Orion

[triage]

Димитър пишет:
5. Желание НАСА поставить екипаж еще на первом корабле потребует доработки, которые отодвинут запуск на 7 - 8 месяцев сами по себе.
ИМХО первый полет может быть с екипажем только если создание РН и наземки отстанут по отношении к КК, что даст время на нужную доработку. Но даже в таком случае начальство может потребовать провести сначала беспилотный полет на всякий случай ...

ИХМО.
Это не желание НАСА превратить первый запуск SLS в пилотируемый.
И не начальство может потребовать провести сначала беспилотный. Начальство (кто оплачивает банкет) захотело определить возможность пилотируемого в первом запуске SLS. А беспилотный на всякий случай - тогда срок запуска беспилотного когда?

Мне кажется такой небольшой срок разницы октябрь 2018 - середина 2019 необходимый для доработки для пилотируемого запуска очень странно смотрится при сравнении со сроком октябрь 2018 - 2021(2023) год.... как-то быстро должны создать. Конечно стоимость запуска в $ велика, чтобы запускать SLS... и поэтому такие промежутки между запусками.

[tnt22]

Orion Spacecraft‏Подлинная учетная запись @NASA_Orion 19 мин. назад

Orion's structural test article arrives @LockheedMartin in Colorado for testing. Thanks @NASA #superguppy for the ride.

[tnt22]

U.S. GAO‏Подлинная учетная запись @USGAO 7 ч. назад

#TodaysReports NASA Human Space Exploration: Delay Likely for First Exploration Mission http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-17-414?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tr ...

http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-17-414

NASA Human Space Exploration:
Delay Likely for First Exploration Mission
GAO-17-414: Published: Apr 27, 2017. Publicly Released: Apr 27, 2017.

Fast Facts
 
NASA is working towards a November 2018 launch date for the first test flight of its three related human space exploration programs: the Orion crew vehicle, the Space Launch System, and the Exploration Ground Systems. However, we found that all three programs face challenges and have little time or money set aside to address potential issues—likely delaying the launch date.

Спойлер

We recommended that NASA report to Congress on whether the launch date is still achievable, and potentially propose a new date, to help ensure that Congress has current information to inform fiscal year 2018 budget and funding decisions.

How SLS and Orion Exploration Systems Would Appear Once Configured for a Future Launch



Highlights

 What GAO Found

With less than 2 years until the planned November 2018 launch date for its first exploration mission (EM-1), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) three human exploration programs—Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (Orion), Space Launch System (SLS), and Exploration Ground Systems (EGS)—are making progress on their respective systems, but the EM-1 launch date is likely unachievable as technical challenges continue to cause schedule delays. All three programs face unique challenges in completing development, and each has little to no schedule reserve remaining between now and the EM-1 date, meaning they will have to complete all remaining work with little margin for error for unexpected challenges that may arise. The table below lists the remaining schedule reserve for each of the programs.

Schedule Reserve to Exploration Mission 1 for Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, Space Launch System, and Exploration Ground Systems Programs[TH]

Program

[/TH][TH]

Schedule reserve to Exploration Mission-1 (in days)

[/TH][/TR][TR][TD]

Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle

[/TD][TD]

0

[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]

Space Launch System

[/TD][TD]

80

[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]

Exploration Ground Systems

[/TD][TD]

28

[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]Source: GAO Analysis of NASA data | GAO-17-414

The programs all face challenges that may impact their remaining schedule reserve. For instance

[/li]
• the Orion program's European Service Module is late and is currently driving the program schedule;
• the SLS program had to stop welding on the core stage—which functions as the SLS's fuel tank and structural backbone—for months after identifying low weld strengths. Program officials stated that welding resumed in April 2017 following the establishment of a corrective action plan;
• the EGS program is considering performing concurrent hardware installation and testing, which officials acknowledge would increase complexity; and
• each program must integrate its own hardware and software individually, after which EGS is responsible for integrating all three programs' components into one effort at Kennedy Space Center.
  

