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CY13 Orion Test Flight on Delta IV Heavy
by
sdsds
on 30 Sep, 2010 21:13
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Accumulating some links from another thread:
The Space Show did an interview with Laurence Price, Deputy Orion Program Manager, in which he talks about the Orion program; decoupling of Orion from the architecture outcome, expedited test schedule, and use of Delta 4 Heavy for the 2013 test flight, etc.
http://www.thespaceshow.com/detail.asp?q=1418
"Orion: an orbital flight test in late CY13 that mitigates risk to the existing Orion 1 & 2 flights "
quote is from Dale Thomas (CxP Progam Manager) email "Keeping our balance" dated Sep.9th, published Sep.13th by americaspace.org
Hello?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=22381.msg635497#msg635497
It seems clear this is now the plan of record, at least in the minds of Orion leadership at LM and NASA. Note this does not require human-rating Delta, as it is described as an un-crewed test flight.
Is it correct that nothing in S.3729 precludes this?
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#1
by
JosephB
on 03 Oct, 2010 15:07
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#2
by
renclod
on 03 Oct, 2010 23:16
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...
Is it correct that nothing in S.3729 precludes this?
Nothing, except the authorized budget for MPCV (Orion).
Larry Price said in the interview with The Space Show that the $1.12 Billion funding authorized for 2011 is close - but not enough to secure the 2013 test flight.
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#3
by
EE Scott
on 03 Oct, 2010 23:39
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...
Is it correct that nothing in S.3729 precludes this?
Nothing, except the authorized budget for MPCV (Orion).
Larry Price said in the interview with The Space Show that the $1.12 Billion funding authorized for 2011 is close - but not enough to secure the 2013 test flight.
Perhaps the NASA Authorization process, whenever it occurs, may deal with this shortfall. It would be great if they could find the $$ to get Orion back on track.
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#4
by
Robotbeat
on 04 Oct, 2010 00:12
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...
Is it correct that nothing in S.3729 precludes this?
Nothing, except the authorized budget for MPCV (Orion).
Larry Price said in the interview with The Space Show that the $1.12 Billion funding authorized for 2011 is close - but not enough to secure the 2013 test flight.
Perhaps the NASA Authorization process, whenever it occurs, may deal with this shortfall. It would be great if they could find the $$ to get Orion back on track.
Agreed!
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#5
by
Jorge
on 04 Oct, 2010 00:15
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...
Is it correct that nothing in S.3729 precludes this?
Nothing, except the authorized budget for MPCV (Orion).
Larry Price said in the interview with The Space Show that the $1.12 Billion funding authorized for 2011 is close - but not enough to secure the 2013 test flight.
Perhaps the NASA Authorization process, whenever it occurs, may deal with this shortfall. It would be great if they could find the $$ to get Orion back on track.
The authorization process is complete. S.3729 *was* the Authorization bill.
Perhaps you were confused, and meant appropriations?
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#6
by
kch
on 04 Oct, 2010 00:39
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...
Is it correct that nothing in S.3729 precludes this?
Nothing, except the authorized budget for MPCV (Orion).
Larry Price said in the interview with The Space Show that the $1.12 Billion funding authorized for 2011 is close - but not enough to secure the 2013 test flight.
Perhaps the NASA Authorization process, whenever it occurs, may deal with this shortfall. It would be great if they could find the $$ to get Orion back on track.
The authorization process is complete. S.3729 *was* the Authorization bill.
Perhaps you were confused, and meant appropriations?
Indeed, "appropriate" action would seem to be in order ...
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#7
by
sdsds
on 04 Oct, 2010 02:33
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Larry Price said in the interview with The Space Show that the $1.12 Billion funding authorized for 2011 is close - but not enough to secure the 2013 test flight.
Interesting that you came away with that impression! Do you remember about where in the interview he said that? After listening to it my impression was the reverse, i.e. that he had said or implied that LM had confidence in the schedule if given the funding outlined in S.3729. But now I can't find where he exactly said one or the other!
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#8
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 04 Oct, 2010 05:07
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From the website it seems like Orion would have a LAS, yet would that truly be so? Delta IV would not have a EDS, so there would not be much point in doing so, probably will do like OTV and simply cover the spacecraft with a fairing.
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#9
by
pathfinder_01
on 04 Oct, 2010 06:20
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From the website it seems like Orion would have a LAS, yet would that truly be so? Delta IV would not have a EDS, so there would not be much point in doing so, probably will do like OTV and simply cover the spacecraft with a fairing.
From what I heard on the space show is they want to test the LAS jettison system.
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#10
by
FinalFrontier
on 04 Oct, 2010 06:28
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From the website it seems like Orion would have a LAS, yet would that truly be so? Delta IV would not have a EDS, so there would not be much point in doing so, probably will do like OTV and simply cover the spacecraft with a fairing.
From what I heard on the space show is they want to test the LAS jettison system.
Not sure what would be better given future budget issues (due to the deficit). I thought that if you test the LAS in flight you are essentially doing a high altitude abort test, meaning Orion doesn't actually make orbit. Is there a way to test it without doing this? (trying to find ways to save money by doing the same testing with fewer missions).
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#11
by
pathfinder_01
on 04 Oct, 2010 06:31
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From the website it seems like Orion would have a LAS, yet would that truly be so? Delta IV would not have a EDS, so there would not be much point in doing so, probably will do like OTV and simply cover the spacecraft with a fairing.
From what I heard on the space show is they want to test the LAS jettison system.
