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EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS HIGHLIGHTS

2017 YEAR IN REVIEW Team:

It has been another exciting year for Exploration Ground Systems!

In 2017, we continued to make steady progress towards completing the launch infrastructure and building the ground processing team that will checkout and launch NASA’s and Orion spacecraft. The year has been full of challenges and opportunities -- I am really proud of how our team has rallied around each other in support and in celebration as we achieve our goals.

Today, our major construction projects are fundamentally complete and we are outfitting and testing our ground systems. We also have delivered much of our critical software, and our operations team is developing the schedules and procedures that we need to conduct ground operations. As we prepare for the year ahead, I hope that the success stories and images of progress included here will make you as confident as I am that when the flight hardware shows up, we are going to be ready! I continue to be both honored and humbled to be making spaceflight history with you!

Michael J. Bolger Manager, Exploration Ground Systems Workers signed the final platform, A North, in the transfer aisle of the VAB on Jan. 10, 2017. The platform was lifted, installed and secured on its rail beam high up on the north wall of High Bay 3. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis NASA, CONTRACTORS SIGN FINAL PLATFORM IN VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING

Kennedy Space Center’s Engineering Directorate coordinated a platform beam signing event to celebrate the culmination of the NASA and contractor team’s last several years of study, design, construction and installation of 20 new work platforms in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly (VAB). Workers signed the final platform, A North, in the transfer aisle of the VAB. The platform was lifted, installed and secured on its rail beam high up on the north wall of High Bay 3. The installation of the final topmost level completes the 10 levels of work platforms, 20 platform halves altogether, that will surround NASA’s Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft to allow access during processing for missions, including the first uncrewed flight test of Orion atop the SLS rocket. Exploration Ground Systems, with support from the center’s Engineering Directorate, is overseeing upgrades and modifications to the VAB, including installation of the new work platforms. JANUARY

Year in Review 2017 Highlights Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) | 3 Year inReview 2017Highlights

JANUARYthe towerofmobilelauncher. The umbilicalwastransported tothemobilelauncherarea inDecember2016,where itwasprepared forinstallation on nitrogen totheSLSCore StageForward Skirt. rocket, andthendisconnectswingawaybefore launch.Itsmainpurposeis toprovide conditionedairandgaseous tank. Duringprocessing, theumbilicalwillbematedtocore stageforward skirttoprovide commodities totheSLS The CSFSUwillbelocatedataboutthe180-footlevel on themobilelaunchertower, abovethevehicleliquidoxygen the mobilelauncher. CSFSU loadlimits,itsabilitytodisconnectbefore liftoff andthatitisfunctioningproperly andready tobeinstalledon conducted thetests.TheCSFSUwasattachedtoaVehicle MotionSimulatorattheLETFandtestsconfirmed technicians withtheEngineeringDirectorate andExplorationGround Systems, alongwithsupportcontractors, The Core StageForward SkirtUmbilical(CSFSU)underwenttestingforfourmonths. Ateamofengineersand Orion spacecraftattheLaunchEquipmentTest Facility atKennedySpaceCenterinFlorida. NASA reached thehalfwaypointontestingoflaunchumbilicalsforitsSpace LaunchSystem(SLS)rocket and MOBILE LAUNCHER SYSTEM AT HALFWAY POINTFOR TEST OFLAUNCH UMBILICALS Photo credit: NASA/CoryHuston and theumbilicalwastransportedtomobilelauncherarea. Theumbilicalwillbeprepared forinstallationonthetowerofmobilelauncher. structures usedtotestthelaunchumbilicals.Testing oftheCore StageForward SkirtUmbilical(CSFSU)forNASA’s SpaceLaunchSystemiscomplete The testteamholdsasignedbannerJan.24,2017,attheLaunchEquipment Test FacilityatKennedySpaceCenter. Behindthemare some ofthetest Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|4 Year inReview 2017Highlights

