For the first time in seven years, and possibly the last time ever, NASA has two space shuttles sitting atop both launch pads at Kennedy Space Center at the same time. Workers retracted the massive rotating service structures around the shuttles Friday night and, on Saturday, NASA took members of the media on a tour around the launch complexes to get photos and video of this unique and special event. Click on the links below to watch video clips of the scene around the space center today.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Rare Sight: Two Shuttles On Launch Pads At The Same Time
For the first time in seven years, and possibly the last time ever, NASA has two space shuttles sitting atop both launch pads at Kennedy Space Center at the same time. Workers retracted the massive rotating service structures around the shuttles Friday night and, on Saturday, NASA took members of the media on a tour around the launch complexes to get photos and video of this unique and special event. Click on the links below to watch video clips of the scene around the space center today.
FOUR FLORIDA COMPANIES HELP NASA BUILD, TEST, FLY AMERICA'S ARES I LAUNCH VEHICLE
The Ares I rocket, America's next flagship in space, is now in development by NASA and its industry partners, and soon will carry human explorers and new missions of discovery to the moon and beyond. And Florida workers are helping make it happen.
Planning and building the Ares I, the first launch vehicle in NASA's robust, next-generation Constellation Program fleet, is truly a national effort, supported by more than 200 companies in 32 states and Puerto Rico -- including Florida firms Honeywell International Inc. in Clearwater; Parker Hannifin Corp. in Jacksonville; Tara Technologies Corp. in Daytona Beach; and The Bernd Group Inc. in Dunedin. All four companies support NASA's Ares I Upper Stage Engine Project.
Florida-based Ares I contracts have a combined value of more than $1.4 million.
"Like these Florida companies, contributors across the nation are providing critical engineering expertise, hardware and materials fabrication and testing and a wide spectrum of support services," said Steve Cook, manager of Ares Projects at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. "Their work ensures that NASA will, in the next decade, successfully fly the Ares I rocket to orbit to support the International Space Station and send Americans back to the moon, preparing the way for rewarding new journeys of discovery throughout the solar system."
The 84-foot-long Ares I upper stage is propelled by a J-2X main engine fueled with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The J-2X is an evolved variation of two historic predecessors: the powerful J-2 engine that propelled the Apollo-era Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets, and the J-2S, a simplified version of the J-2 developed and tested in the early 1970s but never flown.
Approximately 133 seconds and 36 miles into flight, after the Ares I first stage expends its propellant, the first stage is jettisoned. The J-2X ignites, burning for approximately 465 seconds to consume more than 302,200 pounds of propellant as it pushes Ares I to an altitude of roughly 83 miles. The Orion crew exploration vehicle then separates from the upper stage, and its own engine fires to insert the spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The upper stage reenters Earth's atmosphere and splashes down in the Indian Ocean.
NASA's Constellation Program fleet -- now more than four years into development -- includes the Ares I, the Ares V heavy cargo launch vehicle and the Orion spacecraft. The Ares V will serve as NASA's primary vessel for safe, reliable delivery of large-scale hardware to space, including the Altair lunar lander, also now in development, and supplies needed to establish a sustained human presence on the moon. The Orion will safely ferry a crew of four to six astronauts to a variety of destinations in space.
The first Ares I test flight, called Ares I-X, is scheduled for 2009.
The first crewed launch of the Ares I rocket is planned for no later than 2015, and NASA plans to send the first missions back to the moon around 2020.
"We're proud to help continue the nation's tradition of leadership in space," Cook said. "Since NASA's creation 50 years ago, our endeavors have yielded or inspired technology innovations that enrich nearly every commercial industry and benefit Americans and people around the world in countless ways. Our team effort on Ares I will continue that legacy, and also help to stimulate our economy and reignite the country's passion to journey to worlds beyond our own.
"It takes a nation to build a rocket," Cook added. "And this is the rocket that will inspire our nation."
The Marshall Center manages Ares Projects for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington. The Constellation Program Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston leads the next-generation launch vehicle development program.
Three prime contractors lead NASA's Ares I effort for industry. NASA awarded the contract to lead the Ares I First Stage Project, valued at approximately $1.8 billion, to Alliant Techsystems (ATK) of Minneapolis in August 2007. The Boeing Co. of Huntsville, Ala., was awarded Ares I contracts valued at approximately $2 billion -- $1.2 billion for the Upper Stage production contract, awarded in September 2007, and $800 million for the Ares I Upper Stage Avionics Unit, awarded in December 2007. The contract for the Ares I Upper Stage Engine Project, valued at approximately $1.2 billion, was awarded to Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Inc., of Canoga Park, Calif., in June 2006.
Planning and building the Ares I, the first launch vehicle in NASA's robust, next-generation Constellation Program fleet, is truly a national effort, supported by more than 200 companies in 32 states and Puerto Rico -- including Florida firms Honeywell International Inc. in Clearwater; Parker Hannifin Corp. in Jacksonville; Tara Technologies Corp. in Daytona Beach; and The Bernd Group Inc. in Dunedin. All four companies support NASA's Ares I Upper Stage Engine Project.
Florida-based Ares I contracts have a combined value of more than $1.4 million.
