significant milestone Sept. 30 in its plans for future missions to the Moon and, eventually, Mars with completion of an RS-25 single-engine Retrofit-2 test series at Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

A full-duration hot fire of RS-25 developmental engine No. 0528 on the A-1 Test Stand at Stennis culminated a seven-test series to support development and production of new engines for the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on future missions.

“This successful test series for the Space Launch System RS-25 engine puts us one step closer to manufacturing the first new set of engines for future Artemis missions to the Moon,” said Johnny Heflin, manager of the SLS liquid engines office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “We are testing engine parts made with advanced manufacturing techniques that can reduce the cost of each engine by more than 30 percent yet still maintain the RS-25 engine’s reliability and high performance.”

During the Sept. 30 hot fire, operators fired RS-25 developmental engine No. 0528, used for each of the seven tests in the series, for more than eight minutes (500 seconds), the same time required during an actual launch.

The test series provided valuable information to Aerojet Rocketdyne, lead contractor for the SLS engines, as it produces engines for use after the Artemis IV mission to the Moon. Operators collected hot fire data to demonstrate and verify various engine capabilities, and to evaluate new engine components manufactured with cutting-edge and cost-saving technologies and reduce operational risk.

Tested components included a 3D-printed pogo accumulator to dampen pressure oscillations that can cause flight instability and a main combustion chamber fabricated using a hot isostatic pressure (HIP) bonding technique. These components are significant early milestones in NASA’s and Aerojet Rocketdyne’s effort to maximize state-of-the-art manufacturing methods to significantly reduce the cost and time needed to build new RS-25 engines.

The Sept. 30 test was delayed from its original date due to impacts from Hurricane Ida, which struck the Gulf Coast region on Aug. 29. The storm initially impacted propellant deliveries to the center, necessitating a delay as suppliers recovered full capabilities.

“I am proud to see how the test team and our propellant suppliers overcame the impacts of Hurricane Ida to get us back to testing the RS-25,” Stennis RS-25 Project Manager Chip Ellis said. “With each test we learn more and more about the RS-25 engine and how it operates. And it is exciting to know that what we are doing contributes to the safety of the astronauts that will fly on SLS.”

Four RS-25 engines, along with a pair of solid rocket boosters, will help power SLS at launch. Firing simultaneously, the engines will generate a combined 1.6 million pounds of thrust at liftoff and 2 million pounds during ascent.

Previous RS-25 testing at Stennis began Jan. 9, 2015, and concluded April 4, 2019. During this period, NASA completed acceptance testing of former space shuttle main engines that will help power the first four SLS missions, conducted developmental and flightworthiness testing for all 16 new controllers (plus one spare) to be used on the heritage RS-25 engines, and demonstrated the ability of RS-25 engines to perform at the higher power level required to launch the super-heavy SLS rocket.

The first hot fire of the most current series was conducted on Jan. 28, 2021. Over the course of the seven-part test series, which coincided with Green Run testing of the SLS core stage at Stennis, developmental engine No. 0528 underwent 3,650 seconds of hot fire. The schedule included six full-duration, hot fire tests of more than eight minutes (500 seconds) and one hot fire of just under 11 minutes (650 seconds). A full-duration test refers to the time the engine must fire during an actual launch in order to power SLS towards orbit. Longer duration hot fires are conducted to test the limits of engine performance.

The Retrofit-2 test series followed major maintenance and upgrade projects on the A-1 Test Stand, including installation of a new NASA-designed-and-manufactured thrust vector control system on the structure that allows operators to “gimbal” test RS-25 engines, moving them on a tight circular axis. Gimbaling is a critical capability that ensures SLS can maintain a proper flight trajectory.

Operators are scheduled to begin a follow-up Retrofit-3 test series, using RS-25 developmental engine No. 0525, on the A-1 Test Stand later this fall. The new series will continue to collect data for new engine production.

NASA is building SLS as the world’s most powerful rocket. With Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface and establish long-term exploration at the Moon in preparation for human missions to Mars. SLS and the Orion spacecraft, along with the commercial Human Landing System and the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, are NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration. The agency is working towards the launch of the Artemis I uncrewed flight test in upcoming months, which will pave the way for future missions.

RS-25 tests at Stennis are conducted by a combined team of NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Syncom Space Services operators. Syncom Space Services is the prime contractor for Stennis facilities and operations.