platforms. FEBRUARYThe platformlevelsare A,B,C,D,E,F, theK-levelbeing lowestandtheA-levelhighest G,H,JandK.With design, manufacture andinstallationoftheplatforms. Construction Co.ofGreeley, Colorado,inMarch 2014.Hundreds ofNASAandcontractorworkerswere involvedinthe Design ofthenewplatforms beganin2010.NASAawarded acontracttomodifyHighBay3theHenselPhelps out ontheirrailbeamsinorder toaccommodate theSLSanditssolidrocket boosters,aswell other vehicles. thegoalofbeing amulti-userfacility,With thenewplatformswere designedtobeadjustedupanddown,in launcher andallowaccessduringprocessing formissions,includingthefirstflighttestofOrionatopSLS. Twenty platformhalveswillsurround NASA’s SpaceLaunch System(SLS)rocket andOrionspacecraftatopthemobile A north,waslifted,installedandsecured onitsrailbeamthenorthwallofhighbayinsideiconicfacility. Building atKennedySpaceCenter. Work toinstallthe platformscametoconclusionJan.12,asthefinalworkplatform, Members ofthenewsmediaviewedtenlevelsnew workplatformsinsideHighBay3oftheVehicle Assembly SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM PLATFORMS FOR NASA’S MEDIA VIEWNEWWORK Shiflett Kennedy SpaceCenterwithDirector BobCabanaonFeb.17,2017.Thefinalplatform,Anorth,was recently installed.Photocredit: NASA/Kim Members ofthenewsmediaviewed10levelsnewworkplatformsinHigh Bay 3insidetheVehicle AssemblyBuildingduringamulti-usertourof Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|5 Year inReview 2017Highlights

integrated performance oftheSLSrocket, Orion and ground support teams. MARCHthe Moon.Orionwillreturn toEarthandberecovered from thePacificOcean.Themissionwilldemonstrate the The firstintegratedlaunch of SLSandOrion, control totheLaunchAbortSystem.Before launch,theOSMU willtiltupandtheumbilicallinesdisconnect. houses thesecriticalsystems tosupportthespacecraft.Theumbilicalalsowillprovide purge air/GN2forenvironmental transfer liquidcoolantforthe electronics andpurgeair/GN2forenvironmental control to theOrionservicemodulethat The OSMUwillconnectfrom themobilelaunchertowertoOrionservicemodule.Priorlaunch, theumbilicalwill spacecraft. Theywillprovide power, communications,coolantandfuel. connect totheSLScore stageandtwinsolidrocket boosters,theinterimcryogenicpropulsion stage andtheOrion The toweronthemobilelauncherwillbeequippedwith severalconnections,called “This isthefirstofmultipleumbilicalsandlaunchaccessories thatwillbeinstalled.” “Installation oftheOSMUisamajormilestoneformobile launcherteam,”saidSamTalluto, deputyproject manager. installed highuponthetoweratabout260-footlevel. launcher towerMarch 16atKennedySpaceCenterinFlorida.TheOrionServiceModuleUmbilical, orOSMU,was The firstlaunchumbilicalforNASA’s SYSTEM ANDORION NASA’S SPACE LAUNCH ON MOBILELAUNCHER FOR FIRST UMBILICALINSTALLED module thathousesthesecriticalsystemstosupportthespacecraft.Photocredit: NASA/LeifHeimbold Center onMarch 16,2017.TheOSMUwilltransferliquidcoolantfortheelectronics andairfortheEnvironmental Control SystemtotheOrionservice A craneandriggingare usedtolifttheOrionServiceModuleUmbilical(OSMU)highupforinstallationonmobilelaunchertoweratKennedySpace Space LaunchSystem Exploration Mission-1, (SLS)and willsendthespacecraftto a stableorbitbeyond Orion spacecraftwasinstalledonthemobile launch umbilicals Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|6 , whichwill Year inReview 2017Highlights

