NASA Solicitation: Crew Exploration Vehicle Cockpit Prototyping Phase Four “NASA/JSC has a requirement for Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) Cockpit Prototyping Phase 4 research and development (R&D). The objective of the Phase 4 work is to provide human machine interface R&D for defining CEV cockpit layout requirements, displays, and controls rapid prototyping using iterative interaction.” Keith’s update: “CEV” (Crew Exploration Vehicle) is not a term that has been used for nearly […]

NASA Announces Key Decision For Next Deep Space Transportation System, NASA “NASA has reached an important milestone for the next U.S. transportation system that will carry humans into deep space. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced today that the system will be based on designs originally planned for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. Those plans now will be used to develop a new spacecraft known as the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV).” […]

Orion Launch Abort System Stops in Philadelphia During Cross Country Trek, Ken Kremer “A full scale mock-up of the Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) is hitting the road for a cross country trek of several museums and science centers. The public can see the LAS spacecraft hardware up close and personal and learn about the Orion crew vehicle and abort system.” Keith’s note: Orion will now be used as a […]

Orion Spacecraft on the Path to Future Flight, Lockheed Martin “Preparations for Orion’s first mission in 2013 are well under way as a Lockheed Martin-led crew begins lean assembly pathfinding operations for the spacecraft. The crew is conducting simulated manufacturing and assembly operations with a full-scale Orion mockup to verify the tools, processes and spacecraft integration procedures work as expected.” Keith’s note: I am certain that the good folks at […]

NASA appears to no longer be shooting for the stars, opinion, LA Times “The $150-million facility was built to contain the next-generation manned spacecraft for the Constellation program, NASA’s project to send humans back to the moon. It is the largest acoustic test chamber in the world, created to buffet the spacecraft with intense sound waves, simulating the stresses of launch. The only problem is that the Constellation program almost […]

NASA’s First Lunar Orion Test Capsule Built, Ken Kremer “America’s first Lunar Test capsule for people since Project Apollo has just been welded into shape. This work finishes the structural framework of the pioneer Orion crew cabin – known as the Ground Test Article – or GTA, by a Lockheed Martin contractor team toiling away at the historic NASA-owned Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans, damaged during Hurricane Katrina.”

Obama revives capsule from canceled moon program, AP “President Barack Obama is reviving the NASA crew capsule concept that he had canceled with the rest of the moon program earlier this year, in a move that will mean more jobs and less reliance on the Russians, officials said Tuesday. The space capsule, called Orion, still won’t go to the moon. It will go unmanned to the International Space Station to […]