Source: NASA.Gov

SpaceShipTwo Update: Launch Preparations for UNITY 23 to Resume Following a Weeks-Long Federal Investigation Into Last July's UNITY 22 Flight...

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic Cleared to Fly Following Conclusion of FAA Inquiry (Press Release)

Virgin Galactic today announced that it is cleared to fly FAA-licenced spaceflights following the conclusion of an FAA inquiry that focused on air traffic control clearance and real-time mission notification related to the Unity 22 flight in July.

The FAA today advised Virgin Galactic that the corrective actions proposed by the Company have been accepted and concluded the FAA inquiry, which began August 11, 2021. They include:

- Updated calculations to expand the protected airspace for future flights. Designating a larger area will ensure that Virgin Galactic has ample protected airspace for a variety of possible flight trajectories during spaceflight missions.

- Additional steps into the Company’s flight procedures to ensure real-time mission notifications to FAA Air Traffic Control.

Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic, said: “Our entire approach to spaceflight is guided by a fundamental commitment to safety at every level, including our spaceflight system and our test flight program. We appreciate the FAA’s thorough review of this inquiry. Our test flight program is specifically designed to continually improve our processes and procedures. The updates to our airspace and real-time mission notification protocols will strengthen our preparations as we move closer to the commercial launch of our spaceflight experience.”

Virgin Galactic continues to focus on its pre-flight readiness for Unity 23. For the latest updates regarding flight timing, please view the Company’s statement on September 10, 2021.

Source: Virgin Galactic

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Virgin Galactic

Photos of the Day: Nauka Begins One of Its Roles as the Space Station's Newest Docking Port...

ESA / Thomas Pesquet

Several hours ago, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet took these amazing photos showing the Soyuz MS-18 capsule relocating from its docking port on the International Space Station's (ISS) Rassvet module to Russia's brand-new Nauka science laboratory.

The Soyuz spacecraft—which carried cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov, as well as NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei—docked to Nauka at 9:04 AM, Eastern Daylight Time (6:04 AM, Pacific Daylight Time) today.

The relocation clears the way for next month's arrival of the Soyuz MS-19 capsule...whose crew consists of cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, film director Klim Shipenko and actress Yulia Peresild, respectively.

Shipenko and Peresild will shoot scenes for a Russian movie [titled Vyzov (or The Challenge)] aboard the ISS after their Soyuz launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, October 5, and then docks to the Rassvet module later that day.


ESA / Thomas Pesquet


ESA / Thomas Pesquet


ESA / Thomas Pesquet


NASA

Russian film crew set to launch to International Space Station next week https://t.co/62Ed2cp59U pic.twitter.com/Dojha9NcN1

— SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) September 29, 2021

NASA Begins a New Round of Competition to Select the Next Human Landing System...

NASA

NASA Selects Five U.S. Companies to Mature Artemis Lander Concepts (Press Release - September 14)

NASA has selected five U.S. companies to help the agency enable a steady pace of crewed trips to the lunar surface under the agency’s Artemis program. These companies will make advancements toward sustainable Human Landing System concepts, conduct risk-reduction activities, and provide feedback on NASA’s requirements to cultivate industry capabilities for crewed lunar landing missions.

The awards under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-2) Appendix N broad agency announcement are firm fixed-price, milestone-based contracts. The total combined value for the awards is $146 million, and the work will be conducted over the next 15 months. The companies that received awards and their award values are:

- Blue Origin Federation of Kent, Washington, $25.6 million.
- Dynetics (a Leidos company) of Huntsville, Alabama, $40.8 million.
- Lockheed Martin of Littleton, Colorado, $35.2 million.
- Northrop Grumman of Dulles, Virginia, $34.8 million.
- SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, $9.4 million.

“Establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon through recurring services using lunar landers is a major Artemis goal,” said Kathy Lueders, NASA’s associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations at Headquarters in Washington. “This critical step lays the foundation for U.S. leadership in learning more about the Moon and for learning how to live and work in deep space for future missions farther into the solar system.”

The selected companies will develop lander design concepts, evaluating their performance, design, construction standards, mission assurance requirements, interfaces, safety, crew health accommodations, and medical capabilities. The companies will also mitigate lunar lander risks by conducting critical component tests and advancing the maturity of key technologies.

The work from these companies will ultimately help shape the strategy and requirements for a future NASA solicitation to provide regular astronaut transportation from lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon.

