Tag

Orion Spacecraft

All articles tagged with #orion spacecraft

science-and-technology17 days ago•4 min saved

Artemis 2 Crew Survives Historic Moon Flyby as Orion Heat Shield Flaws Are Resolved

NASA’s Artemis 2 mission successfully validated the Orion spacecraft’s life support and reentry systems, marking the first crewed lunar flyby since the Apollo era. The four-person crew completed a 10-day journey around the Moon, demonstrating that the vehicle can safely return astronauts to Earth. A redesigned reentry profile prevented the severe heat shield damage seen in the uncrewed Artemis 1 test, ensuring the capsule remained structurally sound. This success clears a critical hurdle for future lunar landings, with Artemis 3 now scheduled to test commercial landers in 2027.

via Gizmodo|

#aerospace-engineering #artemis-2 #nasa

space1 month ago•3 min saved

Artemis II Crew Awarded the U.S.'s Highest Space Honor

Artemis II commanders Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen were awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump at NASA's Johnson Space Center for their April lunar flyby aboard Orion, the first Moon mission of its kind in decades and a precursor to Artemis III/IV; the ceremony also touched on a proposed US space academy and timelines for future lunar exploration amid calls to return to the Moon before the next administration.

via The Guardian|

#artemis-ii #congressional-space-medal-of-honor #moon-mission

space1 month ago•164 min saved

Artemis II Pilot Credits NASA’s Trust for Hand-Flying Orion

Artemis II pilot Victor Glover said the crew manually flew the Orion spacecraft during proximity operations around the unmanned upper stage, praising NASA for trusting them to control the vehicle by hand. The moment highlighted the mission’s success and led into post-flight celebrations at Red Rocks, with discussions of Artemis III docking and continued collaboration across industry partners and international teams.

via Space|

#artemis-ii #nasa #orion-spacecraft

space2 months ago•106 min saved

NASA pushes Artemis III prep toward 2027 moon mission

NASA is accelerating Artemis III prep for a 2027 launch, with the Space Launch System core stage being assembled at Kennedy Space Center, RS-25 engines and boosters arriving and being installed, and the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield and service module being prepared as monthly launch simulations proceed; Artemis III will send four astronauts to low Earth orbit to rendezvous with two commercial lunar landers, a crucial stepping stone toward Artemis IV’s 2028 lunar landing, while related hardware such as the LOX tank for Artemis IV advances.

via Space|

#artemis-iii #kennedy-space-center #nasa

science-and-exploration2 months ago•2 min saved

Artemis II crew visits ESA to honor European Service Module

Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen visited ESA’s ESTEC in the Netherlands to meet the European Service Module team, tour facilities and labs, and receive a Program Award; they will also visit Airbus in Bremen and Thales Alenia Space in Turin as part of ongoing post-flight engagements.

via European Space Agency|

#artemis-ii #esa #estec

space3 months ago•98 min saved

Artemis 3 crew gets their official roster in a calendar-surprise reveal

NASA revealed the Artemis 3 crew at a Johnson Space Center meeting that felt like a calendar surprise: commander Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano as pilot, Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas as mission specialists, with Bob Hines designated as backup. The five will fly aboard the Orion capsule on the Space Launch System for a ~2-week mission in high Earth orbit, docking with two lunar lander designs (SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon) to test compatibility ahead of future lunar landings. Artemis 3 follows Artemis 2 and aims for a late-2027 liftoff, with training timelines shortened and the backup role intended to keep the crew ready should changes arise or set up for Artemis 4.

via Space|

#artemis-3 #astronauts #moon

space4 months ago•184 min saved

Artemis III crew announced for a moon‑bound test flight

NASA unveiled Artemis III’s four-astronaut crew—Randy Bresnik (commander), Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, and Luca Parmitano (ESA pilot)—for a late‑2027 mission that will stay in low‑Earth orbit to test Orion docking with a lunar lander (launched separately, possibly SpaceX’s Starship and/or Blue Origin’s Blue Moon) as a precursor to a moon landing expected as early as 2028; a wet dress rehearsal of the SLS rocket is planned by year’s end.

