JANUARY 2015 ORION’S FLIGHT TEST REIGNITES THE WORLD’S LOVE OF SPACE EXPLORATION The powerful Delta IV heavy rocket lit up the launch pad on Dec. 5 as Orion embarked on its first flight test — creating a historic moment for NASA, and reigniting the world’s passion for human space exploration.

Approximately 27,000 people viewed the launch in person at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and beyond the Space Coast, Orion’s reach circled the globe. Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) generated more than 20,000 print, radio and television news stories, more than 150 newspaper front pages, and more than 5 billion social media impressions. In addition, the top trending hashtags on Twitter were #Orion and #JourneytoMars on Dec. 5.

On launch day, NASA TV’s site reached more than 1.2 million people. Celebrities and even Sesame Street characters joined the thousands of people who publicly expressed their support for Orion. Pharrell Williams, William Shatner, Dwight Howard, Nichelle Nichols, Lou Ferrigno and Sesame Street’s cast of characters participated in NASA social media posts, feature stories, and public service announcements supporting Orion’s flight. The “frequent flyer” program provided subscribers with virtual boarding passes to NASA’s missions on the journey to Mars. In only 30 days, this campaign recruited nearly 1.4 million participants who were able to fly their names on Orion’s flight test.

Orion’s flight test was a big step on NASA’s journey to Mars and critical part of sending astronauts deep into space. The overwhelming interest in Orion’s first flight demonstrated that the public continues to be inspired by and supportive of NASA’s human spaceflight accomplishments. u View Sesame Street EFT-1 shareable u Watch celebrity Orion: I’m on Board videos ORION SPACECRAFT NOW IN POST-MISSION

PROCESSING AT On Jan. 6, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, third from right, inspected the Orion spacecraft’s post-flight condition prior to a press briefing. Others, pictured left to right, include Kennedy KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Space Center Associate Director Kelvin Manning, Lockheed Martin Director Paul Cooper and Lockheed Martin Senior Manager Jules Schneider. NASA’s Orion spacecraft is currently going through post- mission processing at Kennedy Space Center. Initial results show the flight test met or exceeded all requirements. Analysis of data obtained during its two-orbit, four-and-a- half hour mission will provide engineers detailed information on how the spacecraft performed and will influence design decisions to ensure safe and successful flights for Orion’s future crewed missions to deep space.

The Lockheed Martin and NASA Orion processing team joined NASA Administrator Charles Bolden in front of the spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 7. THE PATH TO MARS GOES THROUGH BALLY, PENNSYLVANIA

Orion’s launch team gathered for a photo at Kennedy Space Center following splashdown of the spacecraft on its December flight.

At Naval Base San Diego in California, members of the news media had the opportunity to view NASA’s Orion spacecraft in the well deck of the USS Anchorage before it was offloaded and prepared for return to Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the successful flight. During a visit to Bally Ribbon Mills in Bally, Pennsylvania on Jan. 9, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden got a firsthand look at work being done on advanced woven thermal protection systems used on the agency’s Orion spacecraft.

As a manufacturer of high-performance multidimensional (3D) woven materials, Bally Ribbon Mills is weaving the multifunctional thermal protection system padding used to insulate and protect NASA’s Orion spacecraft.

u Read the full story on NASA.GOV

Media coverage from the visit included:

u The Philadelphia Enquirer Employees of Orion’s partner Airbus are shown with a u WFMZ congratulatory message for Orion in front of the Spacelab, also u Lehigh Valley Business a successful cooperation project. u Berks-Mont News EFT-1 PLAQUE HANGING CEREMONY HONORS OUTSTANDING

Employees take photographs of NASA’s Orion spacecraft MISSION CONTROL during a viewing at the Launch Abort System Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 13. OPERATIONS

More than 75 people came to the National Space Club in Huntsville, Alabama to hear NASA Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer and Lockheed Martin Orion Program Manager Mike Hawes give a presentation on the successful Exploration Flight Test-1 mission. The National Space Club is the foremost entity devoted to fostering excellence in space activity through interaction between industry and government, and through a continuing program of educational support.

The Johnson Space Center Landing Support Officer, Instrumentation and Communications Officer and Ground Controller teams were honored during the Exploration Flight Test-1 plaque hanging ceremony in the Blue Flight Control Room at Houston’s Mission Control Center on Dec. 15, 2014. The Public Affairs Office was also recognized. The event was attended by Center Director Ellen Ochoa, NASA Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer, along with other Deputy Center Director Kirk Shireman, Orion Deputy Johnson Space Center program managers, joined Johnson Program Manager Mark Kirasich, Mission Manager Bryan Space Center Director Dr. Ellen Ochoa for a center-wide Austin (Lockheed Martin), Orion Program Manager Mike celebration on Dec. 12 to share with employees and their families the many JSC accomplishments in 2014, including the Hawes (Lockheed Martin) and about 200 flight controllers successful Exploration Flight Test-1. and back room support personnel. SUBSCALE MAIN PARACHUTE WIND TUNNEL TESTING AT AMES

The Orion parachute team and personnel have recently completed a set of 35 subscale main parachute wind tunnel tests at the world’s largest wind tunnel, the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex at NASA Ames Research Center.

Various testing techniques of numerous parachute configurations were conducted at the 80 by 120 foot facility, including tethered and free flight formats, as well as first and second reefing states, each resulting in valuable recorded data. PARACHUTE TESTS DEMONSTRATE MANY “FIRSTS” FOR ORION SYSTEM The test results were evaluated, and incorporated into the parachute designs that will undergo additional subscale main The parachute team successfully completed the Parachute parachute airdrop testing in February. These tests will address Test Vehicle (PTV-9) drop test in Yuma, Arizona on Dec. 18, mitigating a main parachute pendulum phenomenon under 2014. There were 15 parachutes deployed during this test; nine two main parachutes. were test technique related, and six were the Orion system. The primary test objectives included first time demonstration of The airdrop testing in Eloy, Arizona, has started and is many design modifications to the drogue parachutes including scheduled to complete in late February 2015. textile risers and textile reefing loops, first time deployment using the modified drogue mortar configuration, and first- time demonstration of many main parachute system design modifications including the deployment bag, over-inflation control line and shorter riser. VIDEO GIVES ASTRONAUT’S-EYE VIEW INSIDE NASA’S ORION SPACECRAFT

Video recorded during NASA’s Orion spacecraft return through Earth’s atmosphere provides viewers a taste of what the vehicle endured during its flight test.

The video begins 10 minutes before Orion’s 11:29 a.m. Eastern Time splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, just as the spacecraft was beginning to experience Earth’s atmosphere. Peak heating from the friction caused by the atmosphere DOWNLOAD THE NEW DEEP SPACE rubbing against Orion’s heat shield comes less than two PROGRAM APPLICATION minutes later, and the footage shows the plasma created by the interaction change from white to yellow to lavender to Take an up-close look at the critical components of NASA’s magenta as the temperature increases. The video goes on human deep space program with NASA’s new 3-DV mobile to show the deployment of Orion’s parachutes and the final app. See details of NASA’s Orion spacecraft crew module splash as it touches down. or experience the view from the launch platform. u View the video of Orion’s re-entry u Visit NASA.GOV to download the app PRESIDENT OBAMA PRAISES CHIEF ENGINEER JULIE KRAMER-WHITE AND ORION TEAM

BEHIND THE SCENES DURING EFT-1

NASA Public Affairs Officer Brandi Dean interviews NASA Administrator Charles Bolden following the successful Exploration Flight Test-1. The NASA-TV production team produced a live show on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5 to support real-time coverage of Orion’s first flight test. (Rob Navias is pictured below providing Following Orion’s successful Exploration Flight Test-1 launch in commentary during the flight) December, President Obama addressed the Senior Executive Service, thanking them for their outstanding work and recognized Orion Chief Engineer Julie Kramer-White for her work and dedication to the exceptional test flight.

President Obama also said that Kramer-White and the Orion team are helping America launch a new era of space exploration. Her commitment to America’s space program has been unwavering, stemming from a strong work ethic and perseverance developed at a young age. The challenge of human spaceflight has always been a passion for Kramer- White, resulting in a successful career at NASA where she has provided leadership and dedication to all of the human spaceflight programs, including the space shuttle orbiter, the International Space Station, the X-38 vehicle, and now, the Orion Program.

u Watch the President’s Comments

FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF NASA’S NEW SPACECRAFT FOR FEBRUARY: HUMAN EXPLORATION: Administrator Bolden State of NASA address Sub-scale parachute air drop tests in Arizona NASA’s Orion Blog...... Blogs.NASA.gov/Orion

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BOLDEN: “NASA IS FIRMLY ON A JOURNEY TO MARS. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS JOURNEY WILL HELP GUIDE AND DEFINE OUR GENERATION.” ENGINEERS EXAMINE BOLDEN DELIVERS ‘STATE ORION AFTER OF NASA’ ADDRESS AT SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT TEST KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

Engineers across the country have been busy taking a closer In the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building look at NASA’s Orion spacecraft and the data it produced high bay at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA during its successful flight test in December 2014. Inside the Administrator Charles Bolden delivered a “state of the agency” Launch Abort System Facility at Kennedy Space Center in address on Feb. 2 at NASA’s televised fiscal year 2016 budget Florida, Orion was lifted using a special crane for removal of rollout event with Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana its heat shield on Feb. 13. Removing the back shell allows the looking on. Representatives from the Kennedy workforce, team to get a closer look at Orion’s systems to see how they news media and social media were in attendance. NASA’s fared during the trip to space. The heat shield was removed Exploration Flight Test-1 Orion spacecraft was displayed front in preparation for shipment to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight and center, along with the SpaceX Dragon and Boeing CST- Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where special equipment will be 100 spacecraft at its sides. used to remove its ablative material. u Read the full story u Read the full story ORION PARACHUTE TESTING VALIDATES PEAK PERFORMANCE

The Orion Program is improving the safety and reliability of the Orion crew module’s landing by investigating ways to make its main parachutes more aerodynamically stable while maintaining drag performance. As part of that work, a team consisting of NASA, Jacobs Engineering, Airborne Systems, and personnel from the National Full Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) tested 13 different parachute configurations in one of the Complex’s wind tunnels in California. The testing ENGINEERS TESTING was accomplished over a two-week period in early January. SUB-SCALE PARACHUTES During the test, a tether system was used to simultaneously hold the parachute and measure aerodynamic forces to help In the skies of Eloy, Arizona, engineers tested sub-scale determine which parachute configuration provided the best parachutes for NASA’s Orion spacecraft to help improve the performance. The parachute was also allowed to fly freely safety and reliability of the Orion’s landing by investigating in the tunnel. During these free-flights, data was gathered ways to make its main parachutes more aerodynamically using photogrammetry, a way of taking measurements stable while maintaining drag performance, all in preparation using photography, to help determine the aerodynamic for its next mission, Exploration Mission-1. characteristics of the parachute. As a result of the testing, two parachutes were selected for use in follow-on air drop u Read the full story testing in Eloy, Arizona in February. Data from both the wind tunnel and air drop testing will be used to help decide which parachute configuration will be used for future Orion missions that will send astronauts to deep space destinations and return them home safely. WHAT FLEW ON ORION’S MAIDEN VOYAGE?

Orion’s Exploration Flight Test-1 captured the world’s attention of collateral to encourage students to study science and and inspired many about the future of discovery and space space-related subjects. flight. This pride and inspiration will now be carried on through the mementos and keepsakes that flew aboard this historic Several stowage lockers were packed with a diverse collection first flight. To inspire a new generation to look to the stars, of memorabilia gathered from artists, writers, poets, actors, Lockheed Martin, in partnership with NASA, managed the professional organizations and universities – individuals auxiliary equipment manifest. inspired by the pure potential of the Orion spacecraft’s future missions into deep space. A majority of the over 7,400 items Lockheed Martin received artifacts from many organizations, flown on the spacecraft included an assortment of flags, coins, including industry trade associations, higher education pins and commemorative mission patches, but several unique institutions and museums. Also, STEM/STEAM (science, items flew onboard as well. technology, engineering, (arts) and mathematics) advocates, including several celebrities, contributed a significant amount u Find out what flew EDUCATORS SEEC OUT SPACE EXPLORATION

On Feb. 6, Congressman Brian Babin, Texas 36th district, was toured through the Orion mockup at Johnson Space Center by Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer.

More than 80 science and math teachers from across the country toured the Orion spacecraft mockup at the ORION TAKES PART IN ALL HANDS AT MSFC Lockheed Martin Exploration Development Lab as part of Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer participates in the monthly the 21st Annual Space Exploration Educators Conference All Hands meeting Feb. 11 at Marshall Space Flight Center hosted by Space Center Houston Feb. 5-7. More than in Huntsville, Alabama. Geyer is joined by Space Launch 350 teachers participated in the event themed “The Next System Program Manager Todd May; NASA Exploration Systems Development Director Bill Hill; and Ground Systems Giant Leap,” which included workshops and hands-on Development and Operations Division Manager Mike Bolger demonstrations focused on human space exploration. (shown left to right). Orion Program Chief Engineer Julie Kramer-White spoke on a panel, while Space Launch System and Exploration System Development representatives from Marshall Space Flight Center and Johnson Space Center supported program progress talks, hands-on demonstrations and educational break-out panel discussions.

ORION MAKES HEADLINES During Lockheed Martin’s sixth annual Media Day on Feb. 18, Michael Hawes, Lockheed Martin Orion program manager and vice president, presented a briefing focused GOOD GOLLY! IT’S MOLLY! on the results of Orion’s first space flight and progress Orion engineer Molly White was recently featured in an article in being made toward Exploration Mission-1. Resulting the Washington Post. media coverage focused on potential design modifications u Read about her work on Orion and progress. u Read the full story SEVENTH-GRADE SCIENCE LOVER HELPS BRING PAST AND FUTURE TOGETHER ON-BOARD ORION’S FIRST FLIGHT The Orion program shared 5 Super Bowl space day fun facts during the big game on Feb. 1. This fun fact asks followers how they would travel from Boston to Seattle. Traveling by Orion was the clear winner!