"Collaboration with our partners is critical to achieving NASA’s long-term Artemis lunar exploration goals,” said Lisa Watson-Morgan, Human Landing System Program manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “By partnering with innovative U.S. companies, we will establish a robust lunar economy while exploring new areas of the Moon for generations to come.”

This opportunity is distinct from the initial crewed lunar landing demonstration mission awarded under the NextSTEP-2 Appendix H procurement, which will serve as the proof of concept for the Artemis architecture.

NASA’s goals under Artemis include enabling a safe and cost-efficient long-term approach to accessing the lunar surface and becoming one of multiple customers purchasing services in a lunar transportation market. Much of what the agency develops for the Moon will be applied to future exploration at Mars.

NASA’s Artemis missions include landing the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface, sending a suite of new science instruments and technology demonstrations to study the Moon, and establishing a long-term presence there.

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SpaceX

Artemis 1 Update: The Space Launch System Has One More Test to Go Before Orion Is Attached to It...

NASA

SLS Modal Testing: Finding the Range of a Rocket’s Reflexes (News Release)

Before NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) launches the Artemis I mission to the Moon, teams inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida will conduct a series of tests to determine the deep space rocket’s reflexes. During launch and flight, SLS will experience and react to a series of frequencies and vibrations.

Engineers conduct integrated modal testing to determine the full range of these frequencies and vibrations so that the flight software and navigation systems can safely guide the rocket through launch and ascent. To do that, technicians use a test version of the Orion stage adapter and Orion mass simulator to determine the natural frequencies, flexes, and vibration patterns of the SLS rocket.

Artemis I stacking will resume with flight versions of the Orion stage adapter and NASA’s Orion spacecraft following completion of the test series.

With Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface and establish long-term exploration at the Moon in preparation for human missions to Mars.

SLS and NASA’s Orion spacecraft, along with the commercial Human Landing System and the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, are NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single mission.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA

ISS Update: Nauka Is Set to Begin One of Its Roles as the Space Station's Newest Docking Port Next Week...

NASA / Shane Kimbrough

Space Station Crew to Relocate Soyuz, Make Room for New Crewmates (Press Release - September 22)

Three residents of the International Space Station will take a short ride aboard a Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft Tuesday, Sept. 28, relocating the spacecraft to prepare for the arrival of the next set of station crew members.

Expedition 65 flight engineers Mark Vande Hei of NASA and Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov of the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos will undock from the station’s Earth-facing Rassvet module at 8:21 a.m. EDT. They will dock again at the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module at 9 a.m. This will be the first time a spacecraft has attached to the new Nauka module, which arrived at the station in July.

Live coverage of the maneuver will begin at 8 a.m. on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website.

The relocation will free the Rassvet port for the docking of another Soyuz spacecraft, designated Soyuz MS-19, which will carry three Russian crew members to the station in October. Soyuz commander and cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos and spaceflight participants Klim Shipenko and Yulia Peresild are scheduled to launch to the station Tuesday, Oct. 5, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

This will be the 20th Soyuz port relocation in station history and the first since March 2021.

Vande Hei and Dubrov are scheduled to remain aboard the station until March 2022. At the time of his return, Vande Hei will have set the record for the longest single spaceflight for an American. Novitskiy, Shipenko, and Peresild are scheduled to return to Earth in October aboard the Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft.

For more than 20 years, humans have lived and worked continuously aboard the International Space Station, advancing scientific knowledge and demonstrating new technologies, making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. As a global endeavor, 244 people from 19 countries have visited the unique microgravity laboratory that has hosted more than 3,000 research and educational investigations from researchers in 108 countries and areas.

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NASA

Photos of the Day: An Unobstructed View of Artemis 1's SLS Rocket Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building...

NASA / Frank Michaux

Happy First Day of Autumn! Just thought I'd share these four photos showing the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket after work platforms were retracted inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on Friday, September 17.

The removal of these platforms from around SLS paved the way for the Umbilical Release and Retract Test—which was originally supposed to occur about a month ago, but instead conducted last Sunday, September 19.

As of this update, the Integrated Modal Test should've begun on SLS and its mobile launcher inside the VAB. Once completed, this clears the way for the Mass Simulator for Orion and the Orion stage adapter's (OSA) structural test article to be removed from the mammoth Moon rocket.

