Orion Discussion Thread 2

[Chris Bergin]

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/04/em-1-orion-crew-module-first-weld-milestone-may/

[clongton]

Nice article Chris. Pretty meaty also. Thanks

[kcrick]

Thanks Chris for another fine article !   

I agree with Chuck - a lot of meaty details.

[BrightLight]

Good read ion the Orion, although not surprised in the least about the ESA service module leading the delay to launch.

[SgtPoivre]

"Boeing recently conducted a Service Module instrumentation TIM (Technical Interchange Meeting) at WSTF (White Sands Test Facility) on March 19."

Is this correct? I was not aware that Boeing was directly involved in Orion!

[rcoppola]

I love this, "MPPF Servicing Stand Stair Modification 90 percent Design Review". I'm sorry, I just found that funny. It just seemed so random. With the enormity and complexity of this effort and the fact, as the article illustrates, that we have once again subcontracted the living heck out of this system, that they included the percentage of how far along they are on designing the modifications to a set of stairs.

Frankly, sometimes, I dont't know whether to laugh or cry.

[rcoppola]

"Boeing recently conducted a Service Module instrumentation TIM (Technical Interchange Meeting) at WSTF (White Sands Test Facility) on March 19."

Is this correct? I was not aware that Boeing was directly involved in Orion!

In Orion? No. But they are the Primary for what the Orion and ESA's SM will sit atop. Think of it as Systems integration.

[redliox]

Hopefully ESA gets the service module put together.  Apparently ATV technology is tricky to rush order.  Still, given ESA has built Columbus and Spacelab for the shuttle in addition to the ATVs, they should reasonably know what they're doing.

[Endeavour_01]

Glad to see the EM-1 Orion fabrication start. Hopefully the Europeans will spend a bit more money and effort on the service module so we can have it ready to go the same time as Orion and SLS.

[Ixian77]

Nice article. Towards the end some interesting wording.......'a fleet of Orion's'.

Will the Orions be reused? 
If so, will they be named?
If they will not be reused, why not?

I know the answer is out there, just don't have time to look.

[Chris Bergin]

Ooo, thanks for the kind word guys!

"Boeing recently conducted a Service Module instrumentation TIM (Technical Interchange Meeting) at WSTF (White Sands Test Facility) on March 19."

Is this correct? I was not aware that Boeing was directly involved in Orion!

Yep, but it's likely to do with integration with SLS....which is very much Boeing.

Nice article. Towards the end some interesting wording.......'a fleet of Orion's'.

Will the Orions be reused? 
If so, will they be named?
If they will not be reused, why not?

I know the answer is out there, just don't have time to look.

I think they plan to reuse Orions, but there will be a number of them. Probably four, I was told, first use for the first four missions, potentially reuse them from that point, add more if needed.

They will have names.

[rsnellenberger]

They will have names.

Rigel, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix and Saiph?

Something for Farscape, Michael Keaton, and Harry Potter fans, at least...

[Endeavour_01]

Nice article. Towards the end some interesting wording.......'a fleet of Orion's'.

Will the Orions be reused? 
If so, will they be named?
If they will not be reused, why not?

I know the answer is out there, just don't have time to look.

I think they plan to reuse Orions, but there will be a number of them. Probably four, I was told, first use for the first four missions, potentially reuse them from that point, add more if needed.

They will have names.

Excellent! I guess they aren't going to name the EFT-1 Orion though. Any word on if/when they will name the EM-1 Orion?

They will have names.

Rigel, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix and Saiph?

Something for Farscape, Michael Keaton, and Harry Potter fans, at least...

How about Prometheus, Phoenix, Rogers, and Auburn?

Something for Alien, Stargate, Greek mythology, Harry Potter, Roy, Fred, and Steve Rogers fans as well as for alums of Auburn University.

[zubenelgenubi]

from EM-1 Orion crew module set for first weld milestone in May
The crew module is currently at the Launch Abort System Facility (LASF) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) before being turned over to KSC Ground Operations.

What will KSC Ground Operations do with EFT-1?

Chris: A very informative article!  Thank you!

Zubenelgenubi

[rayleighscatter]

What will KSC Ground Operations do with EFT-1?

It's supposed to be used for the flight abort test in 2018.

[zubenelgenubi]

What will KSC Ground Operations do with EFT-1?

It's supposed to be used for the flight abort test in 2018.

Thanks!

Is there a current list of the Orion abort tests?  Or a discussion thread?

I recall Pad Abort 1 back in May 2010 at White Sands.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=18511.0

I did a little research:
Then there's Ascent Abort 2, using the Orion Abort Test Booster from CC SLC-46, scheduled for December 2018.
http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/nasa/nasa-official-talks-ascent-abort-2/
(Is the above an ok source to quote?)
http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/atb.htm

Is PA-1 and AA-2 the full list of Orion abort tests?
I'm guessing AA-1 (and others) were cancelled along the torturous Orion development path?

Zubenelgenubi

[Steven Pietrobon]

Is PA-1 and AA-2 the full list of Orion abort tests?

Yes.

[woods170]

Glad to see the EM-1 Orion fabrication start. Hopefully the Europeans will spend a bit more money and effort on the service module so we can have it ready to go the same time as Orion and SLS.

That is as unlikely as hell freezing over.

[Endeavour_01]

Glad to see the EM-1 Orion fabrication start. Hopefully the Europeans will spend a bit more money and effort on the service module so we can have it ready to go the same time as Orion and SLS.

That is as unlikely as hell freezing over.

Well if the next administration "sweetens the pot" by offering European participation in cis-lunar exploration they might be incentivized to see the SM project as more than a one-time deal.

[bob the martian]

Nice article. Towards the end some interesting wording.......'a fleet of Orion's'.

Will the Orions be reused? 
If so, will they be named?
If they will not be reused, why not?

I know the answer is out there, just don't have time to look.

I think they plan to reuse Orions, but there will be a number of them. Probably four, I was told, first use for the first four missions, potentially reuse them from that point, add more if needed.

They will have names.

Excellent! I guess they aren't going to name the EFT-1 Orion though. Any word on if/when they will name the EM-1 Orion?

They will have names.

Rigel, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix and Saiph?

Something for Farscape, Michael Keaton, and Harry Potter fans, at least...

How about Prometheus, Phoenix, Rogers, and Auburn?

Something for Alien, Stargate, Greek mythology, Harry Potter, Roy, Fred, and Steve Rogers fans as well as for alums of Auburn University.

I will be bitterly disappointed if they aren't one of:

Larry, Moe, Curly, Shemp.

John, Paul, George, Ringo.

Bob, Carol, Ted, Alice.