In a feat that has not been achieved since the last mission to the moon, a relic from Earth was flown into deep space on a spacecraft built to carry humans into deep space, traveling farther from Earth than any since Apollo 17 in 1972. The groundwork started in Mineral Wells, Texas, when Anna @NASA_Astronauts were invited to be Orion’s Marceca, a seventh grader from Bedford, Texas, found a crinoid #Valentine this past Feb. 14. The three-part Valentine’s fossil in Mineral Wells Fossil Park and passed it on to NASA at Day card series was a huge hit with Orion Program an agency event. followers and drew a lot of attention to the program’s partnerships with ESA, SLS, and Orion’s future crew. u Read the full story

FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF NASA’S NEW SPACECRAFT FOR MARCH: HUMAN EXPLORATION: Orion recognition events Crew Module Interface Structural Test Article NASA’s Orion Blog...... Blogs.NASA.gov/Orion

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NASA’S ORION SPACECRAFT CONTINUES ON THE AGENCY’S JOURNEY TO MARS NASA’S ORION FLIGHT TEST YIELDS CRITICAL DATA AS ENGINEERS REFINE SPACECRAFT FOR NEXT MISSION

NASA’s Orion spacecraft continues on the agency’s journey In March, the heat shield was delivered to NASA’s Marshall to Mars as engineers analyze data from the spacecraft’s Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where the ablative December flight test and make progress developing and material on the heat shield is being removed. From there, the building the spacecraft for its first mission atop NASA’s Space heat shield structure will be shipped to the agency’s Langley Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket. On future missions, Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, where it will be reused Orion will transport astronauts to an asteroid and onward on a test capsule for water impact testing. toward the Red Planet. Evaluating how the thermal protection system fared during At machine shops across the country, elements of the primary Orion’s reentry wasn’t the only critical objective of the flight. structure for the next Orion to fly in space are coming together. The test also provided important insight into key separation Avionics components are being built and simulators for the events, including whether the Launch Abort System and ESA (European Space Agency) built service module that will protective fairings came off at the right times, how effectively house the spacecraft’s propulsion and power systems are the parachutes slowed Orion during descent, and how the being delivered. By early next year, engineers plan to have the operations to recover Orion from the Pacific Ocean progressed. primary structure for Orion’s next mission to NASA’s Kennedy Orion’s flight test yielded millions of elements of data, every Space Center in Florida for processing. Meanwhile, every piece of which is providing unique insight into how to piece of data and each element of the spacecraft flown in the improve the spacecraft’s design so that it can safely transport December test is being analyzed and compared to pre-flight astronauts on their way to Mars and bring them home. models to improve Orion’s design. u Read the full story ADVANCEMENTS IN THERMAL PROTECTION MATERIALS CHANGE THE GAME FOR ORION

Just as old clunky ink jet printers from the 1990s evolved into today’s state-of-the-art 3-D printers, thermal protection materials used on NASA spacecraft are getting a facelift—a major three-dimensional one.

Engineers used the original material, called two-dimensional carbon phenolic, in the past on the space shuttle to protect it ASTRONAUT SPACESUIT from the rocket flames during launch, on planetary exploration probes and on the 10-inch disc-shaped compression pads on TESTING FOR ORION NASA’s Orion spacecraft, which flew in space on its first flight SPACECRAFT test in December 2014.

Engineers and technicians at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston are testing the spacesuit astronauts will wear in the agency’s Orion spacecraft on trips to deep space. On March 17, members of the Johnson team participated in a vacuum pressure integrated suit test to verify enhancements to the suit will meet test and design standards for the Orion spacecraft. During this test, the suit is connected to life support systems and then air is removed from Johnson’s 11-foot thermal vacuum chamber to evaluate the performance of the suits in conditions similar to a spacecraft.

The suit, known as the modified advanced crew escape suit, is a closed-loop version of the launch and entry suits worn by space shuttle astronauts. The suit will contain all the But for Orion’s next flight and on the journey to Mars, engineers necessary functions to support life and is being designed to have developed a more efficient material to replace carbon enable spacewalks and sustain the crew in the unlikely event phenolic called three-dimensional multi-functional ablative the spacecraft loses pressure. thermal protection (3D-MAT).

This is the first in a series of four tests with people in the suits The material was developed by NASA’s Ames Research Center to evaluate the performance of the spacesuit systems in an in Moffett Field, California, in collaboration with Bally Ribbon environment similar to a spacecraft. Mills in Bally, Pennsylvania, and San Diego Composites in San Diego, California, for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). STMD funded the incremental maturation of the novel technology from investigation of the basic concept through proof-of-concept performance testing in the severe thermal environment expected for Orion’s future missions.

u Read the full story SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS HOSTS AEROJET ROCKETDYNE KEYNOTE SPEAKER Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Chief Systems Engineer for the Orion crew and service module propulsion elements, Katherine (Katie) Dommer, was the keynote speaker at the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) region H conference on March 7. As the largest region of SWE, the conference, which was hosted by the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, drew about 500 collegiate and 200 professional SWE engineers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. SEE ORION UP CLOSE AT SPACE CENTER HOUSTON

Lockheed Martin recently moved a full-scale Orion mockup to Space Center Houston where more than 800,000 visitors each year will have the opportunity to see how astronauts will travel into deep space aboard NASA’s new Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket. The crew module mockup is on loan to the visitor center through an in-kind agreement with Lockheed Martin, which used the mockup for crew fit, form and function evaluations as well as other spacecraft testing at the company’s Exploration Development Lab in Houston. Plans are currently in work to design and create an exhibit around the crew module that explains the story of how NASA will launch astronauts on a series of human exploration missions throughout our solar system to ultimately establish a human presence on Mars.

ORBITAL ATK COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL ATTITUDE CONTROL MOTOR HIGH PRESSURE VALVE TEST

On March 4, Orbital ATK completed another milestone in the ACM for crewed flight missions. The test was a structural the development of the attitude control motor (ACM) for overtest, conducted at 140 percent of the maximum expected Orion’s Launch Abort System, with the successful test of the operating pressure and was designed to push the limits of high-thrust valve. The motor contains a series of eight fully silicon carbide-infused carbon-carbon valve components. proportional high-thrust valves which regulate the nozzle flow The initial test data showed the motor fired and responded as from the solid rocket motor to safely stabilize Orion in the event predicted. of a launch abort. The valve test was part of a design, analysis and test series focused on reducing risk prior to qualifying u Watch the test video TEXAS CAPITOL ENJOYS SPACE INVASION

NASA and aerospace industry partners traveled to the State Capitol in Austin, Texas, March 2-3, for Space Day 2015 events to inform Texas legislators and Capitol guests about Johnson Space Center’s (JSC) role in space exploration and its economic impact in Texas.

Representatives from NASA and Lockheed Martin supported events with colleagues from other programs such as the International Space Station, Commercial Crew Program, Engineering, Exploration Integration and Science Directorate and the Strategic Partnership Office.

The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership members who represent many of the JSC contractor community also Lockheed Martin representatives participated in statewide scheduled visits with all of the state senate and representative Space Day celebrations around the country in Austin, Texas; offices for personal briefings with staffers and members. Tallahassee, Florida; Sacramento, California; Montgomery, Alabama; and Denver, Colorado. These events included exhibits, hands-on demonstrations, presentations on space exploration u Read the full story as well as personal visits with state legislative staffers and members. Pictured here is Joe Mayer in Tallahassee, FL. NASA SOCIAL MEDIA WINS SHORTY AWARD FOR BEST IN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

In December 2014, NASA hosted one of its biggest social work to send humans to Mars, was used more than 20,000 campaigns ever around Orion’s flight test. The team hosted times on Twitter, a 100x factor over our routine social media a multi-center NASA Social with hundreds participating from posts. There were more than 500,000 tweets inspired by nine locations coast-to-coast. To build excitement for the test, Orion's test the day of launch, reaching a potential 3.7 billion the team produced a significant amount of online content – users online, and more than 1 million total online posts in the from the "Trial by Fire" video viewed over 700,000 times on seven days prior to the test. During the test, Orion trended first YouTube, to a campaign encouraging the public to submit in the U.S. their name to fly on a microchip on Orion's historic flight. The #JourneyToMars hashtag, which helps communicate NASA’s u Read the full story

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF EXPLORATION FLIGHT TEST-1

NASA and Lockheed Martin Orion Program managers kicked Washington (not pictured); Systima Technologies in Bothell, off a series of visits to NASA centers and Orion suppliers in Washington; Janicki Industries in Sedro-Woolley, Washington; March to thank employees for their contributions to the NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans; NASA’s successful Exploration Flight Test-1. March visits included Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama; United Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, California; Aerojet Rocketdyne Launch Alliance in Decatur, Alabama; NASA’s Langley Research in Sacramento, California and Redmond, Washington; NASA’s Center in Hampton, Virginia; NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California; NASA’s Jet Center in Greenbelt, Maryland and NASA Headquarters in Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California; Orbital ATK Washington, D.C. in Commerce, California and Promontory, Utah; Airborne Systems in Santa Ana, California; General Dynamics in Bothell,

NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER NASA HEADQUARTERS NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER

NASA MICHOUD ASSEMBLY FACILITY AEROJET ROCKETDYNE-REDMOND

ORBITAL ATK-COMMERCE NASA MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

AEROJET ROCKETDYNE-SACRAMENTO SYSTIMA TECHNOLOGIES NASA JET PROPULSION LABORATORY JANICKI INDUSTRIES

NASA LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER AIRBORNE SYSTEMS

UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE-DECATUR LOCKHEED MARTIN-SUNNYVALE

ORBITAL ATK-UTAH Orion engineers Stu McClung and Paul Boehm had the Orion team members Joe Mayer and Molly White (shown here) opportunity to mentor a team of NASA Community College staffed the Exploration Systems Development area in the NASA Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) during a workshop March 25-27. booth at the 2015 South by Southwest Conference in Austin, NCAS gives community college science, technology, engineering Texas, March 15-18 and shared the Orion story with hundreds and math (STEM) students an authentic NASA experience and of people from across the country. encourages them to pursue a NASA-related career.

On March 19, Johnson Space Center Director Ellen Ochoa Orion Assistant Program Manager Paul Marshall and Lockheed presented the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with a belt Martin engineer Cynthia Hudy gave an Orion overview to Texas buckle that traveled 63,000 miles on the first flight of NASA’s legislators and staff from the Bay Area and Galveston during Orion spacecraft. The presentaion showed thanks for their their visit to Johnson Space Center’s Space Vehicle Mockup support of the Texas Aerospace Scholars Program. Facility on March 6.

FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF NASA’S NEW SPACECRAFT FOR APRIL: HUMAN EXPLORATION: Orion recognition events Orion spacecraft testing underway for EM-1 NASA’s Orion Blog...... Blogs.NASA.gov/Orion

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ORION SPACECRAFT DEVELOPMENT PROGRESSES TOWARDS EXPLORATION MISSION-1 A Battery Charge Control Card cycles through the pre-heat Front Page: A Backplane Interface Card proceeds through “touch phase during a connector solder operation using a single-point up” after completing frame bonding, which used a new automated solder machine. adhesive dispensing process.

BUILDING ORION FOR EXPLORATION MISSION-1

While the Orion team analyzes and assesses data from the Parachute drop test data led to design enhancements successful Exploration Flight Test-1, the production, testing resulting in savings to cost, mass and schedule on the and qualification for the next test flight, Exploration Mission development of Orion’s parachute system. (EM)-1 is underway. EM-1 will demonstrate the Orion spacecraft’s capability to safely transport humans to the far Ammonia tanks for the service module are in early fabrication side of the moon and then back to Earth. and testing stages. Avionics systems have been delivered, including more than 16,000 cells for the solar cell hardware. The Orion team is working with our European Space Agency partner and prime contractor, Airbus on mass A structural test article has been fabricated for the Service savings, subsytem designs and procurements in support Module testing to be conducted at NASA’s Plum Brook of EM-1 and EM-2. The team completed the Preliminary Station facility in Ohio. Pathfinding operations during the Design Review last fall and is scheduling the Critical Design crew module adaptor test article manufacturing refined the Review for later this year. processes for the flight hardware assembly, including the use of 3-D printing for simple drill plates. Additionally, the crew module team has successfully completed structural qualification testing to support EM-1 Near-term EM-1 testing includes a single spacecraft adapter design and mass savings for Orion’s backbone, aft bulkhead separation test planned for June at Lockheed Martin’s to backbone interface and thermal protection system. Sunnyvale, California, facility. In addition, the Lockheed Martin Integrated Test Laboratory at the Waterton facility in Colorado High-thrust testing on the launch abort system Attitude is being completely modified and remodeled for exploration Control Motor valves was completed to further advance the mission equipment and avionics testing starting this summer. emergency crew escape system. ORION’S WINDOWS PROVIDE NEW OUTLOOK FOR SPACECRAFT’S FUTURE

When astronauts travel to an asteroid and toward Mars in NASA’s Orion spacecraft, they’ll get a tremendous view of their deep space destinations and of Earth through the spacecraft’s windows. NASA engineers are making sure those windows will be more structurally sound, lighter and cheaper than on previous spacecraft.

On spacefaring vehicles like the space shuttle and the International Space Station that have enabled humans to push the boundaries of exploration, windows have typically been made of multiple panes of glass. Orion is being developed to include interior panes of an acrylic plastic material, a change that is improving the windows’ integrity.

During the early stages of Orion development, a polycarbonate material was considered for some of the interior window panes, but it didn’t have the demanding optical properties needed for high resolution imagery. The acrylic material that has since been chosen for the spacecraft was selected because it provides a clear view and also has an inherent strength that can be quantified.

