Bob and Doug Receive Accolades by the White House for Their Historic Demo-2 Mission in 2020...

NASA / Joel Kowsky

VP Awards Former NASA Astronauts Congressional Space Medal of Honor (Press Release)

On behalf of President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris awarded former NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken the Congressional Space Medal of Honor Tuesday for their bravery in NASA’s SpaceX Demonstration Mission-2 (Demo-2) to the International Space Station in 2020. Hurley and Behnken are the first recipients of the honor since 2006 and accepted the awards during a televised event in Washington.

“Bob and Doug, together, have written the first page of a new chapter in the history of American spaceflight,” said Harris, who chairs the National Space Council. “Bob and Doug represent the best of our nation – there’s no question about it. The courage; the commitment; the brilliance; the vision; the ability to see and understand what is possible and then to go for it, represents the best of who we are as a nation.”

The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by Congress in 1969 to recognize an astronaut who in the performance of duties has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the nation and humanity. The honor has now been awarded to 30 people, including the crews of the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia disasters who received the award posthumously.

“The American story is about innovation, exploration and pioneers who forge ahead. And Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken represent the American story,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “When Doug and Bob launched into history, a new era of human spaceflight took flight. The Demo-2 mission showcased American leadership and technological ingenuity and inspired countless minds to dare to dream to fly among the stars. Congratulations to Doug and Bob on this well-deserved honor!”

On May 30, 2020, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off to the space station, marking the first mission to launch with astronauts as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Demo-2, a mission more than a decade in the making, was the first time American astronauts had launched from American soil on an American rocket since the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA

A New In-Space Propulsion System Will Be Pursued for Crewed Trips to the Red Planet...

DARPA

NASA, DARPA Will Test Nuclear Engine for Future Mars Missions (Press Release - January 24)

NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced Tuesday a collaboration to demonstrate a nuclear thermal rocket engine in space, an enabling capability for NASA crewed missions to Mars.

NASA and DARPA will partner on the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations, or DRACO, program. The non-reimbursable agreement is designed to benefit both agencies, outlines roles, responsibilities and processes aimed at speeding up development efforts.

“NASA will work with our long-term partner, DARPA, to develop and demonstrate advanced nuclear thermal propulsion technology as soon as 2027. With the help of this new technology, astronauts could journey to and from deep space faster than ever – a major capability to prepare for crewed missions to Mars,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Congratulations to both NASA and DARPA on this exciting investment, as we ignite the future, together.”

Using a nuclear thermal rocket allows for faster transit time, reducing risk for astronauts. Reducing transit time is a key component for human missions to Mars, as longer trips require more supplies and more robust systems.

Maturing faster, more efficient transportation technology will help NASA meet its Moon to Mars Objectives. Other benefits to space travel include increased science payload capacity and higher power for instrumentation and communication.

In a nuclear thermal rocket engine, a fission reactor is used to generate extremely high temperatures. The engine transfers the heat produced by the reactor to a liquid propellant, which is expanded and exhausted through a nozzle to propel the spacecraft.

Nuclear thermal rockets can be three or more times more efficient than conventional chemical propulsion.

“NASA has a long history of collaborating with DARPA on projects that enable our respective missions, such as in-space servicing,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “Expanding our partnership to nuclear propulsion will help drive forward NASA's goal to send humans to Mars.”

Under the agreement, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) will lead technical development of the nuclear thermal engine to be integrated with DARPA’s experimental spacecraft. DARPA is acting as the contracting authority for the development of the entire stage and the engine, which includes the reactor.

DARPA will lead the overall program including rocket systems integration and procurement, approvals, scheduling, and security, cover safety and liability, and ensure overall assembly and integration of the engine with the spacecraft. Over the course of the development, NASA and DARPA will collaborate on assembly of the engine before the in-space demonstration as early as 2027.

“DARPA and NASA have a long history of fruitful collaboration in advancing technologies for our respective goals, from the Saturn V rocket that took humans to the Moon for the first time to robotic servicing and refueling of satellites,” said Dr. Stefanie Tompkins, director, DARPA. “The space domain is critical to modern commerce, scientific discovery and national security. The ability to accomplish leap-ahead advances in space technology through the DRACO nuclear thermal rocket program will be essential for more efficiently and quickly transporting material to the Moon and eventually, people to Mars.”

