TO THE MOON, MARS, AND BEYOND

Many folks would like to see us back on the Moon and developing its resources.

Friday, December 05, 2014

Drone and Planes Live-Track NASA's Orion Capsule Launch

I am still watching ORION Test Launch and debriefing replays. Nice!

One of the items mentioned was that there were two Navy NP-3D Orion aircraft and the NASA Predator UAV, Ikhana, would be on hand to observe the entry and splashdown.
This gave a lot of information about the heat of the shield and great pictures of the chute deployment.  Our eyes in the sky. :-)
- LRK -

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Drones and Planes Will Live-Track NASA's Orion Capsule Launch
by Elizabeth Palermo, Staff Writer   |   December 03, 2014 09:33am ET

NASA will launch its Orion spaceship — the agency's deep-space capsule built to carry humans on future missions to an asteroid and Mars — on an unmanned test flight tomorrow (Dec. 4), but as the spacecraft rockets thousands of miles away from Earth, it won't be alone. A NASA drone, two U.S. Navy planes and several helicopters will join the capsule for at least part of its journey.
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(Note: launch slipped to Dec 5, 2014 as weather hampered Dec. 4 proposed launch.  P3s and Ikhana did participate. - LRK -)
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Look at the quality of pictures today as opposed to what we saw 40 years ago
- LRK -

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You can thank this Predator drone for capturing NASA’s incredible Orion splashdown
By Brian Fung December 5 at 1:13 PM

That's partly due to improved camera technology, of course. We now get crisper images and better frame rates. But think about what else had to go into NASA's coverage of the Orion splashdown. Countless people tuned in to watch America's next manned spacecraft return to Earth — live, in real-time, over the Internet! — and from an incredible bird's-eye angle.

All of that was made possible by NASA's Predator drone. Yes, since 2006 NASA has had its own unmanned aircraft, modified to do things like monitor wildfires and take measurements of the atmosphere. It doesn't shoot Hellfire missiles, but the drone, named "Ikhana," can fly as high as an airliner at cruising altitude and can carry more than 2,400 pounds of science gear on its wings and in its internal bay.
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NASA Armstrong Ikhana Fact Sheet.
- LRK -

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NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Ikhana/Predator B Unmanned Science and Research Aircraft System
February 28, 2014

A General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Predator B unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was acquired by NASA in November 2006 to support Earth science missions and advanced aeronautical technology development. The aircraft, named Ikhana, also acts as a test bed to develop capabilities and technologies to improve the utility of unmanned aircraft systems.

Ikhana is a Native American Choctaw word meaning intelligent, conscious or aware. The name is descriptive of the research goals NASA has established for the aircraft and its related systems.
...
NASA's Ikhana Predator B received an avionics upgrade, wingtip winglets, and a new paint scheme in 2013.
NASA's Ikhana Predator B received an avionics upgrade, wingtip winglets, and a new paint scheme in 2013.
Image Credit: 
GA-SAI Photo
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More information about NASA's Ikhana
- LRK -

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Aero-TV: NASA's Ikhana UAV - Predator B Expands Scientific missions
Uploaded on Mar 15, 2010

A Predator By Any Other Name...

NASA's Ikhana unmanned science and technology development aircraft is a Predator B unmanned aerial system. It was acquired by NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center to support Earth science missions and advanced aeronautical technology development. The aircraft, named Ikhana, acts as a testbed to develop capabilities and technologies to improve the utility of unmanned aerial systems. NASA obtained the aircraft from the manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, in November 2006. Ikhana is a Native American Choctaw word meaning intelligence, conscious or aware. The name is descriptive of the research goals NASA has established for the aircraft and its related systems.

The aircraft, designed for long-endurance, high-altitude flight, has been modified and instrumented for use in multiple civil research roles.
...
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The Navy NP-3D Orion aircraft had a challenging job to image the heat shield on the ORION capsule.
This article was written for the expected December 4, 2014 launch which in fact took place on December 5, 2014 and was successful in getting data.
- LRK -

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NASA to Take Images of Orion Flight Test Splashdown
November 28, 2014

A number of teams will have eyes, cameras and telescopes trained on the skies for the splashdown of the first flight of NASA's Orion capsule — with the help of Navy and NASA aircraft.