the launch of deep space missions, including the Journey toMars. the launchof deep spacemissions,including theJourney MARCHExploration Ground Systemsisoverseeingupgradestofacilitiesandground supportequipmentnecessary tosupport hydraulic cylinders,roller bearingsandbrakes.Othersystemsalsowere upgraded. Upgrades tothecrawlerincluded installationofnewgenerators,gearassemblies, jacking,equalizingandleveling(JEL) behemoth vehiclerecently was CT-2 isthevehiclethatwillcarrySLSrocket andOrionspacecraft onthemobilelaunchertopadBforlaunch. The will beusedtovalidatethedynamicmodelofintegrated SLS. measurements duringtheentire trek usingaccelerometers, straingaugesandpressure transducers.Thedatacollected the crawlerpickedupMobileLaunchPlatform1at parksiteandreturned tothepadA/Bsplit.Engineerstook and traveledbacktothemobilelauncherplatformpark siteneartheVehicle AssemblyBuilding.Fortheloadedtest, The unloadedCT-2 rolled from thecrawleryard alongthecrawlerwaytopadA/Bsplitforfirstlegoftrip the SpaceLaunchSystem. performed toensure thatthecrawlerisready tosupportthe 2017, todeterminethestructuraldynamicsandloading environments ofthecrawler’s recent upgrades.Thetestwas NASA’s crawler-transporter 2(CT-2) tookatestdrivealongthecrawlerwayatKennedySpaceCenter onMarch 21, TAKES TESTDRIVEALONG CRAWLER-TRANSPORTER 2 agency’s SpaceLaunchSystemrocket andOrionspacecraftatopthemobilelauncher. Photocredit: NASA/LeifHeimbold 21, 2017.ThecrawlertookatriptothepadA/Bsplittestupgradesrecently completedthatwillallowthegiantvehicletohandleloadof Crawler-transporter 2(CT-2) movesslowlyalongthecrawlerwayonitswaybacktoVehicle Assembly BuildingatKennedySpaceCenteronMarch upgraded to supporttheheavierload oftheSLSatopmobilelauncher. first integratedflight of theagency’s Orionspacecraftatop Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|7 Year inReview 2017Highlights