Acrylic panes flew in space during Orion’s first flight test in December 2014, and engineers will further test the thermal integrity of acrylic panes this year to determine whether Orion can move to windows made of two acrylic panes and one glass pane.

The work being done to incorporate acrylic panes into Orion is also helping to make the spacecraft lighter. Because the structural integrity is enhanced, and an inadvertent scratch or other damage to it won’t jeopardize its strength, a multitude of panes isn’t needed to provide redundancy. Reducing the number of panes in the Orion windows not only reduces the collective weight, but the acrylic material also is half as dense and doesn’t weigh as much as glass. u Read the full story Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer, third from the right, receiving the RNASA 2015 Late Career Award.

ORION PROGRAM EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The Orion Program was honored by several national On April 24, the Orion Program had a stellar night at the organizations in April for excellence in technical innovation, 2015 Rotary National Award for Space Achievement program leadership and community outreach efforts (RNASA) awards event held in Houston. The gala honored that helped reignite the world’s excitement in human the 2015 National Space Trophy winner Col. Bob Cabana, exploration of deep space. Director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Space Foundation awarded the NASA/Industry Each year, RNASA presents Stellar Awards for individual Orion EFT1 Outreach Team the prestigious 2015 Douglas and team achievements from the government, military S. Morrow Public Outreach Award, a national honor and industry. To ensure recognition of individuals at all awarded for significant contributions to public awareness stages of their careers, nominations are solicited in four and understanding of space programs. The award was categories: early career, mid-career, late-career and teams. presented at the opening ceremony of the foundation’s The nominations are reviewed by a panel of distinguished 31st annual Space Symposium held in Colorado Springs, scientists, engineers, managers and academicians who Colorado, April 13-16. select the winners based on whose accomplishments hold the greatest promise for furthering future activities in space.

Elliott Pulham, CEO of Space Foundation presents the NASA/ Industry Orion EFT1 Outreach Team with the 2015 Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award. Accepting on behalf of the team are Barbara Zelon, NASA Orion Program Communications; Dr. Roosevelt Johnson, deputy associate administrator for NASA Education; Linda Singleton, Lockheed Martin Program Office; and Allison Rakes, Lockheed Martin Communications. NASA ORION PROGRAM LOCKHEED MARTIN 2015 STELLAR AWARD ORION PROGRAM WINNERS: 2015 STELLAR AWARD WINNERS:

Frank Bremer - Early Career winner for technical excellence and extraordinary achievement contributing to the development and qualification of the Orion Crew Module propulsion system for NASA’s historic Exploration Flight Test-1.

Ismael Gonzales - Mid Career winner for the design, development, and test of the state-of-the-art automated vehicle management system for the Orion spacecraft.

Mark Geyer – Late Career winner for exemplary leadership in planning and executing Exploration Flight Test-1, the first beyond earth orbit Colin D. Sipe – Mid Career winner for developing flight in the nation’s new human space exploration program. cutting-edge composite material for the Orion spacecraft upper aeroshell subsystem, critical for crew protection on future deep-space missions.

Renee Marie Spinhirne - Mid Career winner for technical leadership and successful execution of the integrated test campaign for avionics and system testing for EFT-1.

George E. Cain - Late Career winner for advancing the design and development of liquid propulsion systems for NASA’s deep-space human exploration spacecraft achieving significant improvements in affordability and schedule.

Julie Kramer White – Mid Career winner for outstanding technical contributions to human space flight as the Orion Multi-Purpose Mark Caron of UTC Aerospace Systems – Late Career Crew Vehicle chief engineer. winner for exceptional technical skills and engineering leadership in developing systems to enable human space travel on-board the International Space Station, Orion, and Boeing CST-100.

Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 Industry Team for the successful spaceflight test of NASA’s first interplanetary spacecraft designed for human exploration of our solar system.

Orion Hardware Development Team for innovative development and manufacturing of a new spacecraft design for future deep-space exploration missions.

Orion EFT-1 NASA Management Team of NASA Johnson Space u Photos and complete list of 2015 RNASA winners Center (represented by Mark Kirasich) for the successful leadership of the Joint Government-Industry Team to accomplish EFT-1 while advancing management innovations and improving affordability. SHORT FILM DELIVERS FUTURISTIC STORY ABOUT EXPLORATION POEM BY AMERICAN MATRIARCH On April 22, Lockheed Martin and the New Mexico Film Foundation hosted the debut of “Delivery from Earth” at FLOWN ON ORION the Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The short film is about the first human born on another planet PRESENTED TO NASA and was produced by filmmaker Michael Becker. ADMINISTRATOR

In addition to the film premiere, Larry Price, Lockheed While the Exploration Flight Test-1 mission in December Martin Orion deputy program manager, presented Keith 2014 tested thousands of hardware and software Gardner, chief of staff for New Mexico State Governor elements, Orion also carried with it several mementos and Susana Martinez, the New Mexico state flag which recently commemorative items to mark the spacecraft’s march flew on the Orion spacecraft’s first flight on Dec. 5, 2014. toward enabling human deep space exploration, including poetry written by American poet Dr. Maya Angelou. “Delivery from Earth” was selected as the winner of a New Mexico Film Foundation competition that awarded a Text of Angelou’s poem, A Brave and Startling Truth flown $5,000 grant sponsored by Lockheed Martin to encourage on Orion was presented on April 6 to NASA Administrator independent film makers in New Mexico to create a Charles Bolden during a ceremony at the agency’s short film about deep space exploration. The foundation Headquarters in Washington. and space industry experts, including astronaut Bruce McCandless II who was the first person to walk in space Angelou was a renowned and influential American voice. untethered to a space vehicle, evaluated 30 submissions to She was a celebrated poet, memoirist, educator and civil choose a winner. rights activist, and passed away a few months before Orion’s flight test. The competition was created to inspire nontraditional audiences with the thrill of human exploration in deep space. During the ceremony, Bolden was joined by Angelou’s son, This creative and compelling film reaches new audiences— Guy B. Johnson, and grandsons Elliott Jones and Colin A. exciting them about the endless possibilities that lie ahead Johnson. Lockheed Martin Orion Program Manager Mike as human presence extends throughout the solar system. Hawes was also present at the ceremony. u Watch the film u Read the full story ORION PROGRAM SMALL BUSINESSES HIGHLIGHTED IN NEW BOOK

Lockheed Martin’s Orion Program Small Business Advocate Michelle Butzke worked closely with NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs to produce a booklet released in May entitled “ORION - NASA’s Deep Space Human Exploration Spacecraft: A Case for Small Business.” This publication highlights the amazing accomplishments and extraordinary efforts of over 800 small businesses located across 47 states that have contributed to the Orion program. These companies have provided an array of products and services to support the program, from heat shields and thermal protection systems, to engineering and procurement services—not to mention fasteners, media converter boxes, radiators, thermal/pressure windowpanes, and forward bay cover thrusters.

Thirty Orion small business subcontractors were selected to be featured as a representation of the numerous high- tech firms that enable NASA to complete its missions. These companies performed well under rigorous standards, and due to their success, have witnessed growth in revenue, personnel, and organizational capabilities. Several of these small businesses have received various awards and recognitions, including NASA’s Agency-Level Small Business Industry Awards, the Johnson Space Center Small Business Industry Award, and Lockheed Martin’s Rigel Award.

NASA will use this booklet to illustrate the Agency’s commitment to small business and show the public the high tech work that they do for NASA. Hard copies of this publication will be distributed by NASA at conferences and Industry Day events. Butzke talks with small business representatives at the NASA HBCU/MI (Historically Black Colleges or Universities and Minority u Read online Institutions) Industry Day in Huntsville, Alabama. SITE VISITS TO THANK ORION EMPLOYEES CONTINUE

Kennedy Space Center, Glenn Research Center, Paragon Space Development, Textron Defense Systems, General Dynamics Mission Systems Honeywell Aerospace

On April 29, Lockheed Martin Orion Program Manager Mike Hawes was Photo of New Mexico Gov. Chief of Staff with framed New Mexico flag a featured panelist on human exploration at the Milken Institute Global flown on EFT-1 presented to the State of New Mexico by Lockheed Martin. Conference panel for a discussion entitled: “Expanding our Frontiers: How Standing left to right: Scott Norris, Lockheed Martin Business Development; Manned Spaceflight Can Change Your Future.” NASA, Boeing and Aerojet Larry Price, Lockheed Martin Orion deputy program manager; Keith Gardner, Rocketdyne also had representatives on the panel. NM Gov. chief of staff; Michael Becker, film contest winner; Peter Ives, Santa Fe Mayor Pro Tem; Dirk Norris, President, New Mexico Film Foundation. UAE STUDENTS MEET WITH ORION ENGINEERS

Orion’s Stu McClung was one of the featured speakers at the 12th Annual Science and Technology Expo on April 24 at the College of Southern Nevada. The event, which saw more than 2,500 attendees, promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs to help prepare students Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company supported science, for future careers. McClung, along with retired astronaut Col. technology, engineering and math (STEM) related activities Lee Archambault, spoke with the students in attendance. March 30-April 2 for twelve 19-year-old United Arab Emirates Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) commented about NASA’s presence students from the Arab Youth Venture Foundation. The event at the event. was coordinated with the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the Astronaut Memorial Foundation and included u Read comments an Orion/ Space Exploration Radiation Shielding Engineering Design workshop.

u Read the full story Aerospace America published a cover story highlighting Orion’s advanced human factor designs. The article highlights Congratulations to Orion’s Scott Wilson for being recognized by improvements that have been the Herkimer County Legislature for his contributions to NASA. made since the Apollo era. u Read the full story u Read the full story

FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF NASA’S NEW SPACECRAFT FOR MAY: HUMAN EXPLORATION: First Crew Module pathfinder weld EFT-1 Heat Shield analysis at Marshall NASA’s Orion Blog...... Blogs.NASA.gov/Orion

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ORION MOCKUP ARRIVES AT THE LOCKHEED MARTIN INTEGRATED TEST LAB IN COLORADO WELDING UNDERWAY ON EM-1 ORION PATHFINDER

On May 7, engineers at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans began welding together the first pieces of the structure of the Orion crew module pathfinder. This pathfinder is a full-scale version of the current spacecraft design. It is used to demonstrate the manufacturing and assembly procedures that will be used to produce the actual flight hardware. Using a pathfinder allows engineers to make sure those procedures work correctly and to improve the process before producing the flight article. This pathfinder will help NASA prepare for Orion’s first flight atop the agency’s Space Launch System rocket. The elements of the hardware that will actually fly on Exploration Mission-1 will be joined this summer. u Read the full story

RIGHT: The forward bulkhead and the tunnel pieces of the Orion crew module pathfinder prior to welding at Michoud Assembly Facility.

ABOVE: The forward bulkhead wleded to the tunnel. LOCKHEED MARTIN COMPLETES ORION MOCKUP FOR RISK REDUCTION TESTING

Engineers at Lockheed Martin’s Waterton facility completed construction of the Orion crew module and crew module adapter full-scale mockup. The mockup was transferred to the Orion Test Lab on May 13 for installation of harnessing, electrical power, sensors, avionics and flight software needed to support Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1). Orion’s team of engineers will use the mockup to verify the configuration of these vehicle components QUARTERBACKING FOR for EM-1 which ultimately saves assembly time and THE FUTURE reduces risk. The mockup will then be connected to hardware emulations of the full EM-1 stack (crew module, Nujoud Merancy of the NASA Orion Program participated European Service Module, second stage booster, Space in the Beating the Odds Foundation’s Quarterbacks of Launch System and ground support equipment. Once Life: EFT-1 Student Design Challenge Event at NASA connected, the team will simulate and test every aspect Headquarters on May 7. The educational program is of the EM-1 mission from launch to splash down. integrated into a school’s academic curriculum and is designed to support and promote student success. The u Read the full story event coordinators chose to focus this year’s research project on a slightly modified version of the Exploration Design Challenge. u Read more about Exploration Design Challenge

Paul Marshall, NASA Orion assistant program manager gave a presentation about the spacecraft to hundreds of students at his alma mater, Pueblo East High School in Pueblo, Colorado. Above, Paul Marshall presents a flag, flown on Orion’s first flight in 2014, to Assistant Principal Sulema James. u Read the full story SPACE FOUNDATION LAUNCHES LOCKHEED MARTIN SPACE EDUCATION CENTER

NASA and Lockheed Martin Orion program representatives Larry Price, Paul Marshall and Barbara Zelon attended the Lockheed Martin Space Education Center dedication event on May 12. Kathy Tobey, Lockheed Martin vice president of special programs, spoke at the center’s formal dedication event at the Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Local elected officials and military officers also attended the event, during which Tobey presented an American flag flown on Orion’s first high orbital test flight -- EFT-1.The center was made possible with a grant from Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. u Read the full story HOUSTON… WE HAVE RECOGNITION! Members of the Orion team in Houston were honored with several NASA Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 recognition awards during an event held at Space Center Houston on May 20. Team, individual and leadership awards were presented by Orion Program Managers Mark Geyer and Mark Kirasich of NASA and Mike Hawes of Lockheed Martin. A flag flown on EFT-1 was also presented to Johnson Space Center Director Ellen Ochoa and a commemorative poster signed by many of the Orion team members was presented by Orion engineer Carlos Garcia-Galan to Geyer and Hawes (shown here).

