Setting Sights on a Post-ISS Era in Crewed Spaceflight...

NASA

NASA Finalizes Strategy for Sustaining Human Presence in Low-Earth Orbit (News Release - December 16)

As part of the agency’s efforts to enable broader use of space, NASA has released its final goals and objectives for low-Earth orbit, defining the long-term approach towards advancing microgravity science, technology and exploration for the benefit of all. Developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders, NASA’s Low-Earth Orbit Microgravity Strategy will guide the agency towards the next generation of continuous human presence in orbit, enable greater economic growth, and maintain international partnerships.

“As we near the retirement of the International Space Station in 2030, these objectives are a pivotal next step in solidifying U.S. leadership in space,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “Our consultation with industry, academia and international partners has helped refine a visionary roadmap for our future in low-Earth orbit, which will be enabled by a continuous human presence. Together, we are ensuring that the benefits of exploring space continue to grow – advancing science, innovation and opportunities for all, while preparing for humanity’s next giant leap of exploring the Moon, Mars and beyond.”

In early 2024, NASA initiated a planning process that included drafting an initial set of goals and objectives for the low-Earth orbit microgravity environment and seeking feedback from its workforce, government partners, industry, academia, international space agencies and the public. The agency reviewed more than 1,800 comments and hosted two workshops, resulting in essential adjustments to the goals and objectives to better align with its partners. The final framework includes 13 goals and 44 objectives across seven key areas: commercial low-Earth orbit infrastructure, operations, science, research and technology development for exploration, international cooperation, workforce development and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) engagement, and public engagement.

The agency’s efforts in low-Earth orbit are integral to its broader ambitions for deep space exploration. The microgravity environment in low-Earth orbit provides a cost-effective, easily accessible proving ground for technologies and research necessary for human missions to explore the Solar System. With most of the journey to the Moon and Mars occurring in microgravity, the objectives give the opportunity to continue vital human research, test future exploration systems, and retain the critical skills needed to operate in the microgravity environment.

“These finalized objectives represent a clear path forward as NASA transitions from the International Space Station to a new era of commercial space stations,” said Robyn Gatens, director of the International Space Station and acting director of commercial spaceflight. “Low-Earth orbit will remain a hub for scientific discovery, technological advancement and international cooperation, while making strategic investments in a commercial space ecosystem that benefits not just NASA, but the entire space community.”

The low-Earth orbit microgravity goals and objectives, combined with significant stakeholder engagement, drive NASA’s need to maintain an unbroken, continuous heartbeat of humans in the commercial low-Earth orbit destinations era. NASA requires long-duration flights to mitigate risk for future trips to the Red Planet. To ensure reliable access to and use of low-Earth orbit, a diversity of providers operating on a regular cadence is essential.

The objectives will also guide the development of requirements for future commercial space stations that will support NASA’s missions, while reducing risk for human missions to Mars, preserving operational skills, advancing critical scientific research, and sustaining engagement with international and commercial partners.

“Collaboration and consultation remain a cornerstone of our low-Earth orbit strategy,” said John Keefe, director of cross-agency strategy integration at NASA. “The objectives we’ve established will help NASA craft a work plan that ensures NASA is positioned to meet current and future needs and prioritizes the development of critical capabilities for low-Earth orbit.”

The low-Earth orbit microgravity goals and objectives are available online at:

https://go.nasa.gov/3DsMtNI

Source: NASA.Gov

Nation #51 Has Joined NASA's Moon Exploration Initiative...

NASA

NASA Welcomes Thailand as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory (News Release)

Following a signing ceremony on Monday in Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, NASA congratulates Thailand as the 51st nation to commit to the safe and responsible exploration of space that benefits humanity.

“Thailand’s commitment to the Artemis Accords will enhance the country’s engagement with NASA and the international community,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “By signing the accords, Thailand builds upon an important foundation and shows great leadership for the open, responsible and peaceful exploration of space.”