via CNN|

#artemis-iii #lunar-lander-docking #moon-mission

space5 months ago•5 min saved

Artemis III SLS Core Rises at Kennedy Ahead of 2027 Moon Mission

NASA has begun assembling Artemis III’s Space Launch System at Kennedy Space Center, raising the rocket’s core stage inside the Vehicle Assembly Building ahead of a planned 2027 liftoff. The mission will test critical rendezvous and docking with lunar landers and will gauge performance alongside SpaceX’s Starship and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon as a stepping stone to crewed lunar exploration.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#artemis-iii #kennedy-space-center #orion-spacecraft

science5 months ago•23 min saved

Artemis II postflight: heat shield okay, SLS hits target, toilet glitch prompts checks

NASA’s initial postflight assessments find the Orion heat shield performed as expected with less char loss than Artemis I, and the SLS rocket achieved orbital insertion with splashdown about 2.9 miles from the target and an entry velocity near predictions. A toilet-system issue—urine vent line—was identified and is under investigation to prevent recurrence. Astronauts shared Earthset footage and noted vestibular readjustment after returning to gravity, as Artemis II serves as a critical step toward crewed lunar missions in 2027–2028.

via Engadget|

#artemis-ii #astronauts #nasa

space5 months ago•93 min saved

Artemis II Survives Fiery Reentry as Heat Shield Holds

NASA reports Artemis II's heat shield endured a blistering 24,664 mph reentry with only minimal char, no cracked tiles, and intact reflective tape, according to initial post-splashdown assessments; divers' photos confirm a precise splashdown and NASA says the heat shield performed as expected, addressing earlier concerns about using the Artemis I shield for Artemis II and keeping the program on track for future missions.

via Live Science|

#artemis-ii #heat-shield #nasa

science5 months ago•35 min saved

Orion’s Issues Put Artemis III on Hold Until NASA Fixes Leaks and Shields

NASA’s Orion capsule has several problems to fix before Artemis III, including a helium leak in the oxygen pressurization system, a heat shield damaged in earlier tests that NASA intends to redesign, and hydrogen leaks plus plumbing glitches. The issue is complicated by the fact that the return module isn’t recovered for postflight inspection, so Orion may require a full redesign. Artemis III will be uncrewed, giving NASA time to address these flaws before more ambitious missions to the Moon or Mars.

via Yahoo|

#artemis-iii #heat-shield #helium-leak

spacescience5 months ago•34 min saved

Earthshine Moment: Christina Koch Captures Earth from Artemis II Orion Flight

NASA posted a video captured by Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch showing Earthshine—sunlight reflecting off Earth—from about 33,800 miles away on the Orion spacecraft during the 10-day lunar flyby; Koch’s footage comes as the Artemis II crew (Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Koch) traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history, surpassing Apollo 13, and the clip was released around Earth Day.

via Yahoo|

#artemis-ii #christina-koch #earthshine

science5 months ago•5 min saved

Ames Center Powers Artemis II: Heat Shield Data, SLS Tuning, and Lunar Science

NASA Ames contributed to Artemis II by refining Orion’s reentry physics with new aerothermal sensors and modeling, advancing 3D-MAT compression pads, validating SLS aerodynamics and debris analyses, supporting mission assurance with real-time tools, and guiding crew-led lunar science observations.

via NASA (.gov)|

#ames-research-center #artemis-ii #nasa

space-and-spaceflight5 months ago•17 min saved

Artemis 2 Heat Shield Holds Up, Easing Artemis 1 Fears

After Artemis 2's splashdown, NASA said Orion's heat shield performed as expected with no unusual conditions, significantly reducing the abnormal charring seen in Artemis 1. Initial concerns about a missing chunk were clarified by recovery photos, and NASA's skip-entry adjustment appears to have mitigated gas buildup and damage. The agency will continue tests and imaging over the coming weeks, but early results show the shield did its job and clears the path for future crewed Moon missions.

via Gizmodo|

#artemis-2 #heat-shields #nasa

science5 months ago•36 min saved

Artemis III Gains Ground as SLS Core Stage Rolls Toward Florida

NASA rolled out the Space Launch System core stage for Artemis III, a 212-foot-tall rocket section built by Boring and L3Harris, marking a key step toward the first crewed lunar landing in more than 50 years. The core stage will power Artemis III’s mission, slated for 2027, with final assembly on Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center after its transport from Michoud.

via Yahoo|

#artemis #moon-mission #nasa