LOCKHEED MARTIN EARNS JSC FUTURAMIC BRINGS THE FUTURE HONOR FOR SMALL BUSINESS OF SPACEFLIGHT TO MICHIGAN INITIATIVES

Lockheed Martin received the JSC Prime Contractor of the Orion and Space Launch System supplier Futuramic Year Award on May 14, at a ceremony held at Johnson Tool & Engineering hosted an open house event at their Space Center in Houston. Lockheed Martin was recognized facility in Warren, Michigan, on May 15, to showcase for its work with more than 800 small businesses in 47 states their contributions to NASA’s new space vehicles that will that have contributed to the Orion program. Lockheed Martin support deep space human exploration of our solar system. Orion Small Business Advocate Michelle Butzke accepted the More than 300 employees attended the event along with award on behalf of the team. Pictured here are (left to right) media and several VIP guests including Michigan’s U.S. Billy Autry, JSC Associate Director for Procurement; Butzke; senators, NASA SLS Stages Manager Steve Doering, and Melanie Saunders, JSC Associate Center Director. Lockheed Martin Vice President & General Manager of Civil Space Wanda Sigur, Boeing Vice President & SLS Program u NASA Deep Space Human Exploration Spacecraft Manager John Shannon and Orbital ATK Vice President of u Orion: A Case For Small Business Space Systems Charlie Precourt. NASA BLENDS SCIENCE FICTION WITH SCIENCE FACT AT COMICPALOOZA

Orion Chief Engineer Julie Kramer White spoke with media about Orion’s EFT-1 heat shield during a media day at Marshall Space Flight Center on May 12.

Like a throng of caped crusaders responding to calls of distress, thousands of comic enthusiasts descended upon the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston for the 2015 Comicpalooza event. Known as one of the biggest annual multi-format conventions in the southwest region of the United States, Comicpalooza attracts comic and pop culture fans from across the country.

The Orion “I’m on Board” public service announcement, The NASA exhibit at this event featured the latest news and starring Lou Ferrigno, recently won the prestigious Telly Award. highlights from the International Space Station, Orion and Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards honors outstanding video Space Launch System programs. NASA exhibit staffers were a and film productions. Pictured left to right are the video’s big hit at this event as they provided hands-on demonstrations creators: Greg Wiseman, Charles Clendaniel, John Streeter and of the latest in robotics technology and participated on several Ed Toma of Johnson Space Center’s External Relations Office . panel presentations.

FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF NASA’S NEW SPACECRAFT FOR JUNE: HUMAN EXPLORATION: Deputy Administrator Dr. Newman visits Orion Fairing Separation Test at Lockheed Martin NASA’s Orion Blog...... Blogs.NASA.gov/Orion

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ORION CREW MODULE ADAPTER SIMULATOR ARRIVES AT NASA GLENN’S SPACE POWER FACILITY NASA GEARS UP TO TEST ORION’S POWERHOUSE NASA is getting ready for a series of tests that will check endures vibration from the noise it will experience during the out Orion’s service module, a critical part of the spacecraft rocket’s powerful liftoff. that will launch atop the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on future missions to an asteroid and Mars. The testing campaign at Plum Brook Station will continue The testing, which will take place at NASA Glenn’s Plum for most of 2016. Once complete, the stacked structural Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, began with the arrival of test articles will be sent to Lockheed Martin’s facility in a crew module adapter simulator on June 22. The crew Sunnyvale, California, where hardware and software module adapter connects the European Space Agency- simulating other parts of Orion will be integrated before provided service module to the Orion crew module. undergoing additional structural tests. Testing on structural representations allows engineers to make sure flight The testing will simulate launch and ascent acoustic and hardware is properly built and will perform to NASA’s crew mechanical vibrations. Technicians will use a large vibration safety and flight requirements. table to mimic the shaking the service module will experience when SLS boosts Orion into space and then test how it u Read the full story

The Space Power Facility at NASA Glenn’s Plum Brook A 22-foot-wide, 55,000-pound vibration-simulating table was Station will be used in upcoming testing for Orion’s service delivered to NASA Glenn’s Space Power Facility at Plum Brook module. Within the vacuum chamber, it is possible to perform Station in October 2014. It uses four horizontal servo-hydraulic development and flight qualification testing of full-scale space- actuators and 16 vertical to vibrate the table in such a way flight systems in vacuum and temperature environments that a spacecraft set on top of it would experience the same ranging from low Earth orbit to deep space to planetary amount of shaking that it could expect when launching on top surface conditions. of a rocket. Serving as Orion’s protector, the heat shield is designed ORION HEAT SHIELD to keep astronauts and the spacecraft safe from the heat it COMPLETES JOURNEY experiences when reentering the Earth’s atmosphere. TO LANGLEY The 16.5-foot diameter heat shield arrived at Langley in the early hours of June 4, in preparation for water-impact tests After enduring searing temperatures near 4,000 degrees next year. During testing, engineers will integrate the heat Fahrenheit during Orion’s first flight test in December 2014, shield onto an Orion crew module mockup and drop-test the the spacecraft’s heat shield will be treated to a splash of cooler spacecraft to simulate scenarios for parachute landings with environmental testing at the Hydro Impact Basin at NASA different wind conditions and wave heights the spacecraft Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. could experience when landing in the Pacific Ocean on future missions.

Prior to its arrival at Langley, the heat shield traveled through space and then from the West Coast to the East Coast, making stops at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.

Engineers from Marshall, Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, and Johnson Space Center in Houston took samples of the heat shield’s outer material, known as Avcoat, which burns away when heated and keeps the spacecraft’s crew cabin cool and comfortable inside. The samples will be used to examine the char layers and degree of erosion during Orion’s first mission.

View time-lapse imagery of the heat shield at Marshall as u Read the full story technicians remove it from the seven-axis milling machine to a tractor for shrink-wrapping and shipment: http://bit.ly/1JojaZo

ORION PROGRAM LEADERSHIP RECEIVE NASA AGENCY HONOR AWARDS

Orion Program managers were honored on June 2 at the 2015 NASA Agency Honor Awards. NASA’s Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer and Manager of Production Operations for the Orion Program Scott Wilson were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and Lockheed Martin’s Roger McNamara awarded the Distinguished Public Service Medal. These are NASA’s most prestigious honor awards and are presented to a number of carefully selected individuals and groups, both government and non-government, who have distinguished themselves by making outstanding contributions to the Agency’s mission. u Watch the entire ceremony Pictured left to right: NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Manager of Production Operations for the Orion Program Scott Wilson, and NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot. NASA Deputy Administrator Dr. Dava Newman toured the Orion mockup on June 8 with Program Manager Mark Geyer, following her all hands discussion with employees at Johnson Space Center in Houston. She also visited the Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building and the Exploration Flight Test-1 crew module during her tour of Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 26.

SUPPLIER VISITS CONTINUE FOR EFT-1 POST FLIGHT RECOGNITION NASA and Lockheed Martin representatives conducted supplier these events included: Tom Whitmeyer, assistant deputy visits and Exploration Flight Test-1 post flight recognition events associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development; at Major Tool & Machine in Indianapolis, Indiana (top left) and Karen McNamara, deputy Orion program executive; and Mark Ingersoll Machine Tools in Rockford, Illinois (top right), on June Kirasich, Orion deputy program manager. 11-12. Major Tool & Machine is building one of three cone panels for Exploration Mission-1 (pathfinder cone lower left) u Local news stories from the visits and Ingersoll is machining the aft bulkhead, the bottom section rrstar.com WIFR.com of the pressure vessel (lower right). NASA executives attending ORION BACKSHELL HIGH SCHOOL AEROSPACE PANEL DISPLAYED AT SCHOLARS AT SPACE THE PARIS AIR SHOW CENTER HOUSTON

The Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 backshell panel was a NASA Orion engineer Bob Floyd presented an Orion briefing featured display item in the Lockheed Martin exhibit at the to students during a High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) international Paris Air Show, June 15-21, where Lockheed session at Space Center Houston on June 16 (top). NASA Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson and NASA Administrator engineer Nujoud Merancy presented to a different HAS group Charles Bolden stopped by to take a look. on June 23 (above).

THREE THINGS ORION’S FIRST FLIGHT TAUGHT US

Space News published an Orion op-ed penned by Lockheed Martin Orion Program Manager Mike Hawes in their June 15 issue. The article highlights Hawes’ take on some of the top discoveries of Exploration Flight Test-1. u Read the article ORION EMPLOYEES RECEIVE SILVER SNOOPY AWARDS

The prestigious Space Flight Awareness Silver Snoopy Award Astronaut Kevin Ford, right, flank the Silver Snoopy recipients was given to several Orion team members this month at both Michael Rodrigues (photo lower left), Richard Boitnott (photo Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans and at Langley below) and Christopher Kuhl (photo lower right) Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The Silver Snoopy awards are chosen and awarded by Astronaut Ricky Arnold (photo below) awarded the Silver an astronaut to those candidates who have significantly Snoopy to Todd Surla (left) and Chad Purser (right) at Michoud. contributed to the human spaceflight program to ensure At Langley, NASA Langley Director David Bowles, left, and safety and mission success.

NASA’s Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer was interviewed by Rachel Crane of CNN in front of the Orion mockup at Johnson Space Center on June 23. CNN is working on a multi-part series about space exploration. Lockheed Martin Vice President and General Manager of Civil NASA Orion engineers got chatty about space exploration Space Wanda Sigur (shown above) presented items flown during the Exploration Systems Development summer webchat on Exploration Flight Test-1 to the New Orleans Chamber of series. Lara Kearney conducted a webchat with students at Commerce during an event on June 16. Marshall Space Flight the Girls Start Summer Camp in Austin, Texas, on June 9 and Director Patrick Scheuermann was the keynote speaker and NASA Bob Floyd held a webchat with children at the Frost Museum of Astronaut Ricky Arnold also spoke about the recent test flight. Science (shown above) and U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, on June 11.

NASA’s Orion Flight Test Office Manager Don Reed presented The second place winners of last fall’s Orion door decorating an Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 Program Manager’s contest received a private tour by Orion Deputy Program Commendation to Col. Fairhurst, Vice Commander, 45th Space Manager Mark Kirasich of the Orion mockup in the Space Wing and Lt. Col. McClure, Detachment 3 Commander, 45th Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center. They also Operations Group, 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base were given a certificate with a patch flown on EFT-1. The in Florida on June 24. The commendation was given for the winning team, called The Ogives, included Yadira Garcia, April- U.S. Air Force contributions to the success of Orion’s first flight Lyn McDaniel, Joel Castaneda and Mitchell Barge, all from Ares test Dec. 5, 2014. u Read the full story Technical Services.

FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF NASA’S NEW SPACECRAFT FOR JULY: HUMAN EXPLORATION: Single fairing panel separation test in Sunnyvale Exploration Flight Test-1 recognition events in Colorado NASA’s Orion Blog...... Blogs.NASA.gov/Orion

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ORION’S NEW EM-1 FAIRING SYSTEM DESIGN PASSES THE TEST ORION’S NEW, IMPROVED FAIRING SEPARATION SYSTEM TAKES ON HEFTIER LOADS AND SHEDS A FEW POUNDS

Orion engineers successfully completed testing of design changes made to the spacecraft’s fairing separation system LET THE TESTING BEGIN at Orion prime contractor Lockheed Martin Sunnyvale, California, facility on July 29. These changes resulted from The Orion Program officially opened the new Orion data collected during Orion’s first test flight on Dec. 5, 2014. Integrated Test Lab at Lockheed Martin’s Waterton campus on July 14. NASA program managers, media and employees Three massive fairing panels encase Orion’s service attended the ribbon cutting and open house events to learn more about how the new lab will mitigate risk for NASA’s module during the spacecraft’s climb to space, helping Exploration Mission-1. Orion’s harnessing, electrical power, it endure the aerodynamic pressure, heat, wind and sensors, avionics and flight software needed to support acoustics it encounters. The panels are jettisoned after Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) will be assembled in the they are no longer needed, allowing the spacecraft to spacecraft mockup to help engineers verify the configuration continue its journey. of the elements prior to installing them on the flight vehicle. The separation tests took about three seconds and u Denver Business Journal evaluated new design changes, including new push-off u 9 News Denver springs that push on the fairing for a longer period of time to provide increased safety and reliability. As part of an ongoing mass reduction effort, the team used four crew module structural attachments instead of six.

Star trackers, or cameras that provide positioning from the stars, are used for navigation on the spacecraft. The fairing separation system pulls off the star tracker covers which prevent contamination before launch, and this process was tested for the first time.

In addition, these tests evaluated different pyrotechnic variances and higher loads, or pressures, in order ORION EXPERTS DRAW A CROWD to prepare for Exploration Mission-1, when Orion AND MAKE HEADLINES is launched on NASA’s new Space Launch System rocket. The team was also able to collect shock NASA and Lockheed Martin Orion team members supported data, which will be provided to ESA (European Space various events and media opportunities at the EAA AirVenture Agency) to support their work designing, building and Oshkosh Air Show in Wisconsin. Larry Price, Lockheed Martin testing the service module. In fact, these same fairings Orion deputy program manager, and Susan Baggerman, NASA’s will be used for service module acoustics and vibration health and medical technical authority for Orion (pictured here), testing taking place at NASA’s Plum Brook Station participated in several space themed panels and presentations. NASA’s Glenn Research Center led the effort for a NASA exhibit facility in Sandusky, Ohio, later this year. at the show and the Space Launch System/Orion industry team members supported a deep-space exploration exhibit. u Watch a replay of the Google+ Hangout Engineers at NASA’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, began the first of a series of modal tests on a structural mockup of the crew module adapter (CMA) for Orion. The CMA will connect the capsule to the ESA-provided service module for the spacecraft’s next mission, Exploration Mission-1. The service module is designed to be the powerhouse that fuels and propels Orion in space.

The tests at Plum Brook Station shake structural elements at various frequencies to simulate how launch vibrations and acoustics will affect the spacecraft during its trip to space atop the Space Launch System rocket. They are being conducted ahead of the arrival GETTING of a structural mockup of the ESA service module to the facility this fall for additional testing.

READY Engineers are using a “building block” approach to testing in which they evaluate each piece as the elements composing the service module are stacked TO SHAKE atop each other to validate its integrity before flight hardware begins arriving in 2017.

