Constellation
Centaurus and Crux Area
Centaurus and Crux Area
Local: Caxias do Sul / Brazil
Date: 23 July 2010 - 19h16min
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 / ISO 80 / 15 sec exposure. Enhancement: Photoshop CS4.
Tree: Araucaria Angustifolia
Unemployed Ares I Mobile Launcher set for Crawler trip in August
The massive Ares I Mobile Launcher (ML), which recently completed its construction phase, is set for a ride on the Crawler Transporter (CT-1) in August, marking its first move since rising into the sky next door to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The ML will be moved to the east refurbish site, to allow for the connection of utilities.
Ares I ML History:
Currently in limbo due to the current path to confirm the cancellation of the Ares I vehicle – which it was designed to launch – in President Obama’s FY2011 budget proposal, the ML was constructed by Hensel Phelps of Orlando, Florida, following a $263,735,000 contract award in May 2008, which included options including a second ML.
The ML was designed to specifically support Ares I and the vehicle’s associated Ground Support Equipment (GSE) from stacking in the VAB to launch out at Pad 39B.
SD HLV: Early SPS demonstration mission outlined – Risk assessment findings
In tandem with the role of providing heavy lift access to the ISS, the three major Beyond Earth Orbit (BEO) missions – namely the landings on the Moon, Mars and Near Earth Objects (NEOs) – aren’t the only options available to the Shuttle Derived Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (SD HLV), as noted in the vehicle’s assessment presentation, which also covered the risk and abort findings.
Range Of Missions:
While the political deliberations into the future of NASA continue, the focus remains on an eventual goal of sending a manned mission to Mars, potentially via the moon of Phobos as a precursor mission. Such a goal remains deep into the future, leading to a learning curve of BEO missions, previously noted as an essential element in NASA’s own Flexible Path roadmap approach.
The debate over NASA’s future continues – SpacePod 2010.07.19
The debate over NASA’s future continues… for your SpacePod for July 19, 2010. Late last week the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee had unanimously approved a new NASA Authorization Act of 2010. Keep in mind that this is not yet law which means it could all change yet again.
Southern Cross
Southern Cross
by Darren Trizzino
The Southern Cross above 5 standing Moai at Tahai, Easter Island. The city of Hanga Roa is in the background. Date: July 13, 2010. Camera: Canon 5D Mark II. f2.8 24mm lens. 15 second exposure. ISO 1600.
Lunar/BEO – SD HLV, Commercial and International Architecture Outlined
As the on-going political refinements to the FY2011 budget proposal raise the hope of utilizing “Shuttle’s Legacy” in a Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLV), the third article – based on the findings of the expansive SD (Shuttle Derived) HLV assessment presentation – outlines both the use of the HLV in returning to the Moon, and the joint role of working with commercial and international vehicles in a Beyond Earth Orbit (BEO) architecture.
SD HLV:
As covered in the two previous articles, a final assessment of the SD HLV options (726 page presentation, available on L2) - namely side mount and inline vehicles – provided expansive information on the development, costs, timeline and ability of the vehicle that would be a natural successor to the Space Transportation System (STS – Shuttle).
SUMMER RISE
SUMMER RISE
12 x 5 MIN 800 ASA Canon 350D Mod 50mm Lens
SD HLV Review Outlines ISS Transport and ‘Reliability’ of Design
As part of the comprehensive 700+ page study of a truly Shuttle Derived Heavy-Lift Vehicle (SD HLV), a preliminary assessment of an SD HLV’s capability to deliver cargo (and potentially crew) to International Space Station (ISS) has been performed, demonstrating the first part of an SD HLV’s multi-use potential should this vehicle be chosen as America’s new Heavy Lift vehicle in 2015 (in accordance with President Obama’s current timeline for America’s future in space).
ISS Operations:
The first review to gain mention in the SD HLV presentation was the vehicle’s potential use for logistics transfer of 45 to 65 metric tons – depending on the configuration of the payload flown – to the ISS, a payload to ISS capability that far exceeds any existing vehicle for ISS resupply efforts.
Completed SD HLV assessment highlights low-cost post-shuttle solution
The Shuttle Derived Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle (SD HLV) Assessment has been completed, the result of applying years of historical expertise from members of the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) and others into a follow-on vehicle. The focused effort over 15 months to create a post-shuttle masterplan has fostered HLV options that could be completed to a Block II Full Operational Capability for around $7.8 billion.
Background:
Numerous studies into a follow-on replacement for the Space Shuttle – which utilizes the hardware, infrastructure and skill set workforce – have been created and presented over recent years, mainly based around two concepts; an inline launch vehicle and a sidemount vehicle.
Such studies range back to before the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) – which ultimately decided on the 1.5 architecture of Ares I and Ares V, via the 2005 ESAS (Exploration Systems Architecture Study).
Will Democrats get their act together on space policy?
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., is a leading lawmaker on space policy, so when he hints at a compromise over NASA's future course, it's worth listening. The Orlando Sentinel's Robert Block deconstructs a letter that Nelson sent to colleague Barbara Mikulski that would pick up the pace on developing a heavy-lift rocket, give careful support to commercial launch providers such as SpaceX ... and perhaps deal the death blow to NASA's Ares 1 rocket development plan. I fully agree with Block's last line: "Stay tuned."