Pakorn Apaphant, the executive director of Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Thailand. Thailand’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Supamas Isarabhakdi and U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert Godec also participated in the ceremony. Nelson contributed the final remarks in a pre-recorded video message.

“Thailand will enter the golden age of space exploration in full force,” said Apaphant of the country’s signing.

In 2020, the United States, led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, and seven other initial signatory nations established the Artemis Accords, a set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity.

The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.

On December 11, NASA celebrated 50 countries signing the Artemis Accords at NASA Headquarters with the signing of Austria. More countries are expected to sign in the weeks and months ahead.

Source: NASA.Gov

The New Artemis Blueprint for Space Exploration Has Been Released...

NASA

NASA Outlines Latest Moon to Mars Plans in 2024 Architecture Update (News Release)

As NASA develops a blueprint for space exploration throughout the Solar System for the benefit of humanity, the agency released several new documents on Friday updating its Moon to Mars architecture. The roadmap sets NASA on course for long-term lunar exploration under the Artemis campaign in preparation for future crewed missions to Mars.

Following an Architecture Concept Review, the 2024 updates include a revision of NASA’s Architecture Definition Document which details technical approaches and processes of the agency’s exploration plans, an executive overview and 12 new white papers on key Moon to Mars topics.

“NASA’s Architecture Concept Review process is critical to getting us on a path to mount a human mission to Mars,” said NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free. “We’re taking a methodical approach to mapping out the decisions we need to make, understanding resource and technological trades, and ensuring we are listening to feedback from stakeholders.”

One newly-released white paper highlights NASA’s decision to use fission power as the primary source of power on the Martian surface to sustain crews — the first of seven key decisions necessary for human Mars exploration. Fission power is a form of nuclear power unaffected by day and night cycles or potential dust storms on Mars.

New additions this year also include a broader, prioritized list of key architecture decisions that need to be made early in NASA’s plans to send humans to the Red Planet. Two new elements are now part of the agency’s Moon to Mars architecture — a lunar surface cargo lander and an initial lunar surface habitat. The lunar surface cargo lander will deliver logistics items, science and technology payloads, communications systems and more.

The initial surface habitat will house astronauts on the lunar surface to extend the crew size, range and duration of exploration missions and enable crewed and uncrewed science opportunities.

The newest revision of the Architecture Definition Document adds more information about NASA’s decision roadmapping process — how the agency decides which decisions must be made early in the planning process based on impacts to subsequent decisions — and a list of architecture-driven opportunities that help technology development organizations prioritize research into new technologies that will enable the Moon to Mars architecture.

“Identifying and analyzing high-level architecture decisions are the first steps to realizing a crewed Mars exploration campaign,” said Catherine Koerner, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Each yearly assessment cycle as part of our architecture process is moving us closer to ensuring we have a well thought-out plan to accomplish our exploration objectives.”

NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture approach incorporates feedback from U.S. industry, academia, international partners and the NASA workforce. The agency typically releases a series of technical documents at the end of its annual analysis cycle, including an update of the Architecture Definition Document and white papers that elaborate on frequently-raised topics.

Under NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the next Americans and first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all.

Source: NASA.Gov

The Main Booster for the Next SLS Rocket Continues to Undergo Pre-Launch Preps at KSC...

NASA / Adeline Morgan

Artemis II Core Stage Goes Vertical (News Release - December 11)

NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) Moon rocket core stage is vertical in High Bay 2 on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The core stage arrived on July 23 at NASA Kennedy, where it remained horizontal inside the facility’s transfer aisle. With the move to High Bay 2, technicians with NASA and Boeing now have 360-degree access to the core stage both internally and externally. The move also frees up more space in the transfer aisle to allow technicians to continue transporting and integrating two solid rocket boosters onto Mobile Launcher 1 in High Bay 3 for the Artemis II mission.

Boeing and their sub-contractor Futuramic refurbished High Bay 2 to increase efficiencies while processing core stages for Artemis II and beyond.