THINGS UP u Read more on Orion’s NASA Blog ORBITAL ATK BEGINS WORK ON ORION’S CREW SAFETY SYSTEM

Orion subcontractor Orbital ATK was awarded the contract is to complete design, development, test and qualification to develop the Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) abort of the abort motor. motor. The abort motor, manufactured at Orbital ATK facilities in Magna, Promontory and Clearfield, Utah, is a Major milestones in the process include structural tests, powerful solid rocket motor designed to ensure crew safety. loads tests, igniter open air tests, and motor static firing tests. These tests will ultimately qualify the abort motor for Orion’s LAS is a unique safety feature, similar to an ejection operational missions. seat found in a fighter jet. If an emergency were to occur at the launch pad, or during lift-off and ascent, the abort The agreement with Lockheed Martin provides funding system would rapidly propel the crew module away from for the launch abort motor through Exploration Mission-2, the rocket and land the vehicle at a safe location. Orion’s first mission with astronauts.

Under the recently signed agreement, the primary objective u Read the full story ORION TEAM MEMBERS RECOGNIZED FOR FLIGHT TEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS The NASA and Lockheed Martin Orion Program In addition, Griff Corpening, deputy manager of technical management team conducted a series of supplier visits integration for Orion Flight Test Management received the and Exploration Flight Test-1 employee recognition events prestigious Space Flight Awareness Silver Snoopy Award in Colorado July 14-16. Site visits included ULA, Paradigm, from Astronaut Doug Hurley on July 21. The Silver Snoopy SEAKR Engineering, Ball Aerospace and the Lockheed is a special honor award given to NASA employees and Martin Waterton site where hundreds of Orion employees contractors for outstanding achievements related to human also enjoyed their annual program picnic. Several media, flight safety and mission success. manufacturing association representatives, and elected officials attended some of the events and congratulated team members on Orion’s successful flight test last year.

Several NASA and Lockheed Martin Orion Program individuals and teams were also recognized at the NASA Honor Awards ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Houston on July 7. u See the complete listing of all 2015 honorees ASTRONAUT RICKY ARNOLD NAVIGATES THE BIG APPLE TO GET TO SESAME STREET NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold visited with Sesame Street characters while returning several treasured mementos from the residents of 123 Sesame Street that were flown aboard Orion during Exploration Flight Test-1 in December 2014. The precious cargo included Cookie Monster’s cookie, Ernie’s Rubber Duckie, Super Grover’s cape, and Oscar the Grouch’s pet worm Slimey – Orion’s first crew character. The return of the characters’ personal flown items were featured in a series of social media postings on Twitter and Facebook. The fun-filled campaign reached out to existing partners working with the Orion team moving forward toward Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1). The shareables introduced audience members who are following the developing social media story to NASA’s own cast of characters who all play a very important role in the success of EM-1 and future deep space exploration. u Read the full story Orion engineer Matt Schottel conducted a Museum Alliance webchat with the Patrick Health Public Library in Boerne, Texas, on July 9 and Orion engineer Stu McClung presented on the spacecraft during a webchat with John C. Wells Planetarium in Virginia on July 14 (pictured here).

NASA and Lockheed Martin engineers presented briefings on the Orion spacecraft to several High School Aerospace Scholars teams at Space Center Houston throughout the month of July. Speakers included: Lara Kearney, Dustin Neill, and Kelly Smith.

Lockheed Martin Orion Materials & Process Engineer Brian Foss had a web chat with summer camp kids at the Challenger Learning Center in northwest Indiana on July 21. The Challenger Network was created by the families of astronauts who lost their lives during the Space Shuttle 51-L accident in 1986. ORION TEAM OFFERS UP A LITTLE “COMIC” RELIEF

Reporters from the technical online magazines Planet Analog and Design News, visited NASA’s Johnson Space Center on July 7 and received Orion presentations from Orion’s Nujoud Merancy, Stu McClung and astronaut Lee Morin. u Read the article

Members of the Orion team beamed in on this year’s Denver’s 5280 Magazine published a feature story about Space City Comic Con held the weekend of July 24-26 Orion engineer Eric Coffman. in Houston. Orion engineers gave festival goers a taste of what life is like working on a real spacecraft going to u Read the article “Rocket Man” deep space and Astronaut Doug Wheelock as Captain America and Orion engineer Nujoud Merancy as Agent Carter (shown here) participated in the Journey to Mars panel presentation at the event.

FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF NASA’S NEW SPACECRAFT FOR AUGUST: HUMAN EXPLORATION: Orion Critical Design Review kick-off Orion pathfinder closeout weld at Michoud NASA’s Orion Blog...... Blogs.NASA.gov/Orion

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FLYING RIGHT

ORION PARACHUTE SYSTEM PASSES FAILURE SIMULATION TEST FAILURE IS STILL NOT AN OPTION: ORION PASSES PARACHUTE MALFUNCTION TEST

NASA successfully completed a dramatic test of the Orion following future flights, even if something goes wrong,” spacecraft’s parachute system and its ability to perform in said C.J. Johnson, project manager for Orion’s parachute the event of a partial deployment on re-entry. On Aug. 26, system. “Orion’s parachute performance is difficult to model a test version of Orion safely landed in the Arizona desert, with computers, so putting them to the test in flight helps us despite the test engineers’ intentional failure of two different better evaluate and predict how the system works.” parachutes used in the sequence that stabilizes and slows the spacecraft for landing. Orion’s parachute system is a critical part of returning future astronauts who will travel to an asteroid, on toward Mars and During the test, a C-17 aircraft dropped an Orion capsule return to Earth in the spacecraft. The first parachutes deploy mockup from its cargo bay at an altitude of 35,000 feet, or when the crew module is traveling more than 300 mph, and more than 6.5 miles, in the skies above the U.S. Army Yuma in a matter of minutes, the entire parachute system enables Proving Grounds in Yuma, Arizona. The engineering test it to touch down in the ocean at about 20 mph. capsule then began its parachute deployment sequence. The model has a mass similar to that of the Orion crew Wednesday’s airdrop test was the second to last evaluation module being developed for deep space missions, and as part of an engineering test series before testing can similar interfaces with its parachute system. Engineers begin next year to qualify the parachute system for crewed purposefully simulated a failure scenario in which one of the flights. The space issue series will include eight airdrops two drogue parachutes, used to slow and stabilize Orion at over a three-year period that will put the final design through high altitude, and one of its three main parachutes, used to extreme conditions to ensure a safe return for the astronauts. slow the crew module to landing speed, did not deploy. u Read the full story “We test Orion’s parachutes to the extremes to ensure we have a safe system for landing crews safely back on Earth WELDING PREPARATIONS FOR ORION SPACECRAFT IN PROGRESS AT MICHOUD

At NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, engineers welded together the Orion crew module pathfinder in preparation for the welding process that began Sept. 5 for the Exploration Mission-1 Orion spacecraft. The pathfinder, including the barrel section shown here, is a full-scale version of the current spacecraft design. It is used to demonstrate the manufacturing and assembly procedures that will be used to produce flight hardware for Orion’s next mission.

ORION RETURNS TO HIGHER ALTITUDES FOR POST-FLIGHT TESTING IN COLORADO NASA’s Orion spacecraft that flew into space in 2014 has completed its trek from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Lockheed Martin’s Waterton facility in Littleton, Colorado. Engineers there will perform final decontamination of the crew module, continue post- flight analysis and evaluate a new acoustic technology to determine if the method can produce enough energy to simulate the acoustic loads Orion will experience during launch and ascent atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. u Read the full story

USC STUDENTS WATCH VOTAW ROLL OUT THE BARREL

Larry Price, Lockheed Martin Orion deputy program manager, and Ed Stanton of NASA’s Orion Production Operations team, spoke to the University of Southern California (USC) AIAA student chapter in Los Angeles on Aug. 27, prior to a visit the next morning to Orion supplier Votaw Precision Technologies in Santa Fe Springs, California. Thirty-two USC students had the opportunity to tour the Votaw plant and see the Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) Orion crew module barrel, which the company manufactures.

The EM-1 flight barrel will be transported from Votaw to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans onboard the Super Guppy aircraft in early September.

. ORBITAL ATK IS “GO” FOR LAUNCH ABORT MOTOR PRODUCTION

Orbital ATK successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR) with Lockheed Martin and NASA for the Orion launch abort motor on Aug. 6. The abort motor is a major part of the Orion Launch Abort System (LAS), which will help ensure the safety of astronauts who launch on missions to explore deep space aboard NASA’s new, heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS).

Powered by solid rocket fuel, the launch abort motor is designed to propel the crew capsule away from the rocket in the event of an emergency at the launch pad, or during liftoff and ascent. The abort motor can ignite within milliseconds and quickly accelerates to approximately 500 mph to carry the crew module a safe distance from the primary rocket and debris field.

Successful completion of CDR demonstrates the launch abort motor design meets mission performance requirements and is mature enough for full-scale fabrication, assembly, integration and testing. This work will be performed at Orbital ATK’s facilities in Magna and Promontory, Utah. Additionally, the 36-inch diameter by 175-inch long composite case that spans the length of the abort motor will be produced at Orbital ATK’s facility in Clearfield, Utah.

Under a separate contract with Lockheed Martin, which is NASA’s prime contractor for Orion, Orbital ATK also provides the LAS attitude control motor. This motor is manufactured at the company’s Elkton, Maryland, facility. u Read the full story ORION REACHES “CRITICAL” MILESTONE

NASA’s Orion program kicked off its critical design review review in fall 2017 for the crewed mission which is now phase at Johnson Space Center in Houston the week of slated for 2021. Aug. 3. This major milestone will ensure the spacecraft’s design is ready for its deep space missions atop NASA’s The Orion program’s EM-1 critical design review is targeted Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. for completion in late October.

The thorough review is a months-long process where engineers delve into the details of the spacecraft’s systems and subsystems to evaluate their maturity. The milestone is a rallying point for those with technical stakes in successfully building and flying future Orion missions to ensure all elements are in sync before moving ahead with full-scale fabrication, assembly, integration and testing.

It will include an evaluation of common aspects of the spacecraft for Exploration Mission (EM)-1 and the spacecraft for EM-2, such as the spacecraft’s structures, pyrotechnics, Launch Abort System, guidance, navigation and control and software, among many other elements. Systems unique to EM-2, the first Orion mission with astronauts, will be addressed at a follow-on critical design Pieces of the Exploration Mission-1 Orion spacecraft being prepped for welding at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility.

ORION LAS TEAM TESTS EXTERNAL PROTECTION MATERIALS

Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) team members visited environmental protective paint system. The EPS must NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center Hot Gas Facility on withstand the harsh environment of flight as well as Aug. 18, where high-rate ablation testing is underway for exposure to the propellant combustion products exiting Orbital ATK on 36 specimens representing the LAS abort the abort motor nozzles during an abort. motor external protection system (EPS). Testing for this series was completed at the end of The EPS consists of VAMAC, a thermal insulating and August. The second phase of testing in early 2016 chemical resistant polymer, expanded copper foil co- will include higher heating rates than this phase, in cured into the VAMAC surface for lightning protection, addition to the testing of samples subjected to coastal and finally a surface coating of a conductive and environment exposure. Pictured above: Wanda Sigur, Lockheed Martin Vice President & General Manager, Civil Space, presented a U.S. flag flown on Orion’s first space flight to Sandra H. Magnus, Ph.D. (pictured on right), executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Former NASA astronaut Magnus accepted the commemorative item on behalf of the 35,000-member professional organization during the AIAA Space 2015 Forum held Aug. 31 – Sept. 2 in Pasadena, California. LEADING THE WAY – A WIN-WIN FOR ALL

This summer, Dale Waldo, a teacher at Folsom Middle School in Folsom, California, came to the Aerojet Rocketdyne facility in Sacramento as a “teacher extern” to work alongside David Daniewicz, a chief engineer on the Orion Jettison Motor program.

Waldo’s mission was to learn about the Orion program and processes in order to create a lesson plan, engage his students in STEM-related activities and teach them about current plans to send humans to explore deep space.

Waldo offered a hint at what he plans to teach students through his experience at Aerojet Rockdetdyne. Specifically, he said he plans to have his students design and create propulsion components using 3D CAD software. Students will also have a chance to make their own solid rocket fuel using the specialized CAD technology. Left to right: Dale Waldo, Project Lead the Way teacher at Folsom Middle School and David Daniewicz, Aerojet Rocketdyne chief Waldo and Daniewicz both said they hope to inspire engineer on the Orion Jettison Motor. students about the great opportunities within aerospace. ORION MANAGEMENT HONORED AT NASA SFA CEREMONY

Several members of the Orion team were the recipients of the Space Flight Awareness Management Award. They were honored during a ceremony held Aug. 6.

Matthew Lemke was recognized for his proactive and tireless commitment to excellence for the success of the Avionics, Power and Software Office. (Not pictured)

Dave Petri (top right) was recognized for his outstanding support to the Orion Avionics, Power and Software Office through his leadership of the Exploration Flight Test (EFT)-1 mission support and development of the exploration mission strategy for avionics hardware and software testing labs.

Keith Williams (middle) was recognized for his outstanding leadership support to the Orion Avionics, Power and Software Office through integration of the NASA, Contractor, and European Space Agency Avionics, Software and Test systems.

Paul Boehm (bottom right) was recognized for his exceptional leadership of the Crew Support and Thermal Systems Team.