summer 2017. APRILcenter. Developmentofthesoftware continued, withagoalofbeginningverificationandvalidation ofthesoftware in The software was developedbyExplorationGround Systems’ Command,Control andCommunicationsteamsatthe acoustic environment causedbythefiringofSLScore stageRS-25engines andsolid rocket motors. second oflaunchcountdown. Italsoproduces andvolumeneededtodampenthepressure thepattern wavesand SLS rocket andOrionspacecraft.Thesuppression stageensures the water dampeningsysteminitiatesinthefinal the initialuseduringIgnitionOver-Pressure/Sound Suppression andfollow-onteststhrough launch oftheagency’s The software isintheadvancedstagesofdevelopment.Itincludesnearlyallcore capabilities required tosupport representatives from theNASATest Director’s Office. Thompson The Ground andFlightApplicationSoftware Team, orGFAST, demonstratedthesoftware for final phasesoflaunchcountdowns. software, calledtheground launchsequencer, willberesponsible fornearlyallofthelaunchcommitcriteriaduring and A demonstrationoftheautomatedcommandandcontrol software forNASA’s CONTROL CENTER DEMONSTRATED INLAUNCH SEQUENCER SOFTWARE NEW GROUNDLAUNCH Exploration Mission-1.Photocredit: NASA/BillWhite control software forNASA’s SpaceLaunchSystemrocket andOrionspacecraft.Infront, farright,isCharlieBlackwell-Thompson,launchdirector for NASA engineersandtestdirectors gathered inFiringRoom3theLaunchControl Centertowatchademonstrationoftheautomatedcommandand Orion spacecraft,tookplaceinFiringRoom3theLaunch Control CenterattheKennedySpaceCenter. The , launchdirector forthe first integratedflight oftheSLSandOrionspacecraft.Alsoattendingwere Space LaunchSystem Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|8 Charlie Blackwell- (SLS)rocket Year inReview 2017Highlights MAY Shiflett commercial launchesfor yearstocome.ExplorationGround Systemsisoverseeingupgrades andmodificationstothepad.Photocredit: NASA/Kim Mars. Themodificationsandimprovements toprocessing and andlaunchfacilitieswillsupportKennedyasamulti-user spaceportforgovernment processing andlaunchrequirements forNASA’s to SpaceLaunchSystemandtheOrionspacecraftfordeepspacemissions,includingJourney complex atKennedySpaceCenter. UpgradestothesurfaceofpadB,aswellsystemsbelowandsurrounding thepadwillsupportnew Launch Complex39Bcurrent andpastNASAcontractorworkersgathered atpadBonMay17,2017,tomarkthe50thanniversaryoflaunch Read thecomplete storyat mission launchedfrom padBonJuly15,1975. May 25,1973;Skylab3on July28,1973;andSkylab4onNov. 16,1973.Thecrewed -SoyuzTest Project Pad Bwasusedtolaunchthree of the fourmissionsofSkylabprogram. Thecrewed missionswere Skylab2on system, usedtocooltheflame deflectorintheflame trenchafter rocketignition. The firstlaunchfrom padBwasApollo10onMay18,1969.Italsothefirstuseofpad’s waterdeluge reinforced steel. a road topadB.Thebehemothstructure ofthepadrequired 68,000cubicyards ofconcrete and5,100tonsof To fillinandbuildupthearea, hundreds oftonssandwasdredged from theAtlanticOceanandpumpedalong Construction ofthepadbeganinDecember1964and wascompletedinApril1967. 58 spaceshuttlelaunches. 1Brocket, missionsusingtheSaturn oneApollo-SoyuzTest Project 1B,and missionthatalsoused aSaturn V launch,three flies,andNASA celebratedthe50thanniversaryofpadB,launchsiteforoneApollo/Saturn Time System rocket toMars. andOrionspacecraftondeepspacemissions,includingtheJourney totheMoon.Now,and ourjourney LaunchComplex39BwillserveasthelaunchsiteforNASA’s SpaceLaunch Space Center. Theywere originallyconstructedinthe1960sascleanpadsandservedastartingpoint forApollo Launch padsbuiltonaswamp.Ahumblebeginningforthetwopads,andB,atComplex39BKennedy OF 39B CELEBRATES 50THANNIVERSARY KENNEDY SPACE CENTER https://go.nasa.gov/2s55nn3 . Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|9 Year inReview 2017Highlights

rocket. MAYrefurbished andreinstalled atpadleveloneither sideoftheflametrench tohelp reduce damagetothepadandSLS rocket tothenorthduringlaunch.Two sideflamedeflectors, repurposed from spaceshuttlelaunches,willbe A newflamedeflectorsoon willbeinstalledthatsafelycontainanddeflectthe plumeexhaust fromthe massive The northsideoftheflame trench is about571feetlong,58wideand42high. said ReginaSpellman,thelaunch padseniorproject manager withExplorationGround Systems. “The flametrench haswithstoodsomanyhistoricallaunches,andweare givingitnewlifetowithstandmanymore,” Fahrenheit atlaunchoftherocket’s enginesandsolidrocket boosters. combination withadhesiveanchors.Theflametrench willbeabletowithstandtemperatures ofupto2,000degrees About 96,000heat-resistant bricks,inthree different sizes,were secured tothewallsusingbondingmortarin toMars Journey the flametrench tosupportthelaunchofSLS rocket andOrionspacecraftondeepspacemissions,includingthe workers installedthefinalbrickMay9,2017,completing aboutayear’s worthofworkonthewallsnorthside All ofthenewheat-resistant bricksnoware inplacetheflametrench belowthesurfaceof pad.Construction the wallsofflametrench towithstandtheseconditions recently was completed. (SLS) rocket and Intense heatandfire willfillthenorthsideof the COMPLEX 39BFLAMETRENCH FINAL BRICKINSTALLED INLAUNCH Orion atop.Photocredit: NASA/LeifHeimbold Center. Thewallsoftheflametrench are beingupgradedtowithstandtheintenseheatandfire atlaunchofNASA’s SpaceLaunchSystem rocketwith A constructionworkerinstallsoneofthefinalbricksonnorthside flame trench atLaunchComplex39BonMay9,2017,KennedySpace . Orion spacecraftliftoff from LaunchComplex39BatKennedySpaceCenter. Aproject toupgrade flame trench beneaththepadwhenNASA’s Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|10 Space LaunchSystem