"Like these Florida companies, contributors across the nation are providing critical engineering expertise, hardware and materials fabrication and testing and a wide spectrum of support services," said Steve Cook, manager of Ares Projects at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. "Their work ensures that NASA will, in the next decade, successfully fly the Ares I rocket to orbit to support the International Space Station and send Americans back to the moon, preparing the way for rewarding new journeys of discovery throughout the solar system."
The 84-foot-long Ares I upper stage is propelled by a J-2X main engine fueled with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The J-2X is an evolved variation of two historic predecessors: the powerful J-2 engine that propelled the Apollo-era Saturn IB and Saturn V rockets, and the J-2S, a simplified version of the J-2 developed and tested in the early 1970s but never flown.
Approximately 133 seconds and 36 miles into flight, after the Ares I first stage expends its propellant, the first stage is jettisoned. The J-2X ignites, burning for approximately 465 seconds to consume more than 302,200 pounds of propellant as it pushes Ares I to an altitude of roughly 83 miles. The Orion crew exploration vehicle then separates from the upper stage, and its own engine fires to insert the spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The upper stage reenters Earth's atmosphere and splashes down in the Indian Ocean.
NASA's Constellation Program fleet -- now more than four years into development -- includes the Ares I, the Ares V heavy cargo launch vehicle and the Orion spacecraft. The Ares V will serve as NASA's primary vessel for safe, reliable delivery of large-scale hardware to space, including the Altair lunar lander, also now in development, and supplies needed to establish a sustained human presence on the moon. The Orion will safely ferry a crew of four to six astronauts to a variety of destinations in space.
The first Ares I test flight, called Ares I-X, is scheduled for 2009.
The first crewed launch of the Ares I rocket is planned for no later than 2015, and NASA plans to send the first missions back to the moon around 2020.
"We're proud to help continue the nation's tradition of leadership in space," Cook said. "Since NASA's creation 50 years ago, our endeavors have yielded or inspired technology innovations that enrich nearly every commercial industry and benefit Americans and people around the world in countless ways. Our team effort on Ares I will continue that legacy, and also help to stimulate our economy and reignite the country's passion to journey to worlds beyond our own.
"It takes a nation to build a rocket," Cook added. "And this is the rocket that will inspire our nation."
The Marshall Center manages Ares Projects for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington. The Constellation Program Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston leads the next-generation launch vehicle development program.
Three prime contractors lead NASA's Ares I effort for industry. NASA awarded the contract to lead the Ares I First Stage Project, valued at approximately $1.8 billion, to Alliant Techsystems (ATK) of Minneapolis in August 2007. The Boeing Co. of Huntsville, Ala., was awarded Ares I contracts valued at approximately $2 billion -- $1.2 billion for the Upper Stage production contract, awarded in September 2007, and $800 million for the Ares I Upper Stage Avionics Unit, awarded in December 2007. The contract for the Ares I Upper Stage Engine Project, valued at approximately $1.2 billion, was awarded to Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Inc., of Canoga Park, Calif., in June 2006.
SpaceX Receives USAF Operational License for Cape Canaveral Launch Site
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has been granted an Operational License by the US Air Force for the use of Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the Florida coast. Receipt of the license, in conjunction with the approved Site Plan, paves the way for SpaceX to initiate Falcon 9 launch operations later this year.
“We are developing Falcon 9 to be a valuable asset to the American space launch fleet,” said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. “The support we received from General Helms and the US Air Force has been immensely helpful in developing the pathfinder processes necessary for SpaceX to realize commercial space flights from the Cape.”
“Our developments at Complex 40 continue with great speed,” added Brian Mosdell, Director of Florida Launch Operations for SpaceX. “We have moved our massive oxygen storage tank into place, and expect to complete construction of our hangar later this year.”
Mosdell cited other supporters instrumental to SpaceX’s efforts including the members of the Florida congressional delegation, the USAF Space Command, Col. Scott Henderson, Commander, 45th Launch Group, Col. (ret.) Mark Bontrager, formerly Commander of the 45th Mission Support Group, the public-private partnership Space Florida, and the Space Coast Economic Development Commission.
In operation since 1965, and located south of NASA’s launch sites for the Apollo moon missions and Space Shuttle flights, SLC-40 has hosted numerous historic launches, including the departure of two interplanetary missions: the Mars Observer satellite, and the Cassini spacecraft now exploring the rings and moons of the planet Saturn.
“We are developing Falcon 9 to be a valuable asset to the American space launch fleet,” said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. “The support we received from General Helms and the US Air Force has been immensely helpful in developing the pathfinder processes necessary for SpaceX to realize commercial space flights from the Cape.”
“Our developments at Complex 40 continue with great speed,” added Brian Mosdell, Director of Florida Launch Operations for SpaceX. “We have moved our massive oxygen storage tank into place, and expect to complete construction of our hangar later this year.”
Mosdell cited other supporters instrumental to SpaceX’s efforts including the members of the Florida congressional delegation, the USAF Space Command, Col. Scott Henderson, Commander, 45th Launch Group, Col. (ret.) Mark Bontrager, formerly Commander of the 45th Mission Support Group, the public-private partnership Space Florida, and the Space Coast Economic Development Commission.
In operation since 1965, and located south of NASA’s launch sites for the Apollo moon missions and Space Shuttle flights, SLC-40 has hosted numerous historic launches, including the departure of two interplanetary missions: the Mars Observer satellite, and the Cassini spacecraft now exploring the rings and moons of the planet Saturn.
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