During Apollo, technicians stacked the Saturn V rocket in High Bay 2. During the Space Shuttle Program, the high bay was used for external tank checkout and storage and as a contingency storage area for the shuttle. The Artemis II test flight will be NASA’s first mission with crew under the Artemis campaign, sending NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman, as well as CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Kim Shiflett


NASA / Kim Shiflett


NASA / Kim Shiflett


NASA / Kim Shiflett


NASA / Kim Shiflett

NASA's Moon Exploration Initiative Has Reached a Big Milestone...

NASA

Artemis Accords Reach 50 Signatories as NASA Welcomes Panama, Austria (News Release)

Panama and Austria signed the Artemis Accords on Wednesday during separate signing ceremonies at NASA Headquarters in Washington, becoming the 49th and 50th nations to commit to the responsible exploration of space for all humanity.

“NASA welcomes Panama and Austria to the Artemis Accords community and celebrates 50 countries united by shared principles for the safe and responsible exploration of space,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. “More than ever before, NASA is opening space to more nations and more people for the benefit of all. Together, we are building long-term and peaceful deep space exploration for the Artemis Generation.”

In just a few years, the original group of eight country signatories – including the United States – has multiplied, with 17 countries signing in 2024. More than a number, the Artemis Accords represent a robust community, from every region of the world, unified by the same goal: to ensure safe and responsible civil space exploration.

Through the Artemis Accords, the United States and other signatories are progressing toward continued safe and sustainable exploration of space with concrete outcomes. They committed to a method of operation and set of recommendations on non-interference, interoperability, release of scientific data, long-term sustainability guidelines, and registration to advance the implementation of the Artemis Accords.

Potential focus areas for the next year include further advancing sustainability, including debris management for both lunar orbit and the surface of the Moon.

Austria Joins Artemis Accords

Petra Schneebauer, ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the United States, signed the accords on behalf of Austria, becoming the 50th country signatory.

“Austria is proud to sign the Artemis Accords, an important step in fostering international cooperation for the civil exploration of the Moon and expanding humanity’s presence in the cosmos,” said Schneebauer. “By signing the Accords, we reaffirm our commitment to the peaceful, responsible and cooperative use of space while emphasizing our support for strong multilateral partnerships and scientific progress. This cooperation will open new prospects for Austrian businesses, scientists and research institutions to engage in pioneering space initiatives.”

Jennifer Littlejohn, acting assistant secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, also participated in Austria’s signing event.

Panama Joins Artemis Accords

Earlier Wednesday, Nelson hosted Panama for a signing ceremony. José Miguel Alemán Healy, ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the United States, signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Panama. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Tony Fernandes for U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs also participated in the event.

“Today, Panama takes its place among many other nations looking not just to our own horizons, but to the horizons beyond our planet – exploring, learning and contributing to humanity’s collective knowledge,” said Alemán.” This moment represents far more than a diplomatic signature. It is a bold commitment to peaceful exploration, scientific discovery and international collaboration.”

In 2020, the United States, led by NASA with the U.S. Department of State, and seven other initial signatory nations established the Artemis Accords, identifying a set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity.

The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.

The accords are a voluntary commitment to engage in safe, transparent, responsible behavior in space, and any nation that wants to commit to those values is welcome to sign.

Source: NASA.Gov

The Latest Update on the Next Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle to Launch to the Moon...

NASA / Eric Hernandez

Vacuum Testing Complete on Artemis II Orion Spacecraft (News Release)

NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II test flight returned to the Final Assembly and System Testing (FAST) cell following completion of the second round of vacuum chamber testing on December 5 inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

After returning to the FAST cell, the four main batteries – which supply power to many Orion systems – were installed in the crew module. The batteries returned to NASA Kennedy from their supplier, EaglePicher Technologies, earlier this month. Solar array wings will also be installed onto the spacecraft by international partner ESA (European Space Agency) and its contractor Airbus in early 2025.