By early next month, the flight-worthy OSA and the actual Orion spacecraft should be mated to SLS, completing assembly of the giant launch vehicle as it continues to be prepped for Artemis 1. Stay tuned!


NASA / Frank Michaux


NASA / Frank Michaux


NASA

NEW FOOTAGE 🚨 Watch as the different platforms around the SLS rocket retract as part of the Umbilical Release and Retract Test (URRT) at @NASAKennedy. @NASAGroundSys conducted the test to prepare for future #Artemis I stacking and launch activities >> https://t.co/HNSKsaXf8c pic.twitter.com/IV8MrSwrYn

— NASA_SLS (@NASA_SLS) September 22, 2021

Sound ON 🔊
On Sunday, Sept. 19th, teams with Exploration Ground Systems and @JacobsConnects successfully completed the Umbilical Release and Retract Test (URRT) with the mobile launcher and @NASA_SLS inside of High Bay 3 in the Vehicle Assembly Building at @NASAKennedy. pic.twitter.com/SnhzF7cwgi

— NASA's Exploration Ground Systems (@NASAGroundSys) September 22, 2021

Orion Update: NASA Sets Its Sight on Future Missions for the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle...

NASA / ESA / ATG Medialab

NASA Awards Orion Main Engine Contract for Future Artemis Missions (Press Release)

NASA has awarded a contract to Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc. of Redmond, Washington, for the development of the Orion Main Engine (OME), which will be used on the Orion spacecraft as part of the agency’s Artemis program.

The contract includes certification of the OME design, production, and special studies and tasks. It is a single-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-price orders. The period of performance is from Sept. 21, 2021, through April 23, 2032, with a maximum value of $600 million.

The OME will be integrated into Orion’s primary power and propulsion component, the European Service Module, and will replace the Orbital Maneuvering System engine repurposed from the Space Shuttle Program for the service module on Artemis missions VII through XIV. The contract also will allow for the procurement of additional engines for other NASA exploration programs.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA

Welcome Home, Inspiration4 Astronauts!

Inspiration4

Inspiration4 Crew Makes Evening Splashdown, Completing World’s First All-Civilian Orbital Mission to Space (Press Release)

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – After three days orbiting Earth, the astronauts of Inspiration4 flying aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 7:06 p.m. EDT. The return marks the completion of the world’s first all-civilian human spaceflight to orbit, which launched on a flight-proven SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.

Teams on SpaceX’s Go Searcher recovery ship are in the process of securing the spacecraft to be hoisted onto the main deck of the ship, where the Inspiration4 crew will egress the spacecraft and receive medical checks before a helicopter ride back to Kennedy Space Center.

The mission completed several historic firsts, including the:

· First all-civilian human spaceflight to orbit

· First black female spacecraft pilot

· Youngest American in space

· First person to fly to space with a prosthetic

· Farthest flight for a human spaceflight since the Hubble missions

· First time SpaceX has operated three Dragons in space

· First free-flight of a Dragon spacecraft on a human spaceflight mission

· Largest contiguous window ever flown in space

· First splashdown of a Dragon crew in the Atlantic Ocean

· First thrice-flown Falcon 9 booster to launch a human spaceflight mission

Finally, true to the mission’s name and purpose, Inspiration4 has raised nearly $154M dollars and counting for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

To learn more and see highlights from the Inspiration4 mission, visit www.inspiration4.com and follow Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission), Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4). To support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and learn more about auction items from the flight and additional support opportunities, visit stjude.org/inspiration4.

Source: Inspiration4.com

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SpaceX


Inspiration4

Splashdown confirmed! The Inspiration4 crew is back on Earth after 71 hours in orbit. https://t.co/nbZHNxmXhx pic.twitter.com/6GFgK6mzv2

— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) September 18, 2021

Dragon is on Go Searcher's Nest. pic.twitter.com/4u84XDEJwG

— Chris Bergin - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) September 18, 2021

Crew of @Inspiration4x - first all-civilian human spaceflight to orbit - returns to Earth pic.twitter.com/pnjkDjnkAw

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 18, 2021

Two missions accomplished in one night. 👀 https://t.co/95WTMbCUNk

— St. Jude (@StJude) September 19, 2021

Just hours after the #Inspiration4 crew returned safely from orbit, Elon Musk helped the mission achieve its @StJude fundraising goal:

The SpaceX CEO personally pledged $50 million, pushing donations past the goal of $200 million to over $210 million.https://t.co/ce4MdrHPNu

— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) September 19, 2021

Images of the Day: The Inspiration4 Crew On-Orbit...