The SCIFLI (Scientifically Calibrated In-Flight Imagery) team, based at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, is preparing to capture thermal snapshots of the super hot re-entry of Orion into Earth's atmosphere following its first test flight. The uncrewed capsule is scheduled to launch no earlier than Dec. 4 at 7:05 a.m. ET atop a Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 37 in Florida. Orion will travel to an altitude of 3,600 miles — 15 times higher than the International Space Station — orbit Earth twice, then splash down in the Pacific Ocean four and a half hours later and be recovered.
...

Two Navy aircraft equipped with optical "Cast Glance" imaging systems will record the reentry and parachute deployment of the Orion capsule after its first flight.

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The team will use a U.S. Navy NP-3D aircraft, also called Orion, to capture the imagery. It is equipped with a long-range infrared optical system called "Cast Glance." The NP-3D Orion is one of five operated by the NAVAIR Weapons Division's Air Test and Evaluation Squadron-30 (VX-30), Pt. Mugu, California. The research effort is sponsored by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center.
...
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Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
The NASA IKHANA Unmanned Aircraft
Uploaded on Apr 4, 2007
NASA has acquired a Predator B unmanned aircraft system to conduct Earth science and technology development missions. Named "Ikhana" a Native American Choctaw word meaning intelligent, the aircraft will fly long-endurance, high-altitude flights from its base at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. Atmospheric and remote sensing instruments will be installed in the aircraft or in external pods to collect data on flights lasting up to 30 hours.
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ORION Quick Facts

Orion is America’s next generation spacecraft that will take astronauts
to exciting destinations never explored by humans. It will serve as the
exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to distant planetary bodies,
provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space
travel, and provide safe reentry from deep space.
....
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

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Orion on the Ocean 12/05/2014

Once again, too early for me to watch the launch of ORION.
All went well.  Two orbits completed and has splashed down in an upright stable position.
I have been watching the NASA Live TV from Spaceref link
- LRK -

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You should be able to get information at NASA ORION link
- LRK -

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Latest News on Orion Flight Test

Follow the Progress of NASA's New Spacecraft for Human Exploration

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NASA ORION blog
- LRK -

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Follow the Progress of NASA's New Spacecraft for Human Exploration
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Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) is a spacecraft intended to carry a crew of up to 4[2] astronauts to destinations beyond-low Earth orbit (LEO). Currently under development by NASA[8] for launch on the Space Launch System,[9] Orion will facilitate human exploration of the Moon, asteroids and Mars.

The MPCV was announced by NASA on May 24, 2011.[10] Its design is based on the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle from the cancelled Constellation program.[11] The Orion command module is being built by Lockheed Martin. The Orion Service Module, provided by the European Space Agency,[12][13] is being built by Airbus Defence and Space.

The MPCV's debut uncrewed test flight, known as Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1), is scheduled to be launched aboard a Delta IV Heavy rocket on December 4, 2014.[3][4][14] The first crewed mission is expected to take place after 2020.[15]...
==============================================================
ORION Quick Facts

Orion is America’s next generation spacecraft that will take astronauts
to exciting destinations never explored by humans. It will serve as the
exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to distant planetary bodies,
provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space
travel, and provide safe reentry from deep space.
....
==============================================================

WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

==============================================================

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Labels:

Thursday, December 04, 2014

NASA Scrubs Orion Launch For Today, 4 December 2014


I failed to get up at 4 am here on the west coast to watch the launch.
It turned out the weather and some rocket anomalies scrubbed the launch which will be attempted tomorrow, 5 December 2014.
I have been watching the post launch debrief link that Spaceref.com passed in their daily email.
- LRK -

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NASA Scrubs Orion Launch For Today
December 04, 2014 8:19 AM ET

Update at 9:35 a.m. ET

NASA's Orion spacecraft, which could one day send astronauts to Mars, is stuck on terra firma for at least another day after the space agency's mission control was unable to satisfactorily resolve a number of issues before a 9:45 a.m. launch window closed.