Mark Kirasich, Orion deputy program manager (middle), along Mike Hawes, Lockheed Martin vice president and Orion program with Todd May, Space Launch System program manager Manager, presented the City of Webster with a U.S. flag flown (left), and Mike Bolger, Ground Systems Development and on EFT-1 during the Webster Business Alliance luncheon on Operations program manager (right), answered questions from Aug. 12, where he served as keynote speaker and provided an Orion social media groups at NASA’s Stennis Space Center prior to Program update to the local business community. Approximately the RS-25 rocket motor test firing on Aug. 13. 200 attended the luncheon and witnessed Webster’s Mayor Donna Rogers receive the EFT-1 flown flag on behalf of the City of Webster. ASRC FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP LEADS TO SUCCESSFUL STUDENT APPRENTICE PROGRAM

This summer, Lockheed Martin subcontractor ASRC Federal Engineering and Aerospace Solution group partnered with Eastern State College in Melbourne, Florida, to select several students enrolled in their Aerospace Technician degree program to intern with the Orion program. This allowed the skilled workers to pass along their expertise and mentor the next generation of aerospace workers. The partnership has been so successful that the ASRC Federal team intends to continue this apprentice program with Eastern State College in the future. ASRC Federal has been supporting Lockheed Martin on the Orion program since 2012.

PREPARING AMERICA FOR DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION: CONSTRUCTING THE FUTURE

Between April and June 2015, NASA’s Explorations Systems Development programs continued to make progress developing and building the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft and the ground systems needed to launch them on deep space missions to new destinations in the solar system. u Watch the video

TRADING RED ROCKS FOR THE RED PLANET

Read about Andrzej Stewart, a Lockheed Martin Space Systems’ engineer in their Mission Support area, who is heading out for a year-long Mars analog mission in Hawaii as part of the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) program.

u Read the full story ENGAGING FUTURE EXPLORERS

Nearly 500 guests visited the display to learn about Orion from program representatives at this year’s Bring our Children to Work Day on Aug. 13 at Space Center Houston.

NOBODY CAN DRAG ME DOWN IN SPACE!

One Direction defied gravity shooting their new “Drag Me Down” music video this month at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The One Direction crew also filmed in a full-scale mockup of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, wearing spacesuits designed to be worn by astronauts when they launch and land. u Watch the video

GO BACKSTAGE WITH ORION

Go behind the scenes with the Orion Program and meet the people building the spacecraft that will take humans on the journey to Mars with Orion’s “Backstage Pass” video features. In this first episode, NASA astronaut Victor Glover talks about Orion’s parachute test in Yuma, Arizona. u Watch the video

FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF NASA’S NEW SPACECRAFT FOR SEPTEMBER:

HUMAN EXPLORATION: First flight weld completed on NASA’s Orion Blog...... Blogs.NASA.gov/Orion Exploration Mission-1 crew module

Twitter...... Twitter.com/NASA_Orion Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer takes on new role Facebook...... Facebook.com/NASAOrion Orion crew module barrel arrives at Michoud Flickr...... Flickr.com/NASAOrion Assembly Facility Google+...... Plus.Google.com/+NASAorion

Tumblr...... nasaorion.tumblr.com Item flown on Exploration Flight Test-1 presented to St. Louis Cardinals SEPTEMBER 2015

EXPLORATION MISSION-1 CREW MODULE COMES TOGETHER PRESSURE VESSEL WELDING PROGRESSES AT MICHOUD FACILITY

Lockheed Martin engineers at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, began welding the Orion spacecraft pressure vessel for Exploration Mission-1 on Sept. 5.

The pressure vessel is the primary structure of Orion’s crew module and is made of seven large aluminum pieces that must be welded together in detailed fashion. The first weld connected the tunnel to the forward bulkhead, which is at the top of the spacecraft and houses many of Orion’s critical systems, such as the parachutes that deploy during reentry. Orion’s tunnel, with a docking hatch, will allow crews to move between the crew module and other spacecraft.

This is the third Orion pressure vessel built, following the ground test vessel and the vessel for Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Through collaborations across design and manufacturing, the team reduced the number of welds from 33 on the first pressure vessel to seven on the current one, saving about 700 pounds of mass.

During the coming months, as other pieces of Orion’s primary structure arrive at Michoud from machine houses across the country, engineers will inspect and evaluate them to ensure they meet precise design requirements before welding. Once complete, the structure will be shipped to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where it will be assembled with the other elements of the spacecraft, integrated with the Space Launch System (SLS) and processed before launch. u Read the full story NASA COMPLETES KEY MILESTONE FOR ORION SPACECRAFT IN SUPPORT OF JOURNEY TO MARS

NASA’s mission to send astronauts to deep through the first crewed mission, Exploration space destinations has taken another important Mission-2, and a commitment to be ready for a step forward with the completion of a critical launch with astronauts no later than April 2023. milestone for the Orion spacecraft currently in The commitment is consistent with funding levels production. in the president’s budget request. Conservative cost and schedule commitments align the Agency officials have completed a rigorous Orion Program with program management best technical and programmatic review, confirming practices that account for potential technical continued support of the program and establishing risks and budgetary uncertainty beyond the NASA’s commitment to the program’s technical, program’s control. cost, and schedule baseline. This is the first time NASA has reached this level of progress for a Although Orion’s readiness date for Exploration spacecraft designed to take humans into deep Mission-1 was not formally part of this milestone space beyond the moon, including to an asteroid commitment, the Orion team continues to work placed in lunar orbit and on the journey to Mars. toward an uncrewed mission in fall 2018.

The decision commits NASA to a development u Read the full story cost baseline of $6.77 billion from October 2015 BUILDING BLOCKS OF THERMAL PROTECTION DESIGN

When it comes to building a spacecraft fit for a journey Through lessons and data obtained from building and flying to Mars, improvements happen brick by brick and block the heat shield, the team was able to make a design update by block. Orion Program leaders have decided to begin for the Avcoat block design that will meet the EM-1 strength building Orion’s heat shield in blocks rather than as a requirements. It is also expected to provide a cost savings monolithic structure, a move that signals the insights gained and shorten the current heat shield manufacturing timeline as a result of testing the design in space. by about two months.

The heat shield is one of the most critical elements of u Read the full story Orion and protects it and the future astronauts inside from searing temperatures experienced during reentry through Earth’s atmosphere when they return home. For Exploration Mission (EM)-1, the top layer of Orion’s heat shield that is primarily responsible for helping the crew module endure reentry heat will be composed of approximately 180 blocks that can be built in stages, easing the labor-intensive manufacturing process.

Orion’s flight test last December provided an opportunity to develop confidence in the overall system and provide insight that can’t be gained from models in the laboratory. The heat shield experienced temperatures of about 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit and speeds approximately 80 percent of what it will endure when it comes back from missions near the moon, all while keeping the temperature inside A manufacturing development unit of Orion’s heat shield is the crew module in the mid-70s. Post-flight examinations being built at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Denver. Engineers of the heat shield confirmed it performed well within are using the unit to verify the new heat shield manufacturing expected tolerances. process before it is used on flight hardware.

A POWERFUL START FOR ORION MISSION TESTING

On Sept. 24, the Orion Program officially powered on the Lockheed Martin Orion Test Lab in Littleton, Colorado (shown here during its grand opening in July). This significant milestone establishes Exploration Mission-1 test capabilities with flight-like hardware, avionics and software.

The lab will serve as the proving ground for the vehicle’s test procedures, perform the majority of verification testing and ultimately perform full flight simulations of upcoming mission challenges. The lab will also provide real-time trouble shooting to solve any anomalies that could threaten a launch opportunity or mission objective. ORION’S PARACHUTE TEAM ADVANCES TO PRODUCTION The Capsule Parachute Assembly System team (shown objective evidence that the design is ready for production, above) completed their Critical Design Review (CDR) on including analysis and testing results that demonstrate Sept. 15-16 for the Exploration Mission design. the design will meet its requirements. It will also provide the final verification and validation activities to be used for The objectives of the CDR were to finalize the technical qualification and acceptance. The CDR will be finalized design for qualification and flight hardware, and to provide following the next drop test in Jan. 2016.

AIRBUS DS DELIVERS FIRST PROPULSION TANKS FOR ORION SPACECRAFT’S EUROPEAN SERVICE MODULE

withstand the enormous loads, especially during liftoff. The ESM will provide propulsion, power and thermal control for Orion, as well as supplying the crew with water and oxygen during the mission. It will therefore accompany the Orion crew module through virtually every stage of the flight, separating from the spacecraft just before Orion re-enters Earth’s atmosphere.

While the eSTA undergoes assembly in Italy followed by testing at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Plum Brook Station near Sandusky, Ohio, EM-1 service module work in Bremen continues moving forward. The next step is to build the engineering model that will be assembled and Airbus Defense and Space completed the first hardware tested at Airbus DS. This model will be used to test the for the European Service Module (ESM) for the Exploration propellant management device installed in the tanks to Mission-1 Orion spacecraft. In contrast to the ESM flight ensure a continuous, bubble-free flow of propellant to hardware , which will be built at the company’s Bremen the spacecraft’s motors. site in Germany, the European structural test article (eSTA), which is being delivered to NASA for testing, A total of some 30 people throughout Germany are is being assembled by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, currently working on the engineering, design and Italy, where all four of the propulsion system tanks were production of the tanks in Bremen and Ottobrunn. The delivered at the end of September. tanks are part of the propulsion subsystem that is being developed at the Bremen and Lampoldshausen sites. The tanks are currently being supplied without internal components since eSTA testing requires only the tank The actual flight tanks for the ESM, which will be used for shell filled with test fluid. The primary goal of the initial the first time when the uncrewed Exploration Mission-1 tests is to verify that the structural components can launches, are due to be completed in Bremen by mid-2016. AEROJET ROCKETDYNE ORION SUBSYSTEMS ON TRACK FOR 2018 LAUNCH

The jettison motor and crew module reaction control based on modeling and simulation demonstrations system, which Aerojet Rocketdyne is building under theorizing different operational environments for the contract to Lockheed Martin for NASA’s Orion system, which the Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) spacecraft, are on track for a 2018 launch after mission in December 2014 confirmed. completing Critical Design Review (CDR). These two major subsystems are critical for ensuring astronaut The CM RCS that Aerojet Rocketdyne is now safety and mission success. manufacturing for delivery to Lockheed Martin next year is significantly enhanced from the system flown The jettison motor is a solid rocket motor that separates on EFT-1. Design changes include: increasing the the launch abort system from the Orion spacecraft structural capability of engines and the support about five seconds after fairing separation, allowing the structure; increased engine nozzle temperature crew to continue safely on their way into deep space. capability to withstand more severe aero-thermal In addition to its normal operations, the jettison motor environments during reentry of the crew module into serves a double duty if an anomaly occurs. Designed Earth’s atmosphere; and reducing overall mass of the to assist crew escape, the jettison motor is one of three system. The successful CDR also verified the new solid rocket motors on the launch abort system that design and confirmed the use of cutting-edge additive will rapidly pull the capsule away from the stack in the manufacturing technology in the fabrication of engine event of an emergency. components.

Orion’s crew module reaction control system (CM With the successful CDR completion, Aerojet Rocketdyne RCS) is equally important to crew safety. The CM is now able to begin manufacturing hardware for RCS provides the only course control authority after installation into Orion for Exploration Mission-1, which is the separation from the service module. It ensures slated for launch readiness in 2018 and will be the first the heat shield is properly oriented, the crew module flight to the proving ground of deep space. is stable under the parachutes and that the vehicle is in the correct orientation for splashdown. The reaction Below: The Reaction Control System team at their control system team started a redesign in October 2013 Redmond, Washington location. EM-1 IN THE MAKING NASA Deputy Administrator Dava J. Newman visited Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans in September to see the progress on the Orion crew module that will fly on Exploration Mission-1.

Shown left to right in front of Orion’s aft bulkhead are Dr. Suren Singhal, Dr. Richard Koubek, Patrick Scheuermann, Jeff Pilet, Tim Livingston, Dr. Dava Newman, Dr. Danielle Wood, Bobby Watkins, Mark McCloskey, Mike Kynard and Johnny Stephenson.

ORION, MEET ST. LOUIS On Sept. 2, former Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer threw out the ceremonial first pitch and presented the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum with a flown memento from last December’s Exploration Flight Test-1. While in St. Louis, Geyer shared information about Orion’s next flight on Exploration Mission-1 with Cardinals Nation fans and also spoke to hundreds of students at the St. Louis Science Center about NASA’s Journey to Mars.

EXPERIENCING ORION... VIRTUALLY On Sept. 21, U.S. Representative John Culberson (R-TX) toured Lockheed Martin’s Waterton facility in Littleton, Colorado. Pictured here is Lockheed Martin Engineering Manager Darin Bolthouse (left) providing the congressman with a virtual reality demonstration of the Orion assembly in the company’s Collaborative Human Immersive Laboratory (CHIL). During the tour, Orion Deputy Program Manager Larry Price also provided a status update on Orion’s progress toward Exploration Mission-1. The CHIL is an advanced technology virtual reality and simulation laboratory that offers a smarter, cheaper and lower risk opportunity in building the actual spacecraft. Using the CHIL, Orion engineering can optimize product designs and processes virtually before releasing them to manufacturing to help improve material flow, producibility and mitigate program risk. ORION TEAM MEMBERS COMMENDED FOR INNOVATION

Several Orion employees and teams received recognition Brian Hoelscher, Greg Holt, Jeremy Jacobs, Mark Kane and during the 2015 Johnson Space Center (JSC) Honor Karen Kelldorf. Awards Ceremony on Sept. 23. Leonard Cassady (Jacobs Technology) and Nathan Moore The Director’s Commendation Award, which recognizes received the individual Director’s Innovation Award. The Director’s JSC employees who have provided significant contributions Innovation Team Award went to the EFT-1 Joint Test & Mission to the center throughout the year, was given to Teresa Operations Systems Team, the Parachute Pendulum Action Murphy, Richard Schmidgall, Michael Thompson, Keith Team and the JSC Acoustics Office Team. And Robert Crain Williams, Barbara Zelon, Steven Del Papa, Paul Felker, (Ares Technical Services) received the Power of One Gold Award.