The Artemis II test flight will be NASA’s first mission with crew under the Artemis campaign, sending NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back.

Source: NASA.Gov

A New Super Heavy-Lift Rocket Aims to Fly by the End of this Month...

Blue Origin

Blue Ring Pathfinder Payload Ready for Launch; Blue Origin’s New Glenn on Track for This Year (News Release)

Blue Origin’s payload for New Glenn’s first mission, NG-1, is ready for launch this year. NG-1 will carry the company’s Blue Ring Pathfinder and mark the rocket’s first National Security Space Launch certification flight. The encapsulated payload will be integrated onto the launch vehicle following the hotfire.

New Glenn will lift off from Blue Origin’s Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The pathfinder was developed by Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems business unit. It will test Blue Ring’s core flight, ground systems and operational capabilities. NG-1 will carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload as part of the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Orbital Logistics prototype effort.

DIU funding is helping to enable future Department of Defense missions.

The demonstrator includes a communications array, power systems and a flight computer affixed to a secondary payload adapter ring. The pathfinder will validate Blue Ring’s communications capabilities from orbit to ground. The mission will also test its in-space telemetry, tracking and command hardware, and ground-based radiometric tracking that will be used on the future Blue Ring production space vehicle.

The pathfinder will remain onboard New Glenn’s second stage for the duration of an expected six-hour mission.

“We’re excited to demonstrate Blue Ring’s advanced in-space operations on New Glenn’s inaugural mission,” said Paul Ebertz, Senior Vice President of Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems. “Blue Ring plays a critical role in building a road to space, and this mission is an important first step for Blue Ring and enabling dynamic and responsive operations that will greatly benefit our nation.”

Source: Blue Origin

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Blue Origin

While we wait for regulatory approvals for hotfire and launch, here’s a photo (and a bonus video) of our “chilling” GS1. This marks the first time we’re tanking our first stage with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX). The first stage LOX tank is nearly 30,000 cu.… pic.twitter.com/S9wDtCUFNI

— Dave Limp (@davill) December 8, 2024

The Next SLS Launch Is Now Targeted for Spring of 2026...

NASA

NASA Shares Orion Heat Shield Findings, Updates Artemis Moon Missions (News Release)

Through the Artemis campaign, NASA will land the next American astronauts and first international astronaut on the South Pole region of the Moon. On Thursday, NASA announced the latest updates to its lunar exploration plans.

Experts discussed results of NASA’s investigation into its Orion spacecraft heat shield after it experienced an unexpected loss of charred material during re-entry of the Artemis I uncrewed test flight. For the Artemis II crewed test flight, engineers will continue to prepare Orion with the heat shield already attached to the capsule. The agency also announced that it is now targeting April 2026 for Artemis II and mid-2027 for Artemis III.

The updated mission timelines also reflect time to address the Orion environmental control and life support systems.

“The Artemis campaign is the most daring, technically challenging, collaborative, international endeavor humanity has ever set out to do,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “We have made significant progress on the Artemis campaign over the past four years, and I’m proud of the work our teams have done to prepare us for this next step forward in exploration as we look to learn more about Orion’s life support systems to sustain crew operations during Artemis II. We need to get this next test flight right. That’s how the Artemis campaign succeeds.”

The agency’s decision comes after an extensive investigation of an Artemis I heat shield issue showed that the Artemis II heat shield can keep the crew safe during the planned mission with changes to Orion’s trajectory as it enters Earth’s atmosphere and slows from nearly 25,000 mph to about 325 mph before its parachutes unfurl for safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

“Throughout our process to investigate the heat shield phenomenon and determine a forward path, we’ve stayed true to NASA’s core values; safety and data-driven analysis remained at the forefront,” said Catherine Koerner, associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The updates to our mission plans are a positive step toward ensuring we can safely accomplish our objectives at the Moon and develop the technologies and capabilities needed for crewed Mars missions.”