The unmanned vehicle is awaiting its first test in Earth orbit. But after multiple delays for high winds and a stuck liquid-oxygen drain valve on one or more of the Delta IV Heavy rocket's booster engines, NASA didn't have time to get the rocket off the pad. It will try again Friday morning.

The vehicle perched atop the Delta rocket, known officially as Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, or MPCV, is designed to carry up to four astronauts.
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I have been watching NASA TV from a link that Spaceref.com passed.
They have been replaying the Post Launch Debrief to the press.
- LRK -

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http://spaceref.com/live/live-nasa-tv.html


Today's attempt to launch Orion EFT-1 has been scrubbed today after continuing issues with ground winds - and then with fill and drain valves on the Delta IV Heavy Launch vehicle. There were also issues with battery levels on the rocket's video system. The plan seems to be to try again tomorrow with a 7:05 am ET launch time.

Update: According to speakers at today's NASA press briefing, the ship that caused the launch delay was never in a position to present a safety hazard. While winds caused the first two scrubs, the ultimate scrub for the day had to do with sluggish response times for liquid Hydrogen valves on the Atlas IV Heavy. This is an issue that has been seen before on a prior launch. There are also some minor issues having to do with battery life for instrumentation inside of Orion and inside the Delta IV Heavy rocket that are being addressed. If a launch attempt is made tomorrow but is not successful, then ULA will need to skip over Saturday in order to replenish ground tanke supplies. Overall the tone of the briefing was that this all went by the books, the issues are understood and can be handled.
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NASA ORION Latest Information
- LRK -

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Follow the Progress of NASA's New Spacecraft for Human Exploration

Friday Opportunity at 7:05 A.M. EST

The launch team has tentatively set a liftoff time of 7:05 a.m. EST, the opening of a 2-hour, 39 minute window just as today. We will begin our launch coverage at 6 a.m. tomorrow on NASA TV and on the Orion blog. Tune into the blog and NASA.gov for continuing updates throughout the day.

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Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) is a spacecraft intended to carry a crew of up to 4[2] astronauts to destinations beyond-low Earth orbit (LEO). Currently under development by NASA[8] for launch on the Space Launch System,[9] Orion will facilitate human exploration of the Moon, asteroids and Mars.

The MPCV was announced by NASA on May 24, 2011.[10] Its design is based on the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle from the cancelled Constellation program.[11] The Orion command module is being built by Lockheed Martin. The Orion Service Module, provided by the European Space Agency,[12][13] is being built by Airbus Defence and Space.

The MPCV's debut uncrewed test flight, known as Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1), is scheduled to be launched aboard a Delta IV Heavy rocket on December 4, 2014.[3][4][14] The first crewed mission is expected to take place after 2020.[15]...
==============================================================
ORION Quick Facts

Orion is America’s next generation spacecraft that will take astronauts
to exciting destinations never explored by humans. It will serve as the
exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to distant planetary bodies,
provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space
travel, and provide safe reentry from deep space.
....
==============================================================

WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

==============================================================

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Wednesday, December 03, 2014

ORION to launch test flight 4 December 2014

ORION to launch test flight 4 December 2014

I had a very nice Thanksgiving with family. 
 Brother makes a great, moist turkey and stuffing that is hard to quit eating.
I even experimented with chocolate chip cookies, a first for me, and I didn't make anyone sick. :-)

Mixed emotions about the ORION spacecraft as it seems to be more fitting to use for lunar missions than to an asteroid or Mars.
It does help to develop a lot of technologies and keep us looking up towards space. 
A couple of links that contain more information within that might help clarify what is going on.
- LRK -

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Orion Launch Weather Forecast Improves