Year inReview 2017Highlights

arrival JUNERead thecompletestoryat barge’s lengthwasincreased to310feetlongmeetbarge-to-dock interfacerequirements forthecore stage.” “Analysis wasperformedon howPegasuswasgoingtobemoored atthewharftooffset windload scenarios.The and Pegasusbarge,”saidJimmy Rogers,aproject managerwithKennedy’s ExplorationGround Systems(EGS). basinisundergoing significantstructuralmodificationsandelectrical upgradestobe“The turn readyforthecore stage . and transportationequipment--cargothatismore than600,000poundsheavierPegasustransportedforthe 25 engines.WhenPegasusarrivesatKennedy’s basin,itwillbecarryingthecore turn stage andallitsground support space shuttletank,servesasthestructuralbackbone of therocket andincludestheSLSpropellant tanksandfourRS- aboard NASA’s modifiedbarge and offloading tanksisgettingamakeovertoaccommodatethe core ofspaceshuttleexternal stagewhenitarrives Located justacross thestreet from theiconicVehicle AssemblyBuilding(VAB), thedockarea thatwasusedforarrival underway toupgradethewharfandprepare forthearrivalofcore stage. be integratedwithotherhardware in preparation foritsfirstlaunch, knownas basinwharfatKennedySpaceCenterto in NewOrleans,itwillbeshippedbybargetotheLaunchComplex39turn When thecore stageforNASA’s massiveSpaceLaunch System (SLS)rocket departstheMichoudAssemblyFacility STAGE ARRIVAL SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM CORE TURN BASINPREPPEDFOR overseeing the upgrades to the turn basinwharf.Photocredit:overseeing theupgradestoturn NASA/KimShiflett weight ofthecore stagealongwithground supportandtransportationequipmentaboard themodifiedbargePegasus.ExplorationGround Systemsis driven toadepthofabout70feetintothebedrock belowthewateraround basin.Theupgradesare theturn necessarytoaccommodateincreased Space LaunchSystem(SLS)core stageaboard thebargePegasus.Acranewillbeused toliftupprecast concrete polesandposition themtobe Modifications are basinwharfatKennedySpaceCentertoprepare underwayattheLaunchComplex39turn forthearrivalofagency’s massive . https://www.nasa.gov/feature/turn-basin-prepped-for-space-launch-system-core-stage- Pegasus . The212-foot-long core stage , whichismore than50feetlongerthe Exploration Mission-1 Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|11 . Modificationsare Year inReview 2017Highlights

JULYExploration Ground Systemsisoverseeinginstallationoftheumbilicalson thetower. cavity. before launch.Itsmainpurposeistoprovide conditionedairandgaseousnitrogen totheSLScore stageforward skirt swing intopositiontoprovide connectionstothecore stageforward skirtofthe SLSrocket, andthenswingaway Cranes andriggingwere usedtolifttheCSFSUandinstallitatabout220-footlevelontower. TheCSFSUwill Orion spacecraftandprovide commoditiesduringprocessing andpreparation forlaunchof The mobilelaunchertowerwillbeequippedwithanumber oflines,called atop. Center, toprepare forthefirstlaunchofagency’s The Core StageForward SkirtUmbilical(CSFSU)wasinstalledonthetowerofmobilelauncheratKennedySpace MOBILE LAUNCHER UMBILICAL INSTALLED ON CORE STAGE FORWARD SKIRT the assembly, testingandcheckoutoftheagency’s SpaceLaunchSystemrocket andtheOrionspacecraft.Photocredit: NASA/Kim Shiflett The core stageforward skirtumbilicalisinstalledonthemobilelaunchertower atKennedySpaceCenter. Themobilelauncherisdesignedtosupport Space LaunchSystem umbilicals (SLS)rocket withthe , whichwillconnecttotheSLSand Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|12 Exploration Mission-1 Orion spacecraft . Year inReview 2017Highlights