The last nuclear thermal rocket engine tests conducted by the United States occurred more than 50 years ago under NASA’s Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application and Rover projects.

“With this collaboration, we will leverage our expertise gained from many previous space nuclear power and propulsion projects,” said Jim Reuter, associate administrator for STMD. "Recent aerospace materials and engineering advancements are enabling a new era for space nuclear technology, and this flight demonstration will be a major achievement toward establishing a space transportation capability for an Earth-Moon economy.”

NASA, the Department of Energy (DOE), and industry are also developing advanced space nuclear technologies for multiple initiatives to harness power for space exploration. Through NASA’s Fission Surface Power project, DOE awarded three commercial design efforts to develop nuclear power plant concepts that could be used on the surface of the Moon and, later, Mars.

NASA and DOE are working on another commercial design effort to advance higher temperature fission fuels and reactor designs as part of a nuclear thermal propulsion engine. These design efforts are still under development to support a longer-range goal for increased engine performance and will not be used for the DRACO engine.

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SpaceX Begins Prepping for Super Heavy's 33-Engine Static Fire...

SpaceX

Last Wednesday, Starship Serial No. 24 (SN24) was removed from Super Heavy Booster 7 (B7) in preparation for B7's impending static fire...the final test that needs to be conducted before SpaceX's mega-Moon rocket embarks on its much-anticipated orbital test flight.

The destack comes two days after a wet dress rehearsal was successfully performed on Starship Super Heavy, with 10 million pounds of liquid oxygen and liquid methane fuel being loaded into the entire rocket.

Once B7's static fire is complete, SN24—which is currently at Starbase's Rocket Garden getting its lifting points removed—will be re-attached to the Super Heavy booster for flight. The only thing that stands in the way after this is SpaceX getting a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration for this silver behemoth.


SpaceX

Ship 24 is being worked on while temporarily parked in the Rocket Garden.

Retired Ships 15 and 20 are paying close attention. https://t.co/e3xbqPo4OD pic.twitter.com/1tqYBwBjEz

— Chris Bergin - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) January 28, 2023

Starship 24 is having its lifting points removed! Seems like we could be getting into final launch preparations. @NASASpaceflight

Get caught up on Ship 24's latest milestones and more here: https://t.co/1mKQoqbXL2 pic.twitter.com/LTUFUq5Zjs

— Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) January 28, 2023

The Successful Maiden Launch of NASA's Mega-Moon Rocket Bodes Well for Future Deep-Space Flights by This Massive Vehicle...

Brandon Hancock

Data from the First SLS Flight to Prepare NASA for Future Artemis Missions (News Release)

NASA continues to evaluate data and learn more about the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s debut performance during the agency’s November 16 Artemis I launch. Following an initial data assessment and review that determined the SLS rocket met or exceeded all performance expectations, SLS engineers are now taking a closer look at the Moon rocket’s performance to prepare for the first crewed Artemis missions.

Building off the assessment conducted shortly after launch, the preliminary post-flight data indicates that all SLS systems performed exceptionally well and that the designs are ready to support a crewed flight on Artemis II. The post-flight analysis team will continue to review data and conduct final reports.

“NASA’s Space Launch System rocket has laid the foundation for the Artemis Generation and the future of spaceflight in deep space,” said John Honeycutt, SLS Program manager. “The correlation between actual flight performance and predicted performance for Artemis I was excellent. There is engineering and an art to successfully building and launching a rocket, and the analysis on the SLS rocket’s inaugural flight puts NASA and its partners in a good position to power missions for Artemis II and beyond.”

Ahead of launch, teams established benchmarks for the rocket’s performance through a series of pre-flight simulations and test campaigns. As the rocket launched and ascended to space, it experienced dynamic phases, like extreme forces and temperatures, that influenced its operations.

The Artemis I flight test was the only way to gather real data on how the rocket performed during events like booster separation.

Engineers in the SLS Engineering and Support Center at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, collected more than four terabytes of data and on-board imagery from SLS during pre-launch and launch phases. In addition, a total of roughly 31 terabytes of imagery data alone was collected from ground cameras, cameras on the rocket, and aerial cameras that were focused on SLS.

By comparison, the Library of Congress’ printed material is roughly 20 terabytes.