NASA will continue stacking its SLS (Space Launch System) rocket elements, which began in November, and prepare it for integration with Orion for Artemis II.

Throughout the fall months, NASA, along with an independent review team, established the technical cause of an issue seen after the uncrewed Artemis I test flight in which charred material on the heat shield wore away differently than expected. Extensive analysis, including from more than 100 tests at unique facilities across the country, determined that the heat shield on Artemis I did not allow for enough of the gases generated inside a material called Avcoat to escape, which caused some of the material to crack and break off. Avcoat is designed to wear away as it heats up, and is a key material in the thermal protection system that guards Orion and its crew from the nearly 5,000° Fahrenheit of temperatures that are generated when Orion returns from the Moon through Earth’s atmosphere.

Although a crew was not inside Orion during Artemis I, data shows that the temperature inside Orion remained comfortable and safe had crew been aboard.

Engineers are already assembling and integrating the Orion spacecraft for Artemis III based on lessons learned from Artemis I and implementing enhancements to how heat shields for crewed returns from lunar landing missions are manufactured to achieve uniformity and consistent permeability. The skip entry is needed for return from speeds expected for lunar landing missions.

“Victor, Christina, Jeremy and I have been following every aspect of this decision and we are thankful for the openness of NASA to weigh all options and make decisions in the best interest of human spaceflight. We are excited to fly Artemis II and continue paving the way for sustained human exploration of the Moon and Mars,” said Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander. “We were at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida recently and put eyes on our SLS rocket boosters, the core stage and the Orion spacecraft. It is inspiring to see the scale of this effort, to meet the people working on this machine, and we can’t wait to fly it to the Moon.”

Wiseman, along with NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will fly aboard the 10-day Artemis II test flight around the Moon and back. The flight will provide valuable data about Orion systems needed to support crew on their journey to deep space and bring them safely home, including air revitalization in the cabin, manual flying capabilities, and how humans interact with other hardware and software in the spacecraft.

With Artemis, NASA will explore more of the Moon than ever before, learn how to live and work farther away from home, and prepare for future human exploration of the Red Planet. NASA’s SLS, Exploration Ground Systems and Orion spacecraft, along with the Human Landing System, next-generation spacesuits, Gateway lunar space station, and future rovers are NASA’s foundation for deep space exploration.

Source: NASA.Gov

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NASA / Glenn Benson

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the first test flight of the @NASA_Orion spacecraft. It flew on a Delta IV rocket that was powered, in part, by three RS-68 engines tested by @L3HarrisTech (formerly known as Aerojet Rocketdyne) on the B-2 side of the Thad Cochran Test Stand at… pic.twitter.com/WNMzVxhCaQ

— Stennis Space Center (@NASAStennis) December 5, 2024

Remembering Shuttle Day...

NASA

This Week in NASA History: Launch of ASTRO-1 – December 2, 1990 (News Release)

This week in 1990, space shuttle Columbia, on mission STS-35, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center carrying Astronomy Laboratory 1 in its cargo bay. ASTRO-1 was developed as a system of telescopes that could fly multiple times on the space shuttle. It consisted of three ultraviolet telescopes and an X-ray telescope.

The telescopes were mounted on a Spacelab pallet in the payload bay of the shuttle. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center was responsible for managing the Spacelab missions. Here, the various components of the ASTRO-1 payload are seen above the backdrop of Earth.

The NASA History Program is responsible for generating, disseminating and preserving NASA’s remarkable history and providing a comprehensive understanding of the institutional, cultural, social, political, economic, technological and scientific aspects of NASA’s activities in aeronautics and space.

Source: NASA.Gov

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December 2 is the day of the year that saw the most shuttle launches! Four launches with four different orbiters launched #OTD: STS-27, STS-35, STS-53, and STS-61.

The orbiters in order of launch (AND alphabetical order) were: Atlantis, Columbia, Discovery, and Endeavour. pic.twitter.com/edc2WetFhz

— NASA History Office (@NASAhistory) December 2, 2024