Meteorologists upgraded their outlook for Orion’s launch tomorrow morning to give it a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions. The forecast says drier conditions are expected and the chance of coastal showers has diminished during the 2-hour, 39-minute launch window. The primary rules concerns remain flight through precipitation and high winds. With less than 23 […]
...
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This is an article from Bloomberg Businessweek starting out with a statement that NASA is launching a spacecraft that will take humans to Mars which is a catchy sound byte but no way would one want to spend 7 months with only 4 crew in a very confined space.  We shall see how much it excites students. There are links and videos that might be viewed to help fill out where we are headed, or not.  We do what we can with the cards we are delt.
- LRK -

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Mission to Mars
NASA Is Launching a Spacecraft That Will Take Humans to Mars
By Justin Bachman December 02, 2014

NASA is launching its boldest test flight in decades this week. An unmanned capsule will head off on Thursday to reach a distance of 3,600 miles from Earth—the farthest space mission with a craft designed to accommodate humans since the final Apollo 17 trip to the moon in 1972.

Called Orion, the program will mark a key initial step toward a human mission to Mars. Orion is also designed to excite the public’s imagination for deep-space exploration, much as the Apollo moon missions sparked an interest in space and produced civilian engineering triumphs. With the first test flight on Thursday, NASA wants to make it abundantly clear that much of the hardware that can get humans to Mars already exists and is ready to fly.

“My hope is that when we fly the capsule on Thursday, it will energize the public and energize that middle schooler [who] isn’t quite sure what he wants to do, but he likes math and science,” says Richard Boitnott, an engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center.

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The following link is about ORION and gives you a lot of material to digest.
This will let you know how far we have come and shows you just how many companies are participating.
- LRK -

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INSIDE:
LEADING EDGE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
BUILDING ORION
TESTING ORION
INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
...
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Paul D. Spudis has some comments about how useful the ORION spacecraft will be.
- LRK -

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The Flight of Orion
A new spacecraft takes flight, but to where?

By Paul D. Spudis
airspacemag.com
December 2, 2014

A milestone in the program to develop a new human spaceflight system is set to occur this week, as the first unmanned flight of the new Orion spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 37 on Thursday. This mission will test the overall flight qualities of the new Orion spacecraft. Many systems are still to be developed, with pieces of the spacecraft needed for human occupation replaced on this flight by instrumentation. The tests are designed to observe the vehicle’s responses to the dynamic environments of launch, orbit, high-speed re-entry and splashdown. Such flight test articles are called “boilerplate” vehicles.

The flight profile of Thursday’s test is similar in scope to the first test flights of the Apollo boilerplates. The general concerns are to monitor aerodynamic stresses during the key flight phases of launch and re-entry to assure that hull integrity is maintained and that operations in space are as expected. It is a test flight with limited objectives and expectations. But as the only human spaceflight event of any future significance in the calendar year, it has ramped up media interest and their coverage about the significance and potential of Orion.
...
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- LRK -
 
Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) is a spacecraft intended to carry a crew of up to 4[2] astronauts to destinations beyond-low Earth orbit (LEO). Currently under development by NASA[8] for launch on the Space Launch System,[9] Orion will facilitate human exploration of the Moon, asteroids and Mars.

The MPCV was announced by NASA on May 24, 2011.[10] Its design is based on the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle from the cancelled Constellation program.[11] The Orion command module is being built by Lockheed Martin. The Orion Service Module, provided by the European Space Agency,[12][13] is being built by Airbus Defence and Space.

The MPCV's debut uncrewed test flight, known as Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1), is scheduled to be launched aboard a Delta IV Heavy rocket on December 4, 2014.[3][4][14] The first crewed mission is expected to take place after 2020.[15]...
==============================================================
ORION Quick Facts

Orion is America’s next generation spacecraft that will take astronauts
to exciting destinations never explored by humans. It will serve as the
exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to distant planetary bodies,
provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space
travel, and provide safe reentry from deep space.
....
==============================================================

WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -

==============================================================

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