Inspiration4

A few hours ago, the Inspiration4 team posted these images on social media giving the world its first glimpse of the mission's four all-civilian astronauts in low-Earth orbit...one day after launch.

As shown in these video screenshots, the crew members are making full use of the cupola that gives them a stunning 360° view of Earth from a vantage point about 590 kilometers (367 miles) above!

In regards to this update, commander Jared Isaacman and his teammates have spoken to young cancer patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

To donate to St. Jude via the Inspiration4 mission, click here.


Inspiration4


Inspiration4


Inspiration4

A New Era of Human Spaceflight Has Finally Begun!

John Kraus Photography

Inspiration4 Crew Launches First All-Civilian Orbital Mission to Space (Press Release)

CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – On September 15 the crew of Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian human spaceflight mission to orbit, officially ushered in a new era of space exploration at 8:02:56 PM EDT as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 lifted off from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

“Our crew carries the responsibility and importance of this mission as we prepare to blast off,” said Inspiration4 Commander Jared Isaacman just before launch. “We have been well-prepared for the challenges ahead of us the next three days and look forward to sharing our experience with the world as we continue to bring attention to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® here on earth.”

Since the mission’s announcement in March 2021, the Inspiration4 crew has spent the past six months completing a wide range of training activities including centrifuge training, Dragon simulations, observations of other launch operations, Zero-G plane training, altitude training and additional classroom, simulation and medical testing. This intensive, focused preparation was essential to helping four diverse strangers grow into their new roles as the first all-civilian astronaut crew to orbit Earth.

The crew’s collective goal has not only been to fly to space but also make a significant contribution in the fight to cure childhood cancer back on Earth. Started by an initial $100 million gift from Isaacman to St. Jude, Inspiration4 has a fundraising goal to raise $200 million through February 2022 to help accelerate research advancements and save more children worldwide. To date, the mission has a commitment of more than $130 million with new auction items and ways to support being shared during and after the mission. To get involved, click here.

“We are thankful to Jared for his incredible leadership as the commander of the historic mission and for his work helping to raise $200 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The significance of Inspiration4 cannot be overstated. The mission ushers in a new era in citizen space travel and gives hope to children. Cancer is diagnosed each year in about 400,000 children worldwide. Curing catastrophic diseases in children is a multi-trillion-dollar, multi-year problem and the public’s support – through initiatives like Inspiration4 – makes it possible for us to raise the critical funds needed to help save children everywhere.”

The Inspiration4 mission marks several historic milestones for human space exploration. They will be the first all-civilian crew to orbit Earth, the first free-flight Crew Dragon mission, and the first orbital human spaceflight mission that will not dock with a space station since the final Hubble mission on STS-125 in 2009. Inspiration4 is being monitored at every step by SpaceX mission control as the spacecraft orbits the planet every 90 minutes along a custom flight path. The crew is targeting an approximate 575 km orbit, flying farther than any human since Hubble, for an expected mission duration of approximately three days. To learn about the research and activities the crew will participate in during the mission, see the previous announcement here.

“The all-civilian Inspiration4 astronauts are paving the way for a future where space is more accessible to all who wish to go, and we are so proud that they entrusted us to fly them,” said SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell. “On behalf of all SpaceX employees, I want to thank the crew and their families for allowing us to be a part of their historic mission.”

After an approximately three-day journey, the Inspiration4 team will re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere for a soft water landing off the coast of Florida.

The mission can be tracked at spacex.com/launches through their Dragon Tracker tool. To see updates on Inspiration4’s journey throughout the mission, visit www.inspiration4.com and follow Twitter (@inspiration4x), Facebook (@inspiration4mission), Instagram (@inspiration4) and YouTube (@Inspiration4). Additionally, TIME Studios is producing a Netflix documentary series based on the historical rookie crew with episodes now streaming.

Source: Inspiration4.com

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Inspiration4


SpaceX


John Kraus Photography


SpaceX


SpaceX


SpaceX


John Kraus Photography


Inspiration4


SpaceX

T-Minus 1 DAY Till Inspiration4 Takes Flight!

John Kraus Photography

In recognition of the Inspiration4 astronauts being less than 36 hours away from heading into Earth orbit aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon Resilience capsule, here is a photo from the flyover that was conducted above Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A yesterday, as well as portraits of the four crew members themselves.