“The data we got back from Artemis I is critical in building confidence in this rocket to send humanity back to the Moon,” said John Blevins, SLS chief engineer. “The SLS team will use what we learn from this flight test to improve future flights of the rocket, and we are already taking what we’ve learned about operations and assembly and applying it to streamline future missions.”

Cameras and sensors also allowed teams to monitor how the rocket performed during its in-space maneuvers. Seeing launch from the SLS rocket’s “view” involved strategically positioning cameras, sensors and other measurement tools all along the rocket, the mobile launcher and the launch pad.

“The numerous views of the Artemis I rocket, including the solid rocket booster separation and interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) separation, provided imagery data that helped us assess how SLS performed from liftoff through the ascent and separation events,” said Beth St. Peter, SLS imagery integration lead.

Engineers also monitored the extreme temperatures and sounds the rocket experienced just after liftoff. SLS post-flight data have shown the RS-25 engines’ thrust and mixture ratio control valves were within 0.5% of predicted values. The mixture ratio is the ratio of fuel to oxidizer that determines the temperature and thrust coming from the engines throughout their eight minutes of flight time. Other key engine internal pressures and temperatures were within 2% of pre-flight predicted values.

In flight, the SLS core stage successfully executed all of its functions and inserted the ICPS and Orion spacecraft into an initial Earth orbit of 972.1 miles by 16 miles. The insert was just 2.9 miles shy of the perfect bullseye target of 975 miles by 16 miles and well within acceptable parameters.

Following a near-perfect trans-lunar injection burn, the ICPS and Orion spacecraft successfully separated – allowing Orion to complete a 25.5-day mission.

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

Source: NASA.Gov

Photos of the Day: Commemorating NASA's Day of Remembrance...

Richard Par

Today is officially the day where NASA honors the fallen astronauts of Apollo 1, STS-51L and STS-107...who gave the ultimate sacrifice to further the cause of space exploration.

I took these photos during my two trips to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in early 2009 and last year—with the image above being of the Astronaut Memorial plaque that is dedicated to the crew of the three ill-fated missions mentioned at the top of this post, as well as other space pioneers who passed away.

The images below are of the wreckage recovered after the Challenger and Columbia disasters...and are now displayed inside a quiet room on the first floor of the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit at Florida's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. If you ever visit Cape Canaveral, check out this memorial; you will definitely be filled with solemnity as you think about the two groups of men and women who risked their lives to expand our knowledge of the cosmos in 1986 and 2003, respectively.

Hopefully, I'll visit the Apollo 1 memorial in person some day. Ad astra.


Richard Par


Richard Par


Richard Par

Apollo's Successor Continues to Achieve Milestones on the Way to Its First Crewed Lunar Flight...

NASA

Progress Continues on Orion’s Service Module for Artemis II (News Release)

Inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians work on the European Service Module that will help power and propel the Orion spacecraft carrying astronauts around the Moon on the Artemis II mission. On January 13, 2023, the service module was moved into a lifting station to enable technicians to install Orion's orbital maneuvering system engine nozzle and heat shield, which was completed on January 16.

The service module provides in-space maneuvering capability, power and life support commodities necessary for astronauts onboard Orion.

Source: NASA.Gov

The Boeing Crew Flight Test Continues to Make Progress Towards a Launch This Spring...

Boeing / John Grant

Boeing CST-100 Starliner Crew and Service Modules Mated (News Release)

The Boeing CST-100 Starliner’s crew and service modules were connected, or mated, on January 19 in advance of the first launch with astronauts to the International Space Station on the company’s next-generation spacecraft.

During the operation inside the company’s Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifted the reusable crew module atop the brand-new service module to become a fully-operational spacecraft.

The complete spacecraft will fly NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams to the space station for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Starliner will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket no earlier than April 2023 to test the end-to-end capabilities of the Starliner system prior to regular flights with crew to the station.

Source: NASA.Gov

Starship Super Heavy Has Been Fully-Fueled for the First Time!

SpaceX

A few hours ago, SpaceX successfully conducted a much-anticipated wet dress rehearsal (WDR) for Starship Super Heavy at Starbase in Texas.