Low cost reserves further intensify the schedule pressure. Senior NASA officials said they are analyzing the launch schedule and expect that the EM-1 date will have to slip, but they have yet to make a decision on the feasibility of the current date or report on their findings. With budget discussions currently ongoing for fiscal year 2018, the last year prior to launch, Congress does not yet have insight into the feasibility of the EM-1 launch date, or the repercussions that any cost increase or delays could have in terms of cost and schedule impacts for NASA's entire portfolio. Unless NASA provides Congress with up-to-date information on whether the current EM-1 date is still achievable, as of the time the agency submits its 2018 budget request, both NASA and Congress will continue to be at risk of making decisions based on less than the entire picture and on likely unachievable schedules.

Why GAO Did This Study

NASA is undertaking a trio of closely related programs to continue human space exploration beyond low-Earth orbit: the SLS vehicle; the Orion capsule, which will launch atop the SLS and carry astronauts; and EGS, the supporting ground systems. NASA's current exploration efforts are estimated to cost almost $24 billion—to include two Orion flights and one each for SLS and EGS—and constitute more than half of NASA's current portfolio development cost baseline. All three programs are necessary for EM-1 and are working toward a launch readiness date of November 2018. In a large body of work on this issue, including two separate July 2016 reports, GAO has found that these programs have a history of working to aggressive schedules.

The House Committee on Appropriations report accompanying H.R. 2578 included a provision for GAO to assess the acquisition progress of the Orion, SLS, and EGS, programs. This report assesses the extent to which these programs have risks that affect their progress toward meeting their commitments for EM-1. To do this work, GAO assessed documentation on schedule and program risks and interviewed program and NASA officials.

What GAO Recommends

NASA should confirm whether the current EM-1 date is still achievable no later than as part of its fiscal year 2018 budget submission, and propose a new, realistic EM-1 launch readiness date, if warranted, and report its findings to Congress. NASA concurred with both recommendations and agreed that EM-1 will be delayed.

For more information, contact Cristina Chaplain at (202) 512-4841 or chaplainc@gao.gov.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

• Recommendation: In order to ensure that the Congress is able to make informed resource decisions regarding a viable EM-1 launch readiness date, the NASA Administrator or Acting Administrator should direct the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate to confirm whether the EM-1 launch readiness date of November 2018 is achievable, as soon as practicable but no later than as part of its fiscal year 2018 budget submission process.
  
  Agency Affected: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Recommendation: In order to ensure that the Congress is able to make informed resource decisions regarding a viable EM-1 launch readiness date, the NASA Administrator or Acting Administrator should direct the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate to propose a new, more realistic EM-1 date if warranted and report to Congress on the results of its EM-1 schedule analysis.
  
  Agency Affected: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  

View Report (PDF, 25 pages)
 
 Additional Materials:

[/li]
• Highlights Page:
• (PDF, 1 page)
  

[/li][li]Full Report:

[/li]
• (PDF, 25 pages)
  

[/li][/LIST] Contact:    
     Cristina Chaplain
(202) 512-4841
chaplainc@gao.gov
 
         Office of Public Affairs
     (202) 512-4800
     youngc1@gao.gov

[свернуть]

[tnt22]

http://spacenews.com/nasa-plans-to-delay-first-slsorion-mission-to-2019/

NASA plans to delay first SLS/Orion mission to 2019
by Jeff Foust — April 27, 2017

Спойлер

NASA now expects the first Space Launch System flight, Exploration Mission 1, to slip to some time in 2019 regardless of whether or not it carries a crew. Credit: NASA

[свернуть]

WASHINGTON — NASA now expects the first launch of the Space Launch System to slip to 2019, regardless of any decision to put a crew on that mission, given ongoing issues with development of the launch vehicle and the Orion spacecraft.

Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administration for human exploration and operations, acknowledged the delay in a letter included in a U.S. Government Accountability Office report released April 27 that concluded that Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) would not meet its current November 2018 launch date.

Спойлер

"We agree with the GAO that maintaining a November 2018 launch readiness date is not in the best interest in the program, and we are in the process of establishing a new target in 2019," Gerstenmaier wrote in the letter, dated April 12 and included as an appendix in the GAO report.

Gerstenmaier said, in response to one recommendation in the GAO report, that NASA would develop a new launch readiness date by the end of September. "NASA is assessing the EM-1 schedule in light of a number of ongoing activities," he said, which include the tornado that damaged the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans in February, disrupting work on the core stage of the SLS, and the ongoing development of the administration's fiscal year 2018 budget request.

The GAO, in its examination of progress NASA was making on EM-1 requested by Congress in the report accompanying the fiscal year 2016 appropriations bill, had already concluded that the mission would not be ready for launch in late 2018 as planned. "With little to no schedule or cost reserves remaining as the programs finalize production and enter integration and testing activities, the EM-1 launch readiness date is in a precarious position," the report stated.

The GAO noted in the report progress made in the development of SLS, Orion and ground systems, but added that all faced serious challenges with little margin. "The magnitude of the schedule delays that the programs have experienced amid this progress, however, foreshadows a likely schedule slip for the November 2018 EM-1 launch readiness date," the report concluded.

One example is the delivery of the European-built service module for Orion, which is on the critical path for EM-1. Once scheduled for delivery in January, it has been delayed until at least August. Once delivered, the program requires 12 months of work to integrate it with the crew capsule and perform testing before delivering it to the Kennedy Space Center for final launch preparations.

"NASA officials stated that they would not be able to maintain a launch readiness date of November 2018 if Kennedy Space Center receives the Orion spacecraft after July 2018," the report noted. "As a result, the November 2018 launch readiness date is likely unachievable unless NASA identifies further mitigation steps to accommodate delays." The conclusion of the report added that the service module is now expected to be delivered in September, with the possibility of an additional two-month delay.

The report is the second in two weeks to conclude that delays in the SLS/Orion program were all but certain. An April 13 report by NASA's Office of Inspector General concluded that both EM-1 and EM-2, the first launch to carry a crew, faced schedule slips. "NASA's first exploration missions – EM-1 and EM-2 – face multiple technical challenges that will likely delay their launch," that report stated.

Delays in the EM-1 schedule don't take into account the possibility of placing a crew on that flight. NASA announced in February it was studying adding a crew to that mission. That report has been completed and briefed to both NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot and White House officials. The agency has not announced a decision, although one is expected by the time the White House releases its detailed fiscal year 2018 budget proposal, expected by mid-May.

One condition on that study, Gerstenmaier said in February, was that adding crew not delay EM-1 past the end of 2019. "I didn't want to go much beyond 2019," he said in a Feb. 24 briefing. "I felt that if we went much beyond 2019, then we might as well fly EM-2 and actually do the plan we're on."

That study had its origins in expected delays in EM-1. Chris Shank, who led the NASA transition team for the incoming Trump administration, said during a panel session at the Goddard Memorial Symposium March 8 that the study had its origins at a meeting where Gerstenmaier said the delivery of the Orion service module would likely be delayed.

"We asked, if given more time, if there are some additional things that you could do with the mission," he recalled. "This is genuinely a study on how to get the best bang for the buck."

[свернуть]

[tnt22]

Test Fire of Orbital ATK's Attitude Control Motor for NASA's Orion Spacecraft

 Orbital ATK

Опубликовано: 28 апр. 2017 г.

On April 27, 2017, Orbital ATK successfully completed a test fire of the company's attitude control motor (ACM) for NASA's Orion crew exploration vehicle. The ACM will steer the capsule's launch abort system and crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency. The capsule, developed by Lockheed Martin, is expected to launch aboard NASA's Space Launch System for a test flight in 2018. Learn more about the ACM here: bit.ly/2q75Ce3

(0:34)

[tnt22]

Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK 38 мин. назад

Our attitude control motor will steer @NASA_Orion launch-abort system & crew module away from the launch vehicle in event of an emergency

Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK 33 мин. назад

Learn more about the attitude control motor (ACM) for @LockheedMartin built @NASA_Orion spacecraft here: http://bit.ly/2q75Ce3 

https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/missile-products/acm/

04/28/2017 10:06 AM ET


Attitude Control Motor (ACM) for Orion Exploration Vehicle

​Orbital ATK is providing the attitude control motor for NASA's Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, which is being developed by Lockheed Martin. The motor has two critical functions. It first steers Orion's launch-abort system and crew module away from the launch vehicle in the event of an emergency. Once cleared from hazards, the ACM then orients the capsule for parachute deployment.

The ACM consists of a solid-propellant gas generator, with eight proportional valves equally spaced around the circumference of the three-foot-diameter motor. In combination, the valves can exert up to 7,000 pounds of steering force to the vehicle in any direction upon command from the crew module. The valves are controlled by a redundant power and control system.

Orbital ATK achieved multiple industry milestones with the ACM, including: the first system-level demonstration of a controllable solid propulsion system intended for human spaceflight; the first system-level demonstration of high-thrust proportional valves; the first use of a high-voltage lithium-ion battery in a solid-propellant control system; and the first use of 4D C-C/SiC in a full-up system demonstration.

Features

[/li]
• 8 high-thrust proportional valves utilizing unique valve materials produced by FMI
• Single fault tolerant controller
• Reliable solid-fueled gas generator based on a heritage propellant
• Software and firmware developed in a Capability Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI®) Level 3 environment
  

Technical Data
 Motor Weight: 1650 lb
 Length: 62 in.
 Diameter: 32 in.
 Case Material: D6AC Steel
 Internal Case Insulation Material: Aramid filled ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) Material
 Propellant: Carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene

More Information

Orion Launch Abort System Attitude Control Motor Fact Sheet

[triage]

Что-то EM-2 то в 2021, то в 2023...
 http://www.gao.gov/assets/690/684360.pdf

[tnt22]

Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK 16 ч. назад

Read more about Thursday's successful Attitude Control Motor test for @NASA_Orion @NASA_SLS http://bit.ly/2pyaby9  #slsfiredup

http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/PrinterFriendly.asp?prid=247

Orbital ATK Inc.

Press Release

Orbital ATK Completes Successful Development Test for the Orion Launch Abort System Motor

Test Demonstrates Attitude Control Motor Design Meets Human-Rated Requirements

Dulles, Virginia 1 May 2017 -- Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, announced today that it has completed another milestone in the development of the Attitude Control Motor (ACM) for NASA's Orion spacecraft Launch Abort System (LAS). Members of the NASA and Lockheed Martin team were on hand to witness the successful ACM test, which demonstrated the motor's power to steer the LAS during a mission-abort scenario. Спойлер This recent test is part of a design, analysis and test series focused on qualifying the ACM for crewed-flight missions. Initial data from the test show the motor is very capable of fulfilling its critical role in the Launch Abort System. "With the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System, NASA has taken up the challenge of not just opening up space exploration, but making it as safe as possible for our astronauts," said Pat Nolan, Vice President and General Manager of the Missile Products Division of Orbital ATK's Defense Systems Group. "Orbital ATK is proud to support that vision with our innovative and reliable technology. The success of today's test brings us that much closer to seeing this vision realized." Orbital ATK has been working with Lockheed Martin and NASA to leverage the company's extensive advanced propulsion and controls capabilities deployed in other mission critical applications to provide steering thrust that can be reliably operated in an instant as part of the Orion crew-escape system. Orbital ATK also produces the main Launch Abort motor, providing the necessary thrust to pull the crew module safely away from the vehicle. These items have been in development for many years, and will be ready to support the first Space Launch System flight late next year. The Orion spacecraft is launched by NASA's Space Launch System and built to take humans farther into space than they've ever been. Lockheed Martin is leading the industry team charged with developing Orion under contract to NASA. Orbital ATK's Attitude Control Motor uses a solid propellant gas generator with eight proportional valves to steer the LAS in the event of a mission-abort scenario. Orbital ATK's Defense Systems Group is an industry leader in providing innovative and affordable precision and strike weapons, advanced propulsion and hypersonics, missile components across air-, sea- and land-based systems, ammunition and related energetic products. About Orbital ATK Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies. The company designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced aerospace structures. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs more than 12,500 people in 18 states across the United States and in several international locations. For more information, visit www.orbitalatk.com. Video of the test is available through the company's YouTube Channel.   # # # [свернуть]

[Чебурашка]

pnetmon пишет:
Что-то EM-2 то в 2021, то в 2023...

Если попадаются две разные даты, то можете смело брать более позднюю. И добавлять ешё год. 2024 - не ошибётесь.

[Sam Grey]

pnetmon пишет:
Что-то EM-2 то в 2021, то в 2023...
 http://www.gao.gov/assets/690/684360.pdf

Да, но при этом капсула для ЕМ-2 уже в производстве, а Конгресс профинансировал Орион на $1,35 миллиарда, а SLS на $2.15, т.е. в целом на миллиард больше, чем запрашивала сама НАСА  на 2017 год

[tnt22]

NASA Kennedy / KSC‏Подлинная учетная запись @NASAKennedy 2 ч. назад

Transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building, the #Orion spacecraft's heat shield will be integrated with the Orion ground test article.

[tnt22]

Webb Telescope Passes Important Optical Test on This Week @NASA – May 5, 2017


NASA

Опубликовано: 5 мая 2017 г.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has successfully passed the center of curvature test at Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, Md. This important optical measurement of Webb's fully assembled primary mirror was the final test held at Goddard before the telescope is shipped off for end-to-end cryogenic testing at Johnson Space Center in Houston. When that's complete, the world's most advanced observatory goes to Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems in Redondo Beach, California, for final assembly and testing. Webb is targeted for launch in 2018 on a mission to help unravel some of the greatest mysteries of the universe. Also, Cassini Update, NASA Visits Midwest Company Helping Build Orion, Orion's Launch Abort System Motor Tested, Wind Tunnel Tests Continue with SLS, and Community College Aerospace Scholars!

(3:44)

[tnt22]

:?:

Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 54 мин. назад

Big period coming up for SLS. SLS tank conundrum at MAF (article in work, pending decision) and the crewed EM-1 announcement.


53 мин. назад

Per the crewed EM-1. The decision's been made. No one's talking, but it's kinda the worst kept secret they will green light it. #SLSHailMary

[V.B.]

Американская космонавтика с приходом Трампа перестает быть томной  

[tnt22]

Eric Berger‏Подлинная учетная запись @SciGuySpace 2 ч. назад

Credible rumor: Two sources say NASA to announce EM-1 plans Friday. No crew. Delayed into late 2019. Hard to see this as a positive if true.

[Bizonich]

И кому верить? Таки не полетим в 19. :cry:

[Чебурашка]

А чё гадать. Ждём официального объявления.

[PIN]

Крановщик пьяный ? Test Tank for NASA Heavy-Lift Rocket Damaged in Louisiana

[Чебурашка]

Да... 
Из цилиндрической секции бака получится неплохой сарай на даче. Даже два сарая.
А из двух полусферических днищ можно сделать басейны в бане с тёплой и холодной водой    

[triage]

PIN пишет:
Test Tank for NASA Heavy-Lift Rocket Damaged in Louisiana

что-то ссылка зациклилась, наверное это
 http://www.space.com/36812-nasa-sls-rocket-test-tank-damaged.html
Test Tank for NASA Heavy-Lift Rocket Damaged in Louisiana

Но у spacenews больше деталей 

 http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum13/topic12664/message1645568/#message1645568
...
The damage was limited to the one dome section of the tank, which was not yet welded to the rest of the tank.
...
The liquid oxygen tank involved in the incident was a qualification model, intended for testing, and not flight hardware.