THE MARTIAN MOVIE AND OUR JOURNEY TO MARS

The film “The Martian” takes the work NASA and others have done exploring Mars and extends it into fiction set in the 2030s, when NASA astronauts are regularly traveling to Mars and living on the surface. NASA has collaborated on this film with 20th Century Fox Entertainment, providing guidance on production design and technical consultants. Across NASA, dozens of people are already working on the technologies humans will need when they begin to explore Mars.

u Read the full story

Orion is a key piece of NASA’s journey to Mars. The spacecraft, which was first tested in space last year, will enable crew to travel to deep space on the journey to the Red Planet and bring astronauts home safely. It’s a critical technology we will use to help NASA test, demonstrate and hone the skills and capabilities we need to operate farther and farther away from Earth.

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FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF NASA’S NEW SPACECRAFT FOR OCTOBER: HUMAN EXPLORATION: Orion Critical Design Review

NASA’s Orion Blog...... Blogs.NASA.gov/Orion Exploration Mission -1 crew module barrel to aft Twitter...... Twitter.com/NASA_Orion bulkhead weld at Michoud Assembly Facility Facebook...... Facebook.com/NASAOrion Orion crew egress training at Neutral Buoyancy Lab Flickr...... Flickr.com/NASAOrion

Google+...... Plus.Google.com/+NASAorion Orion zero-g crew training

Tumblr...... nasaorion.tumblr.com OCTOBER 2015

PROCEEDING TO PRODUCTION ORION PROGRAM MARKS PROGRESS WITH CRITICAL DESIGN REVIEW

On Oct. 21, NASA held a Critical Design Review guidance, navigation and control and software, to evaluate the design readiness of the Orion among many other elements. Systems unique spacecraft being developed to send astronauts to to EM-2, the rst crewed Orion mission, will be deep space destinations, such as asteroids and addressed at a later critical design review. eventually Mars. The results of this review will be briefed to agency leaders in the coming months. Across the country, elements of the Orion spacecraft are coming together for the rst The Critical Design Review was carried out over integrated mission atop the Space Launch the past 10 weeks by engineers at NASA and System (SLS) at the spaceport launch complex at prime contractor Lockheed Martin. Clearing the the Kennedy Space Center. At NASA’s Michoud Critical Design Review means that the Orion Assembly Facility in New Orleans, welding began design is mature and ready to move ahead with in September on the EM-1 Orion spacecraft. In full-scale fabrication, assembly, integration and November, NASA will see the arrival of a test testing. version of Orion’s service module, provided by ESA (European Space Agency), for testing and The evaluation included a review of common analysis at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Plum aspects of both spacecraft for Exploration Brook Station near Sandusky, Ohio. Missions (EM)-1 and 2, such as the spacecraft’s structures, pyrotechnics, launch abort system, u Read the full story MARK KIRASICH NAMED ORION PROGRAM MANAGER NASA has appointed Mark Kirasich to be manager of the agency’s Orion Program. Kirasich has been deputy Orion Program manager since 2006, and has been serving as acting director since August, when prior Program Manager Mark Geyer was named deputy director at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Kirasich is responsible for oversight of design, development and testing of the Orion spacecraft, as well as spacecraft manufacturing already underway at locations across the country and in Europe for ESA.

u Read the full story

ASTRONAUTS PRACTICE POST-SPLASHDOWN EXIT STRATEGIES

When astronauts come home in Orion from deep-space Team members from NASA’s Orion and the Ground Systems missions, they’ll need a strategy for a safe and ef cient Development and Operations Programs are demonstrating exit. At NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s Neutral Buoyancy and evaluating the procedures, and a team from several Laboratory (NBL), teams performed a series of tests Oct. 6-8 branches in the Department of Defense specially trained in to evaluate the most ef cient way for astronauts to get out rescue techniques is providing insight into ways to ef ciently of the spacecraft after weeks or months away from Earth. get the crew out, including in a case where the crew is incapacitated. The work builds upon the development and While engineers around the country are developing and execution of recovery procedures and equipment used for building systems to support crews far from Earth in the harsh the uncrewed EFT-1, which will be modi ed from lessons environment of space, teams also are continuing to develop learned and used during Exploration Mission-1, NASA’s rst techniques to ensure the nal phase of the astronauts’ ight of Orion atop the Space Launch System rocket. journey – getting back to dry land – is successful. u Read the full story The facility’s 6.2-million-gallon pool is primarily used to u Watch the NBL video train astronauts underwater for spacewalks and provides u Backstage Pass video with Astronaut Mike Fincke a controlled environment where recovery personnel can practice techniques to assist people getting out of a test version of the Orion crew module. The facility was previously used to develop operations to approach and harness Orion after its rst splashdown during Exploration Flight Test- 1(EFT-1), and to develop manual uprighting procedures that may be necessary in the event of an emergency.

During the three-day testing, personnel simulated approaching Orion as if it were oating in the Paci c Ocean and what it would take to assist the crew as they exit. They also evaluated the layout of equipment inside the spacecraft that affects exit and the gear used during the recovery NASA astronaut Suni Williams exits a test version of the process. Orion spacecraft at the NBL in Houston. NASA PREPARES TO TEST ORION SERVICE MODULE

NASA is preparing for a series of tests that will evaluate the Orion European Service Module, a critical part of the spacecraft that will be launched on future missions to an asteroid and on toward Mars.

Test engineers will use a large vibration table and acoustic chamber in the Space Power Facility at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Plum Brook Station to mimic the shaking and noise the service module will experience during its powerful ascent into space. The testing allows engineers to make sure ight hardware is properly built and will perform to NASA’s crew safety and ight requirements. Engineers are using a “building block” approach to testing in which they evaluate each piece as the elements composing the service module are stacked atop each other to validate the module.

Pictured below: Lockheed Martin technicians lift the Orion Crew Module Adapter Structural Test Article at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Plum Brook Station. The adapter will connect Orion’s crew module to a service module provided by ESA and Airbus Defence & Space.

SECOND WELD FOR ORION PRIMARY STRUCTURE

Engineers at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans continue to weld together the primary structure of the Orion spacecraft for Exploration Mission-1. Technicians recently joined the spacecraft’s barrel section, which is the round middle part of the spacecraft, to the aft bulkhead, which is the bottom portion of the crew module. Orion’s primary structure is composed of seven large pieces that are put together in detailed order. Orion’s three cone panels will be welded together next. Once completed, the pressure vessel will be shipped from Michoud to the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where Orion’s systems and subsystems will be integrated and processed in the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Facility before launch atop NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. LOCKHEED MARTIN UNVEILS TWO NEW LABS FOR EM-1 SPACECRAFT COMPONENTS

Lockheed Martin’s Orion team officially opened two new for the Orion crew module side hatch and the Launch test labs on Oct. 28 near NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Abort System (LAS) hatch. This lab provides space and Mike Hawes, Lockheed Martin Orion vice president and equipment for subcomponent assembly, subcomponent program manager, presided over their ceremonial ribbon tests, hatch level assembly and rigging, side hatch cuttings. installation into a pressure vessel, LAS hatch installation into an ogive panel, hatch functional and life testing and The Video and Camera Test Lab (VCTL), pictured above, human-in-the-loop testing. will develop components that comprise a fully integrated camera and video processing capability for the upcoming The lab’s close proximity to the hatch design team in Orion exploration missions. The VCTL will also provide Houston (pictured below) facilitates development and component system level testing during the development real-time improvement of assembly procedures, as well phase and will support component acceptance and as troubleshooting for any design issues that may be qualification testing of engineering development units and identified during testing. The Hatch Development Test flight level components. Lab will play a crucial role in the accelerated development of a fully functional side hatch and LAS hatch to fly on The Hatch Development Test Lab will be used to fully Exploration Mission-1. This is part of the team’s efforts to assemble and test the engineering development units accelerate systems needed to support crewed missions. DYNAMIC TESTING MAKES AN IMPACT

On Oct. 5-6, the Crew Impact Attenuation System (CIAS) team (pictured right) conducted dynamic impact testing on a fully assembled development unit in preparation for the Orion water impact test series and flight development work that will evaluate how the spacecraft endures splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The test article emulates the Orion crew module interface to the seat pallet that will accommodate the astronauts. This marks the first time the CIAS in a fully assembled configuration has been tested.

Testing was carried out at MGA Research Laboratories in Troy, Michigan, on a high-G sled. Using a simplified crew seat and instrumented anthropomorphic test devices, the team tested the highest acceleration that the Orion test article will experience during the water impact test series, which will be conducted at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

The primary objective of the testing was to characterize the performance of the CIAS engineering development unit design for the test series and assess how well the system performs versus the predicted performance. Through this process, the team will determine how the system will be designed, tested and built for exploration mission flight landing acceleration. Initial examination of the test data shows that the CIAS was successful in reducing loads the crew will experience upon splashdown.

ASPIRING STUDENT ENGINEERS HELP BUILD ORION SIMULATOR With guidance and mentoring from experienced Orion engineers, University of Texas at Tyler engineering students will gain valuable hands-on experience in building real spacecraft hardware.

One group of students will design and fabricate display unit back plate mounting surfaces and interface blocks used to position the display in the prototype Orion cockpit. A separate group of students will design, fabricate and integrate a prototype cursor control device into a ground- based mockup seat that will allow users to interface with prototype Orion displays and controls.

These students will learn about range of motion and adjustments required for varying arm and hand lengths, and how to operate precision milling, drilling and cutting tools, such as mills and lathes, to build the items. When completed and fully inspected, the hardware will be installed in the Rapid Prototype Lab orbit and ascent/entry simulators at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. push themselves academically, intellectually and ORION TEAM MEMBERS socially to prepare for leadership roles in society. SHARE THE EXCITEMENT OF Also in Texas, Lockheed Martin Orion Deputy Program Manager Larry Price visited the University SPACE EXPLORATION of Texas at Dallas on Oct. 23 to highlight the Orion program for the Texas Astronomical Society of During October, several Orion team members Dallas, and Orion Crew Module Engineering Deputy visited schools and other community organizations Blaine Brown presented an Orion progress update to share highlights from Orion’s rst spaceight – at Rice University in Houston. EFT-1 – as well as progress toward the upcoming exploration missions that will venture beyond the Lockheed Martin Orion engineers also made several moon and into deep space. presentations throughout Colorado. Jennifer Daniel, Doris Hammer, John Marcantonio, Colin Nugen and Blake Watters hosted tutoring sessions for students at Columbine High School in Littleton; Sean O’Dell spoke at Career Day at Rogers Elementary School in Colorado Springs; and Jim Paradise presented an Orion update at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

In addition, fellow Lockheed Martin engineers Josh Ehrlich and Chris Homolac participated in the rst- ever STEM Wars held in Parker, Colorado, where Pictured above, Joe Voor of the NASA Flight Test they spoke to approximately 950 elementary and Management Of ce presented an overview of Orion middle school students on ways to “Use the Force”, ight tests to students at the Briarmeadow Charter an interactive experiment that showed kids how School in West Houston, a Houston school that magnetic forces impact objects, motion, and energy serves K-8th-grade students who are expected to on Earth and in space.

The local aerospace leaders presented plaques CCISD HIGH SCHOOL featuring patches of each school’s mascot which were own on Orion’s rst ight last year. The school MASCOT PATCHES FLY district’s Project Lead the Way program prepares students for post-secondary education and careers in HIGH WITH NASA & ORION science, technology, engineering and math. Mementos from EFT-1 are now hanging on the walls u Read the full story of high schools throughout Clear Creek Independent School District schools near NASA’s Johnson Space Center, thanks to the Center, the Orion Program and Lockheed Martin.

Representatives from NASA (Paul Marshall) and Lockheed Martin (Linda Singleton, Joe LeBlanc and Kara Denny) made special presentations to Project Lead the Way students from all ve district high schools, their teachers and principals during the Oct. Presentations made to Clear Brook and Clear Springs 15-17 lineup of home football games. high schools. ORION SUPPLIERS VISITED

NASA and Lockheed Martin Orion Program Managers met with the UTC Aerospace Systems team in Windsor Locks, Connecticut on Oct. 6. The team provides critical control systems, including active thermal control, pressure control, power control and switching hardware for Orion. On Oct. 7, Lockheed also toured Teletronics Technology Corp. in Newton, Pennsylvania. The Teletronics team provided 1,200 sensors for the EFT-1 development ight instrumentation. u Watch the Fox WXTF-TV Story

NEWS MEDIA COVER ORION LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS

CNBC aired a feature entitled “Meet NASA’s Orion Spacecraft” on Oct. 12. NASA Orion Program Manager Mark Kirasich was interviewed by Janet Shamlian in the Orion mockup at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

u Watch the video

NASA Orion engineer Nujoud Merancy is featured in “American Scientist” magazine’s current issue, talking about mission planning for Orion and last December’s EFT-1 mission.

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NASA AND EUROPEAN PARTNERS SET TO EVALUATE SERVICE MODULE TEST ARTICLE TEST VERSION OF EUROPEAN POWERHOUSE FOR ORION ARRIVES STATESIDE

A critical component that will enable humans to explore deep space in NASA’s Orion spacecraft arrived in Cleveland, Ohio, on Nov. 9 on one of the world’s largest aircraft. A full-size test version of Orion’s service module, provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) was delivered to Cleveland Hopkins Airport on an Antonov AN-124.

Built by ESA prime contractor Airbus Defence & Space and integrated by NASA prime contractor Lockheed Martin, Orion’s service module will provide in-space propulsion and power, as well as air and water for the crew. Over the next several months, testing will take place at the Space Power Facility at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Plum Brook Station to validate the engineering analysis. The power-generating solar arrays that will provide up to 11kW of energy for the crew module, will be tested to ensure the panels deploy properly. The large vibration table and acoustic chamber will simulate the shaking and noise the service module will experience during its ascent into space. Pyrotechnics will be used to simulate the shock the service module will experience during separation from the Space Launch System rocket. Results from the test data will ensure flight hardware will perform to NASA’s safety and flight requirements.