Not sure what would be better given future budget issues (due to the deficit). I thought that if you test the LAS in flight you are essentially doing a high altitude abort test, meaning Orion doesn't actually make orbit. Is there a way to test it without doing this? (trying to find ways to save money by doing the same testing with fewer missions).
Not the LAS system but the system used to release it once it is no longer needed(i.e. almost to orbit). Orion has a puller style LAS not a pusher style. It must jetison the LAS otherwise it wont be able to do other things like dock or even reenter properly.
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#12
by
Jim
on 04 Oct, 2010 11:08
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From the website it seems like Orion would have a LAS, yet would that truly be so? Delta IV would not have a EDS, so there would not be much point in doing so, probably will do like OTV and simply cover the spacecraft with a fairing.
Orion is too big for a fairing
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#13
by
butters
on 04 Oct, 2010 12:10
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From the website it seems like Orion would have a LAS, yet would that truly be so? Delta IV would not have a EDS, so there would not be much point in doing so, probably will do like OTV and simply cover the spacecraft with a fairing.
From what I heard on the space show is they want to test the LAS jettison system.
Yes, they'd definitely want to test LAS jett. If that doesn't work properly, it's a very bad day.
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#14
by
Robotbeat
on 04 Oct, 2010 13:48
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Would this be an opportunity to test the Emergency detection system for the EELVs funded under ccdev? I know it was just a tiny amount of funding, but just wondering.
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#15
by
pathfinder_01
on 04 Oct, 2010 13:50
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Would this be an opportunity to test the Emergency detection system for the EELVs funded under ccdev? I know it was just a tiny amount of funding, but just wondering.
Probably not. Orion needs to make it to Orbit and the system can be tested on just about any launch.
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#16
by
EE Scott
on 04 Oct, 2010 17:30
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...
Is it correct that nothing in S.3729 precludes this?
Nothing, except the authorized budget for MPCV (Orion).
Larry Price said in the interview with The Space Show that the $1.12 Billion funding authorized for 2011 is close - but not enough to secure the 2013 test flight.
Perhaps the NASA Authorization process, whenever it occurs, may deal with this shortfall. It would be great if they could find the $$ to get Orion back on track.
The authorization process is complete. S.3729 *was* the Authorization bill.
Perhaps you were confused, and meant appropriations?
Yep, I screwed that up. Right after looking up the definitions too.
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#17
by
renclod
on 11 Oct, 2010 19:47
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Larry Price said in the interview with The Space Show that the $1.12 Billion funding authorized for 2011 is close - but not enough to secure the 2013 test flight.
Interesting that you came away with that impression! Do you remember about where in the interview he said that? After listening to it my impression was the reverse, i.e. that he had said or implied that LM had confidence in the schedule if given the funding outlined in S.3729. But now I can't find where he exactly said one or the other!
I was wrong and I apologise ... I made a mental inversion followed by a projection...
The funding is enough for a 2013 test flight with a
test vehicle but the current funding profile does not support crew flights starting in 2015.
Here is my attempt at transcript: [some 32' into the show]
>>>
A: So our plan with the budgets that are foreseen right now is to be able to fly - first orbital flight in '13 and then, if the budgets support future fligths, we would be flying crews by '15. []
Q: []... The 2011 FY budget contains money in it to build and develope Orion ?
A: Well ... ( S.3729 ) does have a line in it with 1.1 Billion dollars for Orion by name ... for development in '11
Q: Is that sufficient for what you need in '11 ?
A: No... Hehehe... it's close, it's very close. It's sufficient for what we need to be able to fly the first orbital mission in '13 - on a test vehicle. And so, that sort of [] what Dick [] said this morning "Stay on a path where you accomplish something, don't just stop everything ... keep moving where you can" and so with this funding profile we can be flying in '13 ... and then over the next 3 years see what comes with the budgets <<<
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#18
by
pathfinder_01
on 11 Oct, 2010 19:51
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Larry Price said in the interview with The Space Show that the $1.12 Billion funding authorized for 2011 is close - but not enough to secure the 2013 test flight.
Interesting that you came away with that impression! Do you remember about where in the interview he said that? After listening to it my impression was the reverse, i.e. that he had said or implied that LM had confidence in the schedule if given the funding outlined in S.3729. But now I can't find where he exactly said one or the other!
I was wrong and I apologise ... I made a mental inversion followed by a projection...
The funding is enough for a 2013 test flight with a test vehicle but the current funding profile does not support crew flights starting in 2015.
Here is my attempt at transcript: [some 32' into the show]
>>> A: So our plan with the budgets that are foreseen right now is to be able to fly - first orbital flight in '13 and then, if the budgets support future fligths, we would be flying crews by '15. []
Q: []... The 2011 FY budget contains money in it to build and develope Orion ?
A: Well ... ( S.3729 ) does have a line in it with 1.1 Billion dollars for Orion by name ... for development in '11
Q: Is that sufficient for what you need in '11 ?
A: No... Hehehe... it's close, it's very close. It's sufficient for what we need to be able to fly the first orbital mission in '13 - on a test vehicle. And so, that sort of [] what Dick [] said this morning "Stay on a path where you accomplish something, don't just stop everything ... keep moving where you can" and so with this funding profile we can be flying in '13 ... and then over the next 3 years see what comes with the budgets <<<
ugh any eta on it's ability to hold a crew? Also what is the item/items that are the hold ups? Is 2016 a more realistic date?
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#19
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 12 Oct, 2010 03:37
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