During this test, more than 10 million pounds of liquid oxygen and liquid methane propellant were loaded into Starship Serial No. 24 (SN24) and Super Heavy Booster 7 (B7)...making this the heaviest rocket to ever sit on the launch pad.

With the WDR out of the way, all that remains before Starship's eagerly-awaited orbital test flight takes place is the static fire for all 33 of B7's Raptor 2 engines. SN24 will once again be de-stacked from the booster before this demonstration takes place.

If the static fire is successful, SN24 will be re-attached to B7 on the Orbital Launch Mount once more. And assuming the Federal Aviation Administration grants SpaceX a launch license for this silver behemoth in a timely manner, we'll soon see Starship Super Heavy embark on its historic flight beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Stay tuned!

Starship completed its first full flight-like wet dress rehearsal at Starbase today. This was the first time an integrated Ship and Booster were fully loaded with more than 10 million pounds of propellant pic.twitter.com/btprGNGZ1G

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 24, 2023

Astronauts Prepare the ISS for the Next Set of Solar Array Wings That Will be Installed Later This Year...

NASA TV

Spacewalkers Wrap Up First Spacewalk of 2023 (News Release - January 20)

NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata concluded their spacewalk at 3:35 p.m. EST after 7 hours and 21 minutes.

Mann and Wakata completed work left over from a previous spacewalk for a platform on which a set of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs) for the station’s 1B power channel will be installed later this year, as well as most of the work to install a similar mounting platform for a set of iROSAs for the 1A power channel. Due to time constraints, plans to bolt a final strut for the second platform were deferred until a future spacewalk.

There is no impact to station operations.

The installation is part of a series of spacewalks to augment the International Space Station’s power channels with new iROSAs. Four iROSAs have been installed so far, and two more will be mounted to the platforms installed during this spacewalk in the future.

It was the 258th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, upgrades and maintenance, the first spacewalk of 2023, and the first spacewalk for both astronauts.

Mann and Wakata are in the midst of a planned six-month science mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

Source: NASA.Gov

The Apollo 1, STS-51L and STS-107 Astronauts Will Be Honored by the U.S. Space Agency on January 26...

NASA Observes Day of Remembrance Ahead of Columbia 20th Anniversary (Press Release)

The agency will honor members of the NASA family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery, including the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, leading up to, and during, the agency's annual Day of Remembrance on Thursday, January 26. This year’s NASA Day of Remembrance precedes the 20th anniversary of the Columbia accident on Wednesday, February 1.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and Associate Administrator Bob Cabana will host a townhall at the agency’s headquarters in Washington at 12:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, January 24. The trio will host a dialogue with employees about the invaluable lessons learned over the decades and the importance of a strong safety culture.

The townhall will stream live on NASA TV, the NASA app and the agency’s website.

On January 26, Nelson will lead an observance at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, which will begin with a traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by observances for the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia crews at 1 p.m. EST. The administrator will also send an agencywide message to employees.

“NASA’s Day of Remembrance is about pausing, remembering and uplifting the legacies of the NASA family who gave their lives to advance the cause of discovery. While this will always be (a) solemn day, it’s also one of gratitude. We are thankful that NASA’s adventurers shared their lives with us and made life better on Earth,” said Nelson. “As we continue to expand humanity’s reach in this new era of exploration, we must always embrace NASA’s core value of safety.”

Additional various agency centers will also hold observances for NASA Day of Remembrance.

Johnson Space Center, Houston

NASA Johnson will hold a commemoration at the Astronaut Memorial Grove at 10 a.m. CST. The ceremony will include remarks by NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche. This event will feature a NASA T-38 flyover and taps performed by the Texas A&M Squadron 17.

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Columbia’s STS-107 mission, Johnson will also host an employee panel discussion called Perspectives of STS-107 Lessons Applied to Artemis. Moderated by Johnson’s Flight Operations Directorate EVA Training and Operations Engineer Grier Wilt, senior leaders in the Johnson-based Artemis programs – Orion, Extravehicular Activity, and Human Surface Mobility, Gateway, and Human Research – will discuss lessons learned from the STS-107 Columbia tragedy and the impact on human spaceflight development and operations.