NASA’s Plum Brook Station is home to some of the largest testing structures in the world, including the powerful space environment simulation facilities and vacuum chamber. Also at Plum Brook is the world’s most powerful spacecraft acoustic test chamber, and the world’s highest capacity and most powerful spacecraft vibration table. u NASA Web Story u Airbus Defence and Space News Release

Orion in the news: u NASA’s Orion Project Begins Testing in Sandusky u Piecing Together Orion

NASA and Lockheed Martin leadership joined the ESA and Airbus team at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, on Nov. 30 to mark the beginning of the testing phase for the structural representation of Orion’s service module. When it comes to enduring the extremely hot and fast journey Engineers have also refined the design in ways that improve the from deep space back to Earth, NASA’s Orion spacecraft can manufacturing process and reduce the mass of the spacecraft. withstand the heat. Engineers developing Orion’s thermal Instead of a monolithic outer layer, the heat shield will be made protection system have been improving the spacecraft’s heat of approximately 180 blocks that can be made simultaneously shield design and manufacturing process since the vehicle with the other heat shield components to streamline the successfully completed its first flight test last year. They are now manufacturing process. enhancing the overall system in advance of the spacecraft’s next mission – a flight that will put Orion through the harshest In addition, engineers have found ways to reduce the mass of set of conditions yet. the heat shield’s underlying structure, which is composed of a titanium skeleton and carbon fiber skin. This adds more fidelity On future Orion missions, a silver, metallic-based thermal to the overall structure while allowing it to be lighter. control coating will be bonded to the crew module’s back shell tiles. The coating, similar to what is used on the u Read the full story main heat shield, helps reduce heat loss when Orion is pointed to space and therefore experiencing cold temperatures. It also limits the high temperatures the crew module will be subjected to when the spacecraft faces the sun.

PUTTING THE SHINE ON THERMAL PROTECTION NASA’s Super Guppy aircraft appears to swallow up a test structure during a loading operation at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Orion spacecraft service module stacking assembly interface ring and stack holding stand were secured to a SUPER special transportation platform and loaded into the Super Guppy for a Nov. 3 transport from Kennedy to NASA Glenn Research Center’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio. GUPPY GULP

ORION INGENUITY IMPROVES MANUFACTURING, REDUCES MASS

Orion’s pressure vessel holds the atmosphere in the crew compartment, enabling astronauts to survive in the vacuum of deep space. The pressure vessel is composed of seven large pieces of aluminum, three of which are the cone panels.

As engineers refined Orion’s design, building on lessons learned from constructing the initial test article and crew module for Exploration Flight Test (EFT-1), they found ways to reduce the number of cone panels and welds, resulting in a needed weight reduction for EM-1.

When completed, the crew module will be approximately 20 percent (4,000 pounds) lighter than it was during EFT-1.

At NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, u Read the full story engineers used large tooling structures to help them weld together Orion’s cone panels using friction-stir welding. NASA is testing the spacesuits being developed for Orion on the agency’s C9 aircraft, which can fly a series of parabolas to simulate a weightless environment for brief ORION periods. Engineers used a mockup of Orion’s cabin in the aircraft to evaluate how astronauts can get into their seats during various operational scenarios, perform tasks SPACESUITS at different suit pressures, and to test seat hardware. The suit, known as the Modified Advanced Crew Escape Suit, is TESTED IN an upgraded version of the launch and entry suits worn by space shuttle astronauts. The crew escape suit, along with Orion, will contain all the necessary functions to support life REDUCED and is being designed to enable spacewalks and sustain the crew in the unlikely event the spacecraft loses pressure. GRAVITY AEROJET ROCKETDYNE COMPLETES BUILD OF 3-D PRINTED PARTS FOR ORION ORION SOFTWARE NAVIGATES TO SUCCESS SPACECRAFT

On Dec. 5, 2014, Orion launched atop a Delta IV Heavy Aerojet Rocketdyne has completed 12 additively rocket for a four-hour-long, two-orbit extended journey manufactured production nozzle extensions for use aboard around Earth, testing many of the systems most critical the Orion spacecraft. The nozzle extensions are part of to safety. One element that passed with flying colors Orion’s crew module reaction control system that Aerojet is Orion’s Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) Rocketdyne is building for Lockheed Martin and NASA. software. This software recently earned NASA’s 2015 Software of the Year honor. The 12 nozzles were produced on a single additive manufacturing machine in just three weeks, which As most people who witnessed the flight test know, represents a roughly 40 percent reduction in production Exploration Flight Test-1 was a resounding success. What time when compared with using conventional wasn’t seen, though, toiling in the background—was the manufacturing techniques. The company will next GN&C software that guided, navigated and steered the conduct a series of inspections and hot-fire tests to spacecraft throughout all phases of the flight. qualify the components for use aboard Orion’s Exploration Mission-1 test flight in 2018. The software functioned flawlessly throughout the mission, without any ground commands, and landed the crew The reaction control system provides the Orion crew module within a half mile of the intended landing site in the module with the ability to control its course after it has Pacific Ocean. separated from the service module. Additionally, during Orion’s reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere, it ensures The software was developed through a joint effort that the heat shield is properly oriented, the crew module with two teams: the Orion GN&C team and the Orion is stable under the parachutes and that the vehicle is in Flight Software team. the correct orientation for splashdown.

Orion’s GN&C team is unique. Government team The use of additive manufacturing technology, often members work with Lockheed Martin, the Orion referred to as 3-D printing, reduces the cost to produce prime contractor, on integrated Multi-Organizational components, shortens build times and unleashes engineers Development Engineering teams. This award recognizes to design components that were once impossible to build 82 engineers crucial in the maturation of the software, using traditional manufacturing techniques. including members from JSC’s Engineering and Flight Operations directorates, Langley Research Center employees and eight other contractor companies. u JSC Features Story u Honeywell Story Engineers at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, placed a test dummy inside a NASA Orion crew module mockup in preparation for next year’s water impact testing, which will simulate the spacecraft splashing down in the Pacific Ocean during future crewed missions.

ENGINEERS PREPARE FOR ORION WATER- IMPACT TESTING WITH PRECISION TO PROTECT FUTURE ASTRONAUTS

When astronauts return to Earth in the Orion spacecraft, they mockup for water-impact testing. The team then installed will reenter on an extremely hot and fast journey through the the crew seats and the crew impact attenuation system atmosphere before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. that is designed to lessen the shock load on astronauts To protect the crew on landing, NASA will evaluate how the during landing. spacecraft may behave in parachute-assisted landings in different wind conditions and wave heights by conducting Two test dummies were also installed in the crew seats. water-impact testing. Data retrieved from sensors inside the dummies during testing will be used to evaluate the loads the crew may To prepare for this testing, the first major step at NASA’s experience during an actual mission, which will aid in Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, was to couple designing the systems to protect the crew from injury during an Orion crew module mockup with the heat shield from the water landings. spacecraft’s first flight test, Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1). Nine drop tests of the integrated Orion mockup and EFT-1 To create perfect unity, the team had to design and fabricate heat shield will be conducted at Langley next year. These integration hardware to connect the two pieces. With an tests are but one of the many steps necessary to ensure accuracy of four thousandths of an inch, a laser tracker that NASA’s new spacecraft will meet the demands of located several positions along the Orion mockup and heat sending humans to deep space for the first time and in the shield in order to achieve nearly perfect alignment. future on the journey to Mars.

At the same time, the team prepared the remainder of the u Read the full story SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL! In the Acoustic Vibration Lab at Lockheed Martin’s Space Systems Company headquarters in Littleton, Colorado, engineers have begun a series of vibration tests on the astronauts’ display console for Exploration Mission-1. Pictured here is a mass simulator of the display console mounted with six isolation struts to two shaker tables. The shaker tables will simulate the harsh environments experienced by the console during different mission events such as liftoff, ascent, abort, landing and drogue parachute mortar firing. The data from these tests will be used to evaluate the console’s vibration and movement, as well as the performance of the isolation struts.

ORION, JOURNEY TO MARS: NEW EXHIBIT AT DISCOVERY SCIENCE PLACE

ORION TEAM SUPPORTS ENDEAVOURFEST

Space Shuttle Endeavour was the focus of a celebration at Los Angeles’ California Science Center. The event, held Oct. 30-Nov. 1, commemorated the third anniversary of the shuttle’s delivery to the Samuel Oschin Pavilion with a three-day celebration featuring special exhibits and guest speakers. The Orion, Space Launch System and Ground Systems Development & Operations programs were highlighted in a large exhibit that included staff from On Nov. 5, NASA Orion Engineer Stu McClung visited the each of the programs to engage guests. Local Orion Discovery Science Place in Tyler, Texas, to open the Orion subcontractors from Aerojet Rocketdyne and Coast Exhibit Hall and give a presentation on the Orion Program. Aerospace Manufacturing also supported the event by u Read the full story staffing the NASA/Orion exhibit. A CELEBRATION OF NASA HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT

NASA’s Exploration Systems Development leadership hosted an informal evening reception for the NASA human spaceflight team at the Johnson Space Center’s Saturn V Building in Rocket Park on Nov. 5. The event recognized the contributions of leaders who have taken the spirit of human spaceflight to new opportunities at NASA.

Former Orion Program Manager Mark Geyer receives leadership award from Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development Bill Hill.

ORION PROGRAM MANAGERS VISIT ALMA MATERS

On Nov. 11, Lockheed Martin Orion Program Manager Mike Hawes and NASA Orion Program Manager Mark Kirasich visited the University of Notre Dame to provide an Orion program update to an audience of 125 in the Aerospace Engineering Department and present EFT-1 flown items to the university.

Lockheed Martin Orion Program Manager Mike Hawes and NASA Johnson Space Center Deputy Director Mark Geyer provided Orion program updates and presented EFT-1 flown items, along with Lockheed Martin’s J.R. Edwards, to Purdue University and Purdue University Libraries during their visit on Nov. 10.

TOP-RIGHT: Notre Dame’s Dr. Gretar Tryggvason and engineering students join alumni Mark Kirasich and Mike Hawes at the University of Notre Dame.

MIDDLE-RIGHT: Notre Dame alumni Kirasich and Hawes, present an EFT-1 patch flown on Orion to Dean Kilpatrick, College of Engineering.

BOTTOM-RIGHT: Tracy Grimm of Purdue Libraries shows Hawes, Geyer and Edwards some of the 452 boxes of Neil Armstrong documents and artifacts. The Purdue Libraries contain memorabilia from every NASA human spaceflight program. ORION TEAM SUPPORTS SPACECOM 2015

ALL ABOUT OLIVER An Orion Backstage video features Oliver Juckenhöfel, head of the Orion Service Module program for Airbus Defence and Space, who talks about the arrival of a structural representation of the European service module at Plum Brook Station. NASA and Lockheed Martin were among the founding u View the video supporters for the inaugural SpaceCom event held Nov. 17-19 in Houston. More than 1,700 attendees from around the world participated in three days of conference and exposition events that were engineered to fuel business innovation across the aerospace, medical, energy, transportation, maritime, communications and advanced manufacturing industries.

Dr. Ellen Ochoa, NASA Johnson Space Center director, and Wanda Sigur, Lockheed Martin vice president & general manager, Civil Space, presented a flag flown on Orion’s Exploration Flight Test-1 to the City of Houston at the opening ceremony of the conference. Sigur also participated on a panel entitled, “The State of Global Space Commerce,” with other industry experts. Tony Antonelli, Lockheed Martin’s Exploration Systems Chief Technologist, introduced keynote speaker Dr. Yuri Sebregts, and members of the Orion and Space Launch System teams presented The Orion Trial by Fire video, produced by the External Relations an update on the future of Office’s John Streeter, won an Emmy Award. human space exploration in u Read the full story the Innovation Theater.

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ONE YEAR AFTER MAIDEN VOYAGE, ORION CONTINUES ITS JOURNEY Welding continues on Exploration Mission-1 pressure vessel at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. LAUNCHING INTO EM-1

December 5 marked the one-year anniversary of the gigabytes of data to prove that the spacecraft’s many successful inaugural space flight of NASA’s Orion systems and subsystems performed as expected. spacecraft. Exploration Flight Test-1 launched the uncrewed spacecraft 3,600 miles into space and safely After NASA returned the spacecraft back to NASA’s returned it to Earth. In the year since the flight, teams Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Orion’s flown heat around the country have taken apart the spacecraft to shield was shipped to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight learn everything possible from having flown the first Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where its outer layer human rated vehicle in deep space in over 40 years. was removed for analysis before then being sent to Meanwhile, teams across the nation and in Europe the agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, have continued to make substantial progress toward Virginia. The heat shield protected the Orion spacecraft the next flight of Orion and the first flight of the Space during its 4,000 degree reentry. At Langley, teams have Launch System rocket into deep space — Exploration fitted it to a test article and are preparing for a slate of Mission-1 (EM-1). tests in Langley’s Hydro Impact Basin that will evaluate how it fares in different potential splashdown scenarios. The 2014 flight was a big step on NASA’s journey Overall, engineers developing Orion’s thermal to Mars, providing insights engineers have used to protection system have been refining the spacecraft’s inform how they design, develop and build Orion that heat shield design and manufacturing process. will help astronauts pioneer deep space destinations. Teams learned as much about what it takes to build In September, the flown crew module was shipped and process Orion as they did about successfully flying to Lockheed Martin’s Littleton, Colorado, facility to it in space, and the flight test yielded more than 500 evaluate a new acoustic technology to determine if the method can produce enough energy to simulate experience colder temperatures in space and hotter the acoustic loads Orion will experience during launch temