April 3, 2006
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/140648main_ESAS_17.pdf
April 10th, 2006
trading forex We are going to add about $800,000,000 to the CLV 1st stage cost estimate. This should put it at
about $2.1 Billion. The primary reason for this is the addition of a 5th SRB segment. We have to
assemble and test fire 3 1st stage boosters before 1st test launch. We also have to do a
considerable amount of analysis to make sure it's safe, and that we have not introduce an
unknown into the SRBs performance. All the right things to do. We also have to get more
hardware.
Pad A will start it's modification for CLV in FY 2007. One OPF will also be transition over to
support initial CLV/CEV test flights in FY 2007.
April 10th, 2006
How to house the 1st orbiter when retired is under discussion. It's more work than you think. We
have to make sure its stored safely and that critical flight components are ready to be pulled
if/when needed. This means keeping it in an OPF. Not possible after FY2007 so a new structure
maybe built in the VAB, that will control the atmosphere and provide power and access for the
hanger queen.
April 10, 2006
forex trade The red planet's newest observer, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and 2001 Mars
Odyssey have achieved milestones. Reconnaissance Orbiter's high resolution camera took
its first color image, seen on the left, and Odyssey marks five years of exploration with a
spectacular image of a sun-bathed Martian surface, seen on the right. See the difference in
resolution.
April 4, 2006
Two Astronuats/Cosomanauts had to be pulled from the US Airlock after a alarm sounded in
the US segment of ISS. NASA had put off testing the US Airlock in Campout mode until more
crew was on ISS to provide a much needed safety monitor. You see Campout is not new, it's
been part of the US Airlock/US Lab systems from the start of development and the capability
on orbit from the 1st day. What you need is a working MCA to make Campout possible. With
the MCA not functioning correctly the station can't accurately read the amount of O2 in the
Airlock while in Campout mode and in the rest of ISS it's isolated from. The reason an alarm
sounded was the MCA failed, the PCS & ACS subsystems in the AR rack saw high O2 in the
Airlock and assumed it was high in the rest of the station as well and was starting to pump the
O2 levels outside the US Airlock down. If one of the two crew sleeping outside the Airlock
(sleeping with a alarm monitoring headset on) had not woken up all 3 people sleeping outside
the Airlock would have died from O2 starvation. NASA needs to replace the MCA before
attempting Campout again and risking the death of crew and the US Space Program.
April 4, 2006
Kirkland, Washington –AirLaunch LLC announced today that it has successfully completed Milestone 2 of its
Phase 2B DARPA/Air Force Falcon program contract, another step in the development of the company’s
QuickReach™ small launch vehicle.
AirLaunch conducted two second stage engine test fires within 24 hours at a test facility in Mojave, California.
The two tests, performed on February 28 and March 1, 2006, signaled the beginning of the Phase 2B
QuickReach™ Stage 2 engine hot fire test program, that will lead to integrated second stage testing later this
year. In Phase 2A, AirLaunch conducted four second stage engine test fires as proof of concept for its vapor
pressurization (VAPAK) propulsion system using liquid oxygen (LOX) and propane.
“We are extremely pleased with the results of the two engine test fires in Milestone 2. Vapor pressurization has
been studied for many years, and these tests, along with our Phase 2A tests, show that VAPAK works with a
LOX/propane system,” said Debra Facktor Lepore, President of AirLaunch.
The two engine test fires validated an updated, flight-like injector design and resulted in further confirmation of
the feasibility of AirLaunch’s VAPAK propulsion system. Each test lasted 13 seconds, with 2 seconds of
ignition and 11 seconds of full burn, using AirLaunch’s larger engine test stand that was built as part of the
Phase 2B Milestone 2 activities.
Valued at $17.8 million for a one-year effort, AirLaunch’s Falcon Phase 2B contract enables the company and
its team of subcontractors to continue developing the QuickReach™ small satellite booster. AirLaunch
completed Milestone 1 of Phase 2B on January 18, 2006, with a successful second stage separation test. In
2005, Team AirLaunch completed Phase 2A on time and on budget with significant hardware and testing,
including four engine test firings, a stage separation test, ground drop test, and a C-17 drop test in
September.
The Falcon program goal is to develop a vehicle that can launch 1,000 pounds to orbit for less than $5 million
with only 24 hours notice. AirLaunch’s design achieves responsiveness by carrying its QuickReach™ booster
to altitude inside the cargo bay of an unmodified C-17A or other large cargo aircraft. Phase 2B will culminate
with a Critical Design Review this fall. Phase 2C anticipates a demonstration launch in 2008
April 3, 2006
forex trading videos NASA has released notice of a sole source contract for Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
(PWR) Inc. to develop the J-2 (Saturn era) engine for CLV and CaLV (cargo crew launch
vehicle). Pratt & Whitney owns the rights to the J-2 motor. The baseline DDT&E effort will
require the delivery of seven development and qualification engines with two spares, two
development test flight engines, and one human flight engine. This will support the 1st 3
flights of CLV. One interesting note some people at NASA want a second source for the
J-2 engine. This would require Pratt & Whitney to give up it's exclusive rights to the
engine.
March 30, 2006
On April 18th, 2006 at NASA Stennis a CLV Upperstage open house meeting will be held. The
primary reason for this meeting is to voice and discuss two different manufacturing paths for the
CLV Upperstage. One path has the Upperstage completely constructed and integrated at NASA
Stennis and Michoud Assembly Facility. The second, principle construction of the tank, thrust
structure, etc being done at Stennis and Michoud while assembly and check will take place at
MSFC or KSC.
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