JULY toMars. Journey space missions,andNASA’s Exploration Mission-1,deep of theflamedeflectorfor is managingtheinstallation Systems program atKennedy repair. TheExploration Ground inspection, maintenanceand will provide easieraccessfor no lining.Thenewdesign not beslantedandwillhave south sideofthedeflectorwill a NASAstandard coating.The deflector willbeprotected by trench. Thenorthsideofthe to thenorthsideofflame and energywillbediverted System, therocket’s flame liftoff ofNASA’s SpaceLaunch deflector’s position.During south oftheshuttle-eraflame positioned aboutsixfeet new flamedeflectorwillbe Space CenterinFlorida.The Pad 39BatNASA’s Kennedy in theflametrench atLaunch flame deflectorandpositionit support hardware foranew of thelargesegments A craneisusedtomoveone LAUNCH PAD 39B DEFLECTOR ATFLAME BEGINS ONNEW INSTALLATION Photo credit: NASA and positionitinthe flametrench atLaunchPad39BNASA’s KennedySpaceCenter inFlorida. A craneisusedtomoveoneofthe large segmentsofthesupporthardware foranewflamedeflector Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|13 Year inReview 2017Highlights

AUGUSTof therocket, Orionspacecraftandground supportteamspriortoacrewed flight. back toEarthforasplashdowninthePacificOcean. The missionwilldemonstratetheintegratedsystemperformance The firstSLSmission,EM-1,willlaunchanuncrewed produce more than8millionpoundsofthrustatliftoff. boosters The platformswillbeusedforprocessing andcheckoutoftheenginesforSLS’twinfive-segment and stored insidetheVehicle Assembly Building. platforms were transportedontwoflatbedtrucks from fabricatorMet-ConInc.inCocoa,Florida.Theywere offloaded New serviceplatformsforNASA’s BOOSTER ENGINES FOR SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM SERVICE PLATFORMS ARRIVE at KennedySpaceCenter. Photocredit: NASA/BillWhite A flatbedtruckcarryingoneoftwonewserviceplatformsforNASA’s SpaceLaunchSystemboosterenginesarrivesatthe Vehicle AssemblyBuilding for Exploration Mission-1 Space LaunchSystem (EM-1).Theboosters,incombinationwiththerocket’s fourRS-25engines,will Orion (SLS)boosterenginesarrivedatKennedySpaceCenter. The spacecrafttoastableorbitbeyondtheMoonandbring it Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|14 solid rocket Year inReview 2017Highlights

