Author Topic: Orion AA-2 test - SLC-46 - July 2, 2019 (11:00 UTC) - UPDATES  (Read 64630 times)

Online jacqmans

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #20 on: 07/17/2018 09:27 am »
The second of three aeroshells, at right, for Orion's Launch Abort System (LAS) arrives by flatbed truck in High Bay 4 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on June 26, 2018. The aeroshell was shipped from EMF Inc. on nearby Merritt Island. Workers are preparing to offload the aeroshell and secure it in the high bay. The aeroshells will be stacked and prepared for a full-stress test of the LAS, called Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) flight test, scheduled for April 2019. During the test, a booster will launch from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, carrying a fully functional LAS and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into space. Orion is being prepared for its first integrated uncrewed flight atop the SLS on Exploration Mission-1.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Jacques :-)

Offline catdlr

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #21 on: 07/20/2018 10:54 pm »
aeroshells for the Orion spacecraft's Ascent Abort-2 flight test

Inside KSC! for July 20, 2018


NASAKennedy
Published on Jul 20, 2018

This week in space news, aeroshells for the Orion spacecraft's Ascent Abort-2 flight test have arrived at Kennedy, and the first of two 35-foot-tall Tail Service Mast Umbilicals that will deliver propellants to the Space Launch System rocket is installed on the Mobile Launcher.



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Online eeergo

Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #22 on: 08/03/2018 01:23 pm »
Some pictures from Facebook, with Administrator Brindestine visiting the Ascent Abort capsule - shows how large it is, even if obviously not fully instrumented or in a spaceworthy crewed config.
« Last Edit: 08/03/2018 01:24 pm by eeergo »
-DaviD-

Offline LaunchedIn68

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #23 on: 08/03/2018 02:43 pm »
Fold up the seats and it appears to be as least as large as the lower deck on the Shuttle no?
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Offline GBCT#5

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #24 on: 08/11/2018 04:31 pm »
The TRS/GCA is scheduled to be transporter from the Surge 1 Facility to SLC 46 today for fit checks, path finding, etc.

Online jacqmans

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #25 on: 08/17/2018 01:36 pm »
The aeroshells for Orion's Launch Abort System (LAS) are being stacked in High Bay 4 of the Vehicle Assembly Building on Aug. 3, 2018, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The aeroshells are being prepared for a full-stress test of the LAS, called Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) flight test, scheduled for April 2019. During the test, a booster will launch from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, carrying a fully functional LAS and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into space. Orion is being prepared for its first integrated uncrewed flight atop the SLS on Exploration Mission-1.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Jacques :-)

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #26 on: 09/04/2018 07:34 pm »
The abort motor for Orion's Launch Abort System (LAS) is secured on a work stand inside the Launch Abort System Facility on Aug. 28, 2018, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This motor will be used for flight during a full-stress test of the LAS, called Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) flight test, scheduled for April 2019. The abort motor is what will activate to pull the Orion crew module away during the event of an emergency during ascent. AA-2 will launch from Space Launch Complex 46, carrying a fully functional LAS and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into space. NASA's Orion and Exploration Ground Systems programs and contractors from Jacob's and Northrup Grumman in conjunction with the Air Force Space and Missile Center's Launch Operations branch are performing flight operations for AA-2.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Jacques :-)

Offline Heinrich

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #27 on: 09/06/2018 06:41 pm »
Where do the aeroshells go?  I was giggling for this and saw many diagrams but they usually only distinguish attitude control motor, jettison motor, abort motor and the ogive panels. I could not find a reference to aeroshells.

Online DaveS

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #28 on: 09/06/2018 07:20 pm »
Where do the aeroshells go?  I was giggling for this and saw many diagrams but they usually only distinguish attitude control motor, jettison motor, abort motor and the ogive panels. I could not find a reference to aeroshells.
The aeroshells are essentially just an adapter between the the Orion simulator and the Peacekeeper motor used for the test AA-2 test. The Orion is much bigger than the Peacekeeper motor (5 m vs 2.7 m), so something was needed to negotiate the differences and they came up the with the aeroshells. The Peacekeeper motor will fit in the in the very center while Orion with the LAS sits on top.