Kennedy Space Center, Florida

NASA Kennedy, in partnership with The Astronauts Memorial Foundation, will host a Day of Remembrance ceremony at the Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy’s Visitor Complex at 10 a.m. EST. The ceremony will include remarks by Astronauts Memorial Foundation President and CEO Thad Altman and Kennedy’s Center Director Janet Petro.

NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana will also provide remarks during the ceremony, which will livestream on Kennedy’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Ames Research Center, California

NASA Ames will hold a remembrance ceremony that includes remarks from Ames’ Center Director Dr. Eugene Tu, a moment of silence and bell ring commemoration.

Glenn Research Center, Cleveland

NASA Glenn will observe Day of Remembrance with remarks from Glenn’s Associate Director Larry Sivic, followed by a panel discussion on safety with aeronautics and spaceflight experts at Lewis Field.

Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia

NASA Langley will hold a remembrance ceremony followed by placing flags at the Langley Workers Memorial.

Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama

NASA Marshall will hold a candle-lighting ceremony and wreath placement. The ceremony will include remarks from Marshall Center Director Jody Singer, Bill Hill, director of Marshall’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, and NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins.

Stennis Space Flight Center, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

NASA Stennis will hold a wreath-laying ceremony with remarks from Stennis’ Associate Director Rodney McKellip and NASA Shared Services Center Operations Director Nikki Tubbs.

NASA locations featuring special Day of Remembrance messages to employees include: NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California; Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia; the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Facility in Fairmont, West Virginia; and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

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Two Fellow Test Dummies Join Commander Campos Back on Terra Firma...

NASA / Kim Shiflett

Orion Manikins Return from Artemis I Mission (News Release - January 18)

After a 25-day flight beyond the Moon and back inside the Artemis I Orion crew module, two manikins undergo post-flight payload inspections inside the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 11, 2023. As part of the Matroshka AstroRad Radiation Experiment (MARE) investigation, the two female manikins – Helga and Zohar – were equipped with radiation detectors.

Zohar also wore a radiation protection vest, to determine the radiation risk during the Artemis I mission and potentially reduce exposure during future missions with astronauts. The detectors will be removed at Kennedy and the torsos will return to teams at the German Space Agency for further analysis.

Artemis I Orion launched atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at 1:47 a.m. EST. During the flight, Orion flew farther than any spacecraft built for humans has ever flown, paving the way for human deep space exploration and demonstrating NASA’s commitment and capability to extend human presence to the Moon and beyond.

The primary goal of Artemis I was to thoroughly test the SLS and Orion spacecraft’s integrated systems before crewed missions. Under Artemis, NASA aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon and establish sustainable lunar exploration.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Cory Huston

SpaceX's Endurance Capsule May Come Home with an Extra Crew Member Due to Last Month's Soyuz Leak...

NASA

NASA Astronauts Complete Seat Liner Move (News Release)

On January 17, NASA Flight Engineer Josh Cassada, with assistance from NASA Flight Engineer Nicole Mann, worked inside the SpaceX Dragon Endurance crew ship collecting tools and readying the spacecraft for a seat liner move. The seat liner move, completed today, January 18, ensures that NASA Flight Engineer Frank Rubio will be able to return to Earth in the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation from the International Space Station.

Rubio originally launched to the station with cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin aboard the Soyuz MS-22 crew ship on September 21, 2022. The change allows for increased crew protection by reducing the heat load inside the MS-22 spacecraft for Prokopyev and Petelin in case of an emergency return to Earth.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA TV

Artemis 1's Main Passenger Heads Home After Its Trip to the Moon...

NASA / Cory Huston

Commander Moonikin Campos Returns from Artemis I Mission (News Release)

Commander Moonikin Campos, a sensored stand-in for humans from NASA’s Artemis I mission, is packed within its transport crate inside the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 10, 2023, for its trip back to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Moonikin Campos was secured inside the Orion spacecraft for the mission beyond the Moon and back to Earth.

Artemis I Orion launched atop the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at 1:47 a.m. EST for a 25-day trip beyond the Moon and back. During the flight, Orion flew farther than any human-rated spacecraft has ever flown, paving the way for human deep space exploration and demonstrating NASA’s commitment and capability to extend human presence to the Moon and beyond.

The primary goal of Artemis I was to thoroughly test the SLS and Orion spacecraft’s integrated systems before crewed missions. Under Artemis, NASA aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon and establish sustainable lunar exploration.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Cory Huston

On This Day in 2003: The Final Launch of Columbia...