the Journey toMars. the Journey SEPTEMBERExploration Ground Systemsispreparing thepadforlaunch ofExplorationMission-1,deepspacemissionsand Blackwell-Thompson said. “This isaveryimportantstep inourpathtolaunch,andweare thrilledto havecryopropellant return tothepad,” visible. Becausesomeofthe liquidoxygenboilsoff duringtanking,additionalLO2isrequired. the vehicle.Shegotapreview, whenthetrucksoffloaded thefirst roundofLO2andonceagain, cryovaporswere Blackwell-Thompson saiditisnotuncommonduringtanking toseevaporsandmistinthecryostoragearea andnear will remain inthetanks. pressurization tests.Additionaltestswillbeperformedwiththemobilelauncheraround mid-2018. Thecryogenicfuels When bothtanksare filledtoabouthalfway, engineersinafiring roomintheLaunchControl Centerwillperform The procedure to filltheliquidhydrogen storagesphere beganinDecemberandwillbecompletedthe sameway. hold about900,000gallonsofliquidoxygen. will continuetoarrivefrom Praxairandoffload about40,000gallonsoffueltwodaysperweekintothesphere that can Another waveoftrucksarrivedandoffloaded theirLO2allatthesametime.Duringnextseveralmonths,trucks of Danbury, Connecticut, is thecompanythatprovides theagencywithliquidoxygenand liquidhydrogen. cryogenic sphere tograduallychillitdownfrom normaltemperature toaboutnegative298degrees Fahrenheit. Praxair, Several Praxairtrucksarrivedatthecenterandoffloaded theirliquidoxygen,or LO2, slowly, oneatatime,intothe Space LaunchSystemrocket.” Blackwell-Thompson. “Oneofthemisduringthetankingoperationsascryogenicpropellants are loadedintothe “When Ithinkoflaunchoperations,there are distinctpictures thatcometomind,”saidNASALaunchDirector Charlie rocket onitsfirstuncrewed testflight. to bringthecenterclosersupportinglaunchofagency’s OrionspacecraftatoptheSpaceLaunchSystem cryogenic fuelintoagiantsphere ofthepad.Thetankingoperationisonestepsneeded atthenorthwestcorner The firstmajorintegratedoperationatLaunchPad39BKennedySpaceCenterbeganwiththeinitialtanking ofa LIQUID OXYGENTANKING OPERATIONS BEGINAT LAUNCHPAD 39B corner ofLaunchPad39BatKennedySpaceCenter.corner Photocredit: NASA/KimShiflett Mist orvaporisvisibleSept.26,2017,asaPraxairtruckslowlytransfersitsload ofliquidoxygen(LO2)intoagiantstoragesphere atthenorthwest Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|15 Year inReview 2017Highlights

SEPTEMBERinfrastructure neededtosupportNASA’s toMarsanddeepspaceexplorationgoals. Journey were delayedtwoweeksduetotheimpactofstorm.Theprogram iscontinuingitsdevelopmentofthecritical the storm.Fortunately, HurricaneIrmadidonly minordamagetoEGSworksites.Overall,program operations Coast region ofFloridaonSept.10,2017.ExplorationGround Systems(EGS)tookmanyprecautions toprepare for After reaching theFloridapeninsulaandtraveling upthecenterofstate,HurricaneIrmadevastatedSpace AND RECOVERY HURRICANE IRMAPREP specialists, knownastheRideoutTeam, wasonthecenterasstormapproached andpassed.Photocredit: NASA/BillWhite Hurricane IrmaasthestormpassedKennedyonSeptember10,2017.NASAclosed thecenteraheadofstorm’s onsetandonlyasmallteamof of KennedySpaceCenteronSeptember12,2017.Thesurveywasperformedto identify structures andfacilitiesthatmayhavesustaineddamagefrom The MobileLauncher, LaunchControl Center, Vehicle AssemblyBuildingandLaunchComplex39surrounding areas are seenduringanaerialsurvey Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|16 Year inReview 2017Highlights on the ground toboard theirspacecraft.Theaccessarmwasdelivered toKennedySpace CenteronOct.17,2017,toinstall When astronauts departformissionstodeepspace,theywillcross the Crew AccessArmabout 300feetabovethe KENNEDY SPACE CENTER ARM ARRIVESAT CREW ACCESS ORION will release at liftoff, allowingthe rocket andspacecraft tosafelyclearthelaunch pad. OCTOBERbe assistedbytechnicians into thespacecraftforlaunch.Thearmwillretract before launch,andtheotherconnections future humanmissions,astronauts outfittedwithnewlydesigned spacesuitswillenterthewhite room, where theywill room. Thearmwillprovide entryandemergency egress forastronauts andtechnicians intotheOrionspacecraft.On The armismadeupoftwo major components:thetrussassemblyandenvironmental enclosure, orthewhite the spacecraftduringprocessing and prelaunch integratedtestingwhileintheVAB andatthelaunchsite. For thefirstlaunchwithoutcrew, theaccessarmwill provide abridgetoOrionforpersonneland equipmententering the mobilelauncherwillberolled intotheVAB forvalidation andverificationtests. connection pointstotherocket andspacecraftfrom the toweronmobilelauncher. Aftertechniciansinstallthearm, Building The SLSwillbethelargestrocket intheworldandwillbestackedwithOrioninsidehistoric spacecraft. tower. Photocredit: NASA/Kim Shiflett the 274-footlevelonmobilelaunchertower. ExplorationGround Systemsisoverseeinginstallationofumbilicalsandlaunchaccessoriesonthe 27, 2017.Theaccessarmwastransportedfrom Precision FabricatingandCleaninginCocoa,Florida.Thecrew accessarmwillbelocatedatabout Two heavy-liftcranesare usedtotiltandlowertheOrioncrew accessarmontoaworkstandinstoragelocationatKennedySpaceCenteronOct. mobile launcher , orVAB, onthemobilelauncherandrolled outtothe padpriortolaunch.Theaccessarmwillbeoneof11 inpreparation forthe first flight ofthe Space LaunchSystem rocket, orSLS,andthe Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|17 Vehicle Assembly Orion