The Orion is not real at all. It's just a instrumented dummy that will not be recovered as it is not outfitted with any parachutes. Once the LAS has done its job and burned out, a set of Test Flight Data Recorders will be ejected and splashed down in the Atlantic where they will be recovered. The Orion/LAS will impact the ocean and not recovered.
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Offline Heinrich

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #29 on: 09/06/2018 07:53 pm »
I was jumping to conclusions because of the sentence "for orion's launch abort system". Now i see people in a cherrypicker next to the aeroshells and the handrail next to the abort motor there's a clear difference in diameter!
Thanks for the clarification.

Offline cygnusx112

Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #30 on: 09/24/2018 04:16 pm »
Managed to catch them moving a segment of the Ascent Abort 2 test flight booster today.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #31 on: 09/24/2018 05:29 pm »
Managed to catch them moving a segment of the Ascent Abort 2 test flight booster today.
being moved after motor installation fit checks and will be fitted out next. Will eventually be moving to SLC-46 to be in position to receive the AA-2 boilerplate module.
« Last Edit: 09/25/2018 12:02 am by russianhalo117 »

Online Chris Bergin

Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #32 on: 09/24/2018 07:55 pm »
Thanks to Tom - this gives us a point to keep up the coverage:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/09/fits-checks-transport-ahead-aa-2-test/
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Offline rayleighscatter

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #33 on: 09/25/2018 12:13 am »
Just to pick a nit:

Quote
The Peacekeeper program was deactivated in 2002 and today the motors in the inventory are used for commercial purposes such as space launches.

Commercial should be civil. Surplus ICBM motors can't currently be used for commercial launches by law.

Online jacqmans

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #34 on: 12/21/2018 12:21 pm »
A mock Orion crew module is inside the Multi-Payload Processing Facility at NASAâs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 6, 2018. The crew module will be used during a full stress test of the Launch Abort System (LAS), called Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2), scheduled for April 2019. During the test, the Northrop Grumman booster will launch from Space Launch Complex 46, carrying a fully functional LAS and the 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into space.

Photo Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Jacques :-)

Offline ThereIWas3

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #35 on: 12/21/2018 01:57 pm »
Is that "bench seat" ring around the capsule, with the orange covers, actually part of the Orion?  Or just for shipping support?  It looks unusual from an aerodynamic point of view.

Offline Markstark

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #36 on: 12/21/2018 02:00 pm »
Is that "bench seat" ring around the capsule, with the orange covers, actually part of the Orion?  Or just for shipping support?  It looks unusual from an aerodynamic point of view.
It’s ground support equipment used to prevent FOD from falling in between the Crew Module and the Separation Ring. It’ll be removed before flight. 

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #37 on: 02/06/2019 09:44 am »
A heavy transport truck containing the Northrop Grumman-provided ascent test booster for the Orion Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) Flight Test, arrives at the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility (RPSF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 29, 2019. The booster will be unloaded and moved into the RPSF where it will be outfitted for flight. AA-2 is a full-stress test of the Launch Abort System, scheduled for April 2019. AA-2 will launch from Space Launch Complex 46, carrying a fully functional LAS and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into space. NASA's Orion and Exploration Ground Systems programs and contractors from Jacob's and Northrup Grumman in conjunction with the Air Force Space and Missile Center's Launch Operations branch are performing flight operations for AA-2.

Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston
Jacques :-)

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Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #38 on: 02/06/2019 09:45 am »
The Northrop Grumman-provided ascent test booster for the Orion Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) Flight Test is secured on a work stand inside the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility (RPSF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 29, 2019. The booster will be outfitted for flight. AA-2 is a full-stress test of the Launch Abort System, scheduled for April 2019. AA-2 will launch from Space Launch Complex 46, carrying a fully functional LAS and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 31,000 feet and traveling at more than 1,000 miles an hour. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket when the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into space. NASA's Orion and Exploration Ground Systems programs and contractors from Jacob's and Northrup Grumman in conjunction with the Air Force Space and Missile Center's Launch Operations branch are performing flight operations for AA-2.

Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston
Jacques :-)

Online Chris Bergin

Re: NASA getting Orion Simulator Ready for AA-2 test
« Reply #39 on: 02/08/2019 07:37 pm »
Will give a standalone thread too, but this is a great feature article from Philip:

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1093971762944065536
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