Orbital ATK Verified account @OrbitalATK 2m2 minutes agoT-minus one week! Next Thursday we will test fire the launch abort motor for @NASA_Orion Launch Abort System
QM-1 Static Ground Test of the Launch Abort Motor for Orion Launch Abort SystemThis summer, NASA and Orbital ATK will conduct the QM-1 Static Ground Test of the Launch Abort Motor for NASA’s Orion spacecraft’s Launch Abort System, which will greatly enhance crew safety on missions to explore deep space. What: Vertical ground test firing of QM-1 launch abort motor When: June 15, 2017, 1:00 p.m. MDT Where: Orbital ATK facility in Promontory, UtahA public viewing area is available along State Road 83 North approximately 20 miles west of Corinne, Utah (see map – follow directions to Promontory). Please note: We recommend you arrive at the viewing site an hour prior to the test.Please Note: Drones are NOT allowed to fly over Orbital ATK property.
TODAY, 1:45pm CT: @NASA & @OrbitalATK will test the Launch Abort Motor for @NASA_Orion! Watch live: http://facebook.com/nasaorion
Final preparations for @NASA_Orion launch abort motor test fire are underway at our Promontory, Utah facility
T-minus 60 seconds - motor is committed
Looks like the abort system engine test was successful. #orbitalatk
Test fire is complete! @NASA_Orion
Launch abort system motor fires, creating a plume of emojis.
3, 2, 1, Fire! First images from our remote cameras of today's launch abort motor test for @NASA_Orion
View from Platform 34 in the #VAB where Orion will top off the @NASA_SLS when they stack up for their first flight around the moon.
The second critical path flows through the European Service Module (ESM). Delivery is well behind the original schedule. The total Program is out of schedule margin and thus any slip in a critical path item results in a slip in the final integrated schedule. Unlike the core stage, where much of the work is under NASA’s control, the ESM is being delivered by Airbus and is out of NASA’s direct control of program execution. It is governed by a series of fixed-price contracts in Europe, over which even Airbus has little schedule control. The third critical path item is Orion software, which is progressing from flight-software build to integrated-software testing. There is only one integrated test lab for the avionics software, hence it is a natural bottleneck to schedule flow. The Program works this on a continuous basis, but every piece of software must go through the Software Integration Lab (SIL), and it will remain a bottleneck in terms of any schedule acceleration.