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NOVEMBERML towertoprepare forExplorationMission-1.Photocredit: NASA/FrankMichaux Orion crew module.ExplorationGround Systemsisoverseeinginstallationofumbilicalsandlaunchaccessoriesonthe tower. It willrotate from itsretracted positionandinterfacewiththeOrioncrew hatchlocationtoprovide entrytothe Center onNov. 11,2017.Thecrew accessarmwillbeinstalledataboutthe274-footlevelonmobilelauncher A heavy-loadtransporttruckcarryingtheOrioncrew accessarmnearsthemobilelauncher(ML)atKennedySpace MOBILE LAUNCHER ARM TRANSPORTED TO CREW ACCESS ORION Photo credit: NASA/FrankMichaux A heavy-loadtransporttruckcarriestheOrioncrew accessarmtothemobilelauncheratKennedySpaceCenteronNov. 11,2017. Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|18

Year inReview 2017Highlights MILESTONE ARRIVAL MARKS HISTORIC FLIGHT HARDWARE

NOVEMBERthe Moon. thousands ofmilesbeyond needed totraveltensof with theadditionalthrust provide thespacecraft System rocket andwill atop theSpaceLaunch attached, theICPSsits theOrion Mission-1. With the uncrewed Exploration to arriveinpreparation for piece offlighthardware ICPS isthefirstintegrated Center inFlorida.The NASA’s KennedySpace Processing Facilityat bay oftheSpaceStation stands insidethehigh Propulsion Stage(ICPS) the InterimCryogenic Packed insideitscanister, Space StationProcessing Facility atNASA’s KennedySpace CenterinFlorida.Photocredit: NASA/BillWhite Packed insideitscanister, theInterimCryogenicPropulsion Stage(ICPS)standsinsidethehighbayof Exploration GroundSystems (EGS)|19 EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS MAKES A SPLASH AT LAUNCH PAD 39B

About 450,000 gallons of water flowed at high speed from a holding tank through new and modified piping and valves, the flame trench, flame deflector nozzles and mobile launcher interface risers during a wet flow test at Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center. At peak flow, the water reached about 100 feet in the air above the pad surface. The test was a milestone to confirm and baseline the performance of the Ignition Overpressure/Sound Suppression system. During launch of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, the high-speed water flow will help protect the vehicle from the extreme acoustic and temperature environment during ignition and liftoff. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett DECEMBER

National Aeronautics and Space Administration FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF NASA’S EGS PROGRAM: John F. Kennedy Space Center Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 NASA EGS Blog...... blogs.nasa.gov/groundsystems www.nasa.gov Twitter...... twitter.com/nasa_go4launch Facebook...... facebook.com/NASAGOforlaunch SP-2018-01-083-KSC