NASA

It was 20 years ago today that space shuttle Columbia lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on her final flight, STS-107.

What was supposed to be an almost 16-day lab mission before Columbia would finally be used in the assembly campaign for the then-fledgling International Space Station (unlike her sister ships Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, Columbia was initially too heavy to fly up to the ISS before modifications were made to NASA's oldest orbiter) turned out to be the second disaster in the Space Shuttle Program, behind the 1986 loss of Challenger.

Columbia's fate was sealed when a piece of foam broke off from her external fuel tank's left bipod 81.7 seconds after liftoff (which occurred at 10:39 AM, EST), and struck the reinforced carbon-carbon panel on the orbiter's portside wing 0.2 seconds later. Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas and the seven STS-107 astronauts themselves were unaware of this, and didn't know what would transpire over two weeks later...on February 1, 2003.


NASA

SpaceShipTwo May Resume Flights a Few Months from Now...

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic Evolves Aerospace Leadership Structure in Preparation for Commercial Spaceline Operations (Press Release)

Commercial Service Remains on Track to Launch in Q2 2023

Orange County, Calif. – Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (the “Company” or “Virgin Galactic”), an aerospace and space travel company, today announced its updated leadership structure to support commercial spaceline operations, which are on track for Q2 2023 as previously announced by the Company. The organizational changes will support the Company’s core near-term objectives of delivering increased flight frequency and executing on rapid fleet development plans.

As part of this leadership update, Swami Iyer, President, Aerospace Systems, will be departing from his position, effective January 12, 2023. He will continue to serve as an advisor to Michael Colglazier, CEO of the Company, until March 3, 2023 to ensure a smooth transition.

"With the completion of the enhancement program for our mothership at hand, our streamlined leadership structure will help propel the business forward as we prepare for commercial spaceline operations,” said Colglazier. “Swami has been instrumental in establishing our future production strategy and in leading the work to prepare our initial ships for commercial flight, and we are incredibly grateful for his contribution. Our experienced leadership team brings deep expertise to the next exciting phase for the Company — flying our customers safely and regularly to space and expanding our future fleet.”

The leadership team of industry veterans leading Virgin Galactic’s spaceline operations includes:

Mike Moses, President, Spaceline Missions and Safety

Moses has led flight and mission operations at Virgin Galactic since 2011 following his seventeen-year career at NASA, where he led space shuttle launch operations until the shuttle retired from service in 2011.

Mike Moore, Executive Vice President, Spaceline Technical Operations

Moore joined Virgin Galactic in 2022 following a long and successful career as SVP, Technical Operations with Delta Airlines. His team at Virgin Galactic works to ensure vehicles are manufactured, maintained and sustained to the highest standards of quality, reliability and efficiency.

Steve Justice, Senior Vice President, Spaceline Programs and Engineering

Justice - a 39-year veteran of Lockheed Martin and a “legend” in its Skunk Works division - leads the design, engineering and program management of Virgin Galactic’s spaceflight system and future fleet development.

Planned upgrades of VMS Eve are complete, and the mothership is expected to enter ground tests next week before commencing flight tests to verify the enhancements to the ship. Commercial service remains on track to begin in Q2 2023.

Source: Virgin Galactic

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Virgin Galactic

Equipment from the Artemis 1 Capsule Will Soon Be Removed for Reuse on Artemis 2...

NASA / Ben Smegelsky

Technicians Open Artemis I Orion Hatch for Post-Mission Processing (News Release)

Inside the Multi-Payload Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, engineers and technicians opened the hatch of the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission after a 1.4-million mile journey beyond the Moon and back. Orion returned to Kennedy on December 30, 2022, after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on December 11.

In this photo (above), a technician stands inside the crew module to remove payloads and assess the capsule. The team has removed all of the purposeful passengers and zero gravity indicator Snoopy, and moved them to labs inside one of Kennedy's processing facilities.

While Artemis I did not have crew onboard, the three human-like payloads on Artemis I will help scientists and engineers understand how to best protect astronauts on future Artemis missions to the Moon.

This week technicians will extract nine avionics boxes from Orion, which will subsequently be refurbished for Artemis II, the first mission with astronauts. Contents include a video processing unit, GPS receiver, four crew module phased array antennas and three Orion inertial measurement units.