The excitement is building in regards to human spaceflight achieving a new milestone tomorrow night!


SpaceX


SpaceX


SpaceX


SpaceX

T-Minus 2 DAYS Till the Historic Launch of the Inspiration4 Mission!

Inspiration4

Earlier this morning, a static fire was conducted for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket that will send the four Inspiration4 astronauts to low-Earth orbit this coming Wednesday.

The nine Merlin engines on the Falcon 9 successfully ignited for a few seconds at 2:30 AM, Eastern Daylight Time (11:30 PM, Pacific Daylight Time yesterday). This milestone came only a few hours after Inspiration4 commander Jared Isaacman and his three crew members conducted a launch dress rehearsal inside their Crew Dragon Resilience capsule at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex (LC)-39A in Florida.

With only two days remaining till the start of their three-day mission, the Inspiration 4 astronauts spent today conducting multiple flyovers of their launch vehicle at LC-39A—courtesy of their support team piloting four L-39 jets that each astronaut rode shotgun in.

As of right now, liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral is set for 8:02 PM, EDT (5:02 PM, PDT)...which will be at the start of a five-hour launch window that evening. The weather forecast for the night of September 15 is currently 80% GO. Stay tuned!


Inspiration4

F9/I4: SpaceX hot-fired the Inspiration4 Falcon 9 rocket at 2:30am EDT (0630 UTC) to clear the way for launch Wednesday on the first all-civilian, non-government flight to orbit; test appeared normal, but as usual will now await an update from SpaceX on results pic.twitter.com/e4KqjoObBm

— William Harwood (@cbs_spacenews) September 13, 2021

A formation of jets with the Inspiration4 crew members aboard flew by Launch Complex 39A this afternoon.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule stand ready to launch the Inspiration4 crew into orbit Wednesday night.

Mission coverage: https://t.co/9USg9DDd7K pic.twitter.com/qUQS41eIZc

— Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) September 13, 2021

Photos of the Day: Inspiration4's Launch Vehicle Is on the Pad!

William Harwood / CBS News

Late last night, the Falcon 9 rocket for the Inspiration4 mission was rolled from SpaceX's Horizontal Integration Facility to the pad at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex (LC)-39A in Florida.

A static fire of Falcon 9's nine Merlin engines will be conducted as early as today to verify that the launch vehicle is fit to fly commander Jared Isaacman, pilot Sian Proctor, chief medical officer Hayley Arceneaux and mission specialist Christopher Sembroski on their highly-anticipated 3-day flight.

A launch dress rehearsal should take place for the crew at the pad if the static fire is successful.

The Inspiration4 mission is set to lift off from LC-39A on September 15, at 8:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time).

T-minus 3 days till the first all-civilian crew makes spaceflight history!


SpaceX


Inspiration4


Inspiration4


Inspiration4


Inspiration4


SpaceX


SpaceX

20 YEARS LATER...

NASA

Today marks two decades since the horrific terrorist attacks that killed a total of 2,977 people (including the 19 perpetrators) in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Frank Culbertson, who was the commander of the Expedition 3 crew aboard the International Space Station at the time, was also the only American off the planet when this world-altering tragedy occurred.

It must've obviously been a helpless feeling for Culbertson to witness such a hateful act by human beings while situated on a spacecraft meant to benefit all of humanity.

Here's hoping that no other astronaut and/or cosmonaut will have to gaze down at Earth and view another evil man-made calamity from the beauty of space...ever again. That is all.

Artemis 3 Update: The Orion Crew Module for NASA's Lunar Landing Mission Achieves a Manufacturing Milestone...

NASA / Eric Bordelon

Next Generation of Orion Spacecraft in Production for Future Artemis Missions (News Release)

Over the next decade, NASA’s Orion spacecraft will carry astronauts during Artemis missions to the Moon to help prepare for human missions to Mars. Work on the spacecraft for Artemis I is nearly complete, Artemis II is well underway, and NASA is making progress on vehicles for the missions beyond.

The agency recently completed welding on the Artemis III Orion pressure vessel, the underlying frame of the air-tight capsule for astronauts called the crew module. This structure is the first major piece of hardware in Orion’s production phase with lead contractor Lockheed Martin.

“NASA is shifting its focus from the development phase to the production phase for the Orion spacecraft to enable a long-term presence on and around the Moon,” said Cathy Koerner, Orion program manager.

The development phase — called design, development, test, and evaluation (DDT&E) — is when Orion’s requirements are defined, the design undergoes review and refinement, and the spacecraft and its systems go through rigorous testing.

“All of the intensive testing we’ve done has proven out the design of Orion’s structure,” said Stu McClung, chief of staff for Orion program, planning, and control. “A structure that’s well understood and defined gives us high confidence to move forward into the production phase.”

Each component of Orion has undergone thorough testing since the beginning of DDT&E to prepare Orion for this transition. This includes Exploration Flight Test-1, Orion’s first flight test in 2014 that demonstrated its space-worthiness in a high-Earth orbit, and tested the spacecraft’s heat shield during entry into Earth’s atmosphere and the capsule’s recovery systems.

NASA has also completed successful testing of Orion’s parachute system, as well as the launch abort system with two flight tests known as Pad Abort-1 and Ascent Abort-2. Simulated in-space environments testing also verified that Orion’s systems will perform as expected during Artemis missions, among countless other tests of the spacecraft.

The DDT&E phase will officially conclude with the Artemis II mission, the first test flight with crew. Although no structural changes on the vehicle are expected to come from Artemis I and II, the mission outcomes may drive minor changes or upgrades into subsequent builds.

“As we fly, we will learn and adapt the spacecraft to the missions as needed,” said Assistant Orion Program Manager Paul Marshall. This could include modifying crew systems or crew interfaces to help astronauts perform future missions as smoothly as possible.

In the production phase, engineers will apply refinements to Orion’s design to ensure that manufacturing and assembly are as efficient as possible. One of many improvements was reducing the number of welded pieces that make up Orion’s pressure vessel. The pressure vessel’s original design had 33 welded pieces, which was streamlined to seven for Artemis I and up, to improve manufacturability and save more than 700 pounds of excess weight.

With these seven welds recently completed on the Artemis III pressure vessel at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans — and structural design changes and testing complete — a more efficient and streamlined production line for spacecraft begins. Under the Orion Production and Operations Contract (OPOC) awarded to Lockheed Martin, NASA committed to ordering a minimum of six and a maximum of 12 Orion spacecraft. The agency ordered three Orion spacecraft in 2019 for Artemis missions III through V, and plans to order three additional Orion capsules in fiscal year 2022 for Artemis missions VI through VIII.

“Our strategy to go from design and development to production focuses on optimization by making changes in several different areas to emerge with a more efficient flow,” said Kelly DeFazio, program director for production operations at Lockheed Martin.

Some examples of optimizing Orion production include:

- Changing the organizational structure of employees from a large, integrated product team structure centered on design, development, and qualification, to smaller multifunctional work teams focused on production throughput and quality of product.
- Incorporating systems to identify and address constraints in production flow, and the use of smart tools like augmented reality on the production floor.
- The opening of Lockheed Martin’s Spacecraft, Test, Assembly and Resource (STAR) Center in Titusville, Florida, earlier this summer to streamline manufacturing capacity.
- Reusing Orion crew modules and high-value systems, combined with the ability to bulk buy material and components, which contribute to considerable cost reductions compared to spacecraft produced under DDT&E.

“Our production plan activates unique manufacturing efficiencies that ensure we achieve the desired mission cadence while driving cost reductions,” said Marshall.

Those savings give NASA more resources to invest in developing the elements needed to pursue the lunar exploration campaign in the coming years, he added.

“The transition into production provides the opportunity to shift the focus of the Orion workforce to defining, implementing, and executing the exploration missions that Orion is built to fly,” said Marshall.

Source: NASA.Gov

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AirbusSpace

Photos of the Day: The Inspiration4 Crew Has Arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for Launch!

Inspiration4

A few hours ago, four L-39 and two Alpha jets carrying the Inspiration4 astronauts and their support crew touched down at Space Florida's Launch and Landing Facility—formerly known as the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

Commander Jared Isaacman, pilot Sian Proctor, chief medical officer Hayley Arceneaux and mission specialist Christopher Sembroski will spend the next six days conducting final preps for their flight...which is currently scheduled to lift off from KSC's Launch Complex 39A on September 15, at 8:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time).

SpaceX and Inspiration4 planners will reduce the launch window to five hours approximately three days before Crew Dragon Resilience embarks on the three-day mission aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

We have arrived at @NASAKennedy .. it was a great morning of flying with my @inspiration4x crew. Right side is in! Standard. Expect more flights around KSC as we get closer to the big launch🚀 pic.twitter.com/Kcl2moCNvM

— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) September 9, 2021

The @inspiration4x team flew to Florida today in four L-39’s and two Alpha jets. I got to practice my aerial photography. We are all excited for this week @NASAKennedy with @SpaceX.
👩🏾‍🚀🚀🌏🐉 pic.twitter.com/SaSDxCq5qw

— Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor (@DrSianProctor) September 9, 2021

Made it to Cape Canaveral for launch week! We flew fighter jets into Kennedy Space Center this morning and landed on the historic runway that space shuttles landed on. So cool!! pic.twitter.com/Q5rSflRh5M

— Hayley Arceneaux (@ArceneauxHayley) September 10, 2021

That was freakin’ awesome!! https://t.co/CprWZ1JLar

— Chris “Hanks” Sembroski (@ChrisSembroski) September 9, 2021

Artemis 1 Update: The Orion Spacecraft Is Now Fully Encapsulated by Its Launch Abort System Fairing...

NASA / Kim Shiflett

As of yesterday, the Orion vehicle that will head to the Moon on NASA's Artemis 1 mission is fully enclosed by the four ogive panels of its launch abort system (LAS) fairing. This milestone occurred as Orion is now spending its final days inside the Launch Abort System Facility (LASF) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

With the LAS fairing now completed, Orion should be prepped for its impending move from the LASF to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) a few miles down the street. At the VAB, the capsule will be attached to the Orion stage adapter once this component itself is mated to the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket as it sits atop its mobile launcher.

It will be at the end of this month or early October that Orion and SLS finally become one...and Artemis 1 begins taking the final steps to launching on its highly-anticipated flight to the Moon!


NASA / Kim Shiflett


NASA / Kim Shiflett

Image of the Day: NASA Conducts a Post-Labor Day Communications Test for Artemis 1...

Late last night, I visited NASA's DSN Now website to see which interplanetary missions were currently in contact with the three Deep Space Network stations in Spain, California and Australia as Labor Day was ending here in the United States.

To my surprise, I saw that two radio antennas at the DSN station in Madrid were apparently communicating with flight hardware for the Artemis 1 mission!

The call sign for this test was EM1...as in Exploration Mission 1, the original name for the Space Launch System's (SLS) maiden voyage.

Not sure if this communications test was with the SLS core stage booster [which recently underwent an integrated modal test inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida] or the Orion capsule (which is about to be fully encapsulated by the four ogive panels of its launch abort system at KSC), but this seems to show that the unmanned lunar flight is moving a step closer to flight.

(The more-likely explanation is that Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston was running this communications test.)

In regards to SLS and Orion, they should finally be mated later this month or early October.

The launch of Artemis 1 is now scheduled for no earlier than late December... Stay tuned!

SLS Update: The Mega Moon Rocket Will Be Fully Assembled for Launch Soon...

NASA / Kim Shiflett

NASA Invites Media to Kennedy for Artemis Activities (Press Release - September 3)

NASA is inviting a limited number of media to capture imagery of the fully-stacked and integrated Artemis I mission Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Experts from NASA, industry partners, and contractors will be available for interviews at the media availability, which the agency anticipates will take place over two days in early fall.

Media will see the rocket and spacecraft inside Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building, where teams from NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems currently are completing assembly. Attendees will have the opportunity to see Artemis II and III Orion spacecraft and other flight components as well.

Through Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the surface of the Moon, paving the way for a long-term lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone on the way to Mars.

To mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, only a limited number of media will be permitted to participate in this event. Credentialing deadlines are as follows:

- International media residing in the United States must apply by Friday, Sept 10.
- U.S. media must apply by Friday, Sept 24.
- All media accreditation requests should be submitted online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

NASA’s COVID-19 policies are updated as necessary and to remain consistent with guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and White House Safer Federal Workforce Taskforce. COVID-19 safety protocols for this event will be communicated closer to the date of the event. The agency also will communicate any updates that may impact mission planning or media access as necessary.

For questions about accreditation, please email ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov.

For other questions, please contact Kennedy’s newsroom at 321-867-2468.

Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo 321-501-8425.

Learn more about NASA’s Artemis I mission at:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-1

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NASA / Kim Shiflett