The crew seat that Commander Moonikin Campos occupied on Artemis I will also be refurbished for flight on Artemis II.

In the coming months, technicians will remove hazardous commodities that remain onboard. Once complete, the spacecraft will journey to NASA Glenn’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility for abort-level acoustic vibration and other environmental testing.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Ben Smegelsky

Photos of the Day: Starship Super Heavy Moves a Step Closer to Its Inaugural Launch This Year...

SpaceX

Earlier today, Starship Serial No. 24 (SN24) and Super Heavy Booster 7 (B7) were re-stacked on the Orbital Launch Mount at Starbase, Texas. With the super heavy-lift launch vehicle whole at the pad once more, SpaceX has a few more demonstrations to conduct before SN24 and B7 are finally ready to embark on their orbital test flight...namely a wet dress rehearsal and much-anticipated static fire for all 33 Raptor 2 engines on B7.

Stay tuned!


SpaceX


SpaceX


SpaceX


SpaceX


SpaceX

Ship 24 stacked on Super Heavy Booster 7 at Starbase in Texas pic.twitter.com/hLcghfq349

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 10, 2023

Apollo's Successor Is About to Begin a New Round of Testing Following Its Historic Flight to the Moon...

NASA / Skip Williams

Heat Shield Inspections Underway on Artemis I Orion Spacecraft (News Release)

Inside the Multi-Payload Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, engineers and technicians conduct inspections of the heat shield on the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission. Orion returned to Kennedy on December 30, 2022, after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on December 11, following a 1.4-million-mile mission beyond the Moon and back.

In this photo, technicians underneath the crew module closely examine the heat shield, which endured temperatures near 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit during reentry through Earth’s atmosphere. The heat shield will be removed from the spacecraft and taken to another facility for further detailed inspections.

Teams are also inspecting the windows of the capsule along with the thermal protection on the back shell panels that cover the spacecraft to protect it from the harsh conditions both in space and during the high-speed, high-heat reentry.

On top of the capsule is the deflated crew module uprighting system, which is a group of five air bags that position the capsule right side up after splashdown and were deflated prior to transport back to Kennedy. While still in the transfer aisle of the facility, engineers are in the process of removing external avionics boxes.

Technicians will take air samples within the capsule ahead of repositioning it into a service stand that will allow access to the interior. Upon opening the hatch, technicians will remove the internal avionics boxes and payloads.

After conducting detailed inspections and testing, the avionics boxes will be reused for the Artemis II mission.

De-servicing will continue in the coming months with the removal of the hazardous commodities that remain on board. Once complete, the spacecraft will journey to NASA Glenn’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility for abort-level acoustic vibration and other environmental testing.

Source: NASA.Gov

Inspiration4's Jared Isaacman and His Next Crew Continue to Prep for Their Historic Flight Aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon This Year...

Polaris Program / John Kraus

Polaris Dawn Crew Participates in a Decompression Sickness Study at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (News Release - January 3)

The Polaris Dawn crew participated in a decompression sickness (DCS) study to characterize the risk of the planned Polaris Dawn decompression profile in the 20 Foot Chamber at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on December 18-20. The facility originally served as a platform for similar atmospheric modulation tests in the early 1970s ahead of NASA’s missions to Skylab, the United States’ first space station.

The risk of decompression sickness is lowered when the amount of nitrogen is reduced in one’s body. Current extravehicular activity (EVA) decompression models – such as those used on the International Space Station – achieve this during a long-duration 100% oxygen prebreathe exercise in an airlock.

The Dragon spacecraft, however, does not have an airlock, requiring the entire vehicle (including crewmembers) to decompress down to vacuum with a limited prebreathe. In anticipation of the mission’s EVA attempt, this study characterized DCS risk for Polaris Dawn and will help SpaceX develop a new decompression model for EVAs from Dragon.

Decompression sickness is more commonly known as “the bends” and is typically associated with scuba diving. When a rapid drop in air pressure occurs, nitrogen gas bubbles can form in the body and cause pain in the joints, damage skin, or create feelings of numbness, tingling in muscles, or physical fatigue.

With potential DCS symptoms being vague and individual susceptibility varying significantly, it was important that the crew got experience monitoring and reporting DCS symptoms, in addition to understanding the likelihood for DCS to occur during the actual EVA.

The crew lived in the chamber for just under two days, simulating the mission’s expected pressure and oxygen profiles to determine how likely it is for DCS symptoms to occur – if at all. Throughout the test, a team of medical professionals monitored the crew for symptoms, ready to intervene and provide immediate medical treatment if necessary.

In addition to characterizing DCS risk, the event allowed for the crew and teams to practice monitoring for and reporting EVA-related medical information over communication loops ahead of the mission’s actual spacewalk.

Source: Polaris Program

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Polaris Program


Polaris Program

Remembering Apollo 7's Lunar Module Pilot...

NASA

Apollo Astronaut Walter Cunningham Dies at 90 (Press Release)

Former astronaut Walter Cunningham, who flew into space on Apollo 7, the first flight with crew in NASA’s Apollo Program, died early Tuesday morning in Houston. He was 90 years old.

“Walt Cunningham was a fighter pilot, physicist and an entrepreneur – but, above all, he was an explorer. On Apollo 7, the first launch of a crewed Apollo mission, Walt and his crewmates made history, paving the way for the Artemis Generation we see today,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “NASA will always remember his contributions to our nation’s space program and sends our condolences to the Cunningham family.”

Cunningham was born on March 16, 1932, in Creston, Iowa. He graduated from Venice High School, in Venice, California, before going on to receive a Bachelor of Arts with honors in physics in 1960 and a Master of Arts with distinction in physics in 1961 from the University of California at Los Angeles.

He then completed a doctorate in physics with exception of thesis at the Advanced Management Program in the Harvard Graduate School of Business in 1974.

The Cunningham family offered the following statement: “We would like to express our immense pride in the life that he lived, and our deep gratitude for the man that he was – a patriot, an explorer, pilot, astronaut, husband, brother and father. The world has lost another true hero, and we will miss him dearly.”

He joined the Navy in 1951 and served on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring with the rank of colonel. He flew 54 missions as a night fighter pilot in Korea.

Cunningham worked as a scientist for the Rand Corporation for three years. While with Rand, he worked on classified defense studies and problems related to the Earth's magnetosphere.

Cunningham has accumulated more than 4,500 hours of flying time in 40 different aircraft, including more than 3,400 in jet aircraft.

Cunningham was selected as an astronaut in 1963 as part of NASA's third astronaut class.

“On behalf of NASA's Johnson Space Center, we are beholden to Walt's service to our nation and dedication to the advancement of human space exploration,” said Vanessa Wyche, center director. “Walt's accomplished legacy will continue to serve as an inspiration to us all.”

Prior to his assignment to the Apollo 7 crew, Cunningham was on the prime crew for Apollo 2 until it was cancelled and the backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 1.

On October 11, 1968, Cunningham piloted the 11-day flight of Apollo 7, the first human flight test of the Apollo spacecraft. With Walter M. Schirra, Jr. and Donn F. Eisele, he tested maneuvers necessary for docking and lunar orbit rendezvous using the third stage of their Saturn IB launch vehicle.

The crew successfully completed eight tests, igniting the service module engine, measuring the accuracy of performance of all spacecraft systems, and providing the first live television transmission of onboard crew activities. The 263-hour, 4.5-million-mile flight splashed down on October 22, 1968, in the Atlantic Ocean.

Cunningham’s last assignment at NASA Johnson was chief of the Skylab branch of the Flight Crew Directorate. In this capacity, he was responsible for the operational inputs for five major pieces of manned space hardware, two different launch vehicles and 56 major experiments that comprised the Skylab Program.

Cunningham retired from NASA in 1971 and would go on to lead multiple technical and financial organizations. He served in senior leadership roles with Century Development Corp., Hydrotech Development Company and 3D International.

Cunningham was also a longtime investor and entrepreneur, organizing small businesses and private investment firms. He was also a frequent keynote speaker and radio talk show host.

His numerous awards include the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and NASA Distinguished Service Medal. For his service he was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, International Space Hall of Fame, Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame, San Diego Air and Space Museum Hall of Fame, and Houston Hall of Fame.

Cunningham and the Apollo 7 crew also earned an Emmy in the form of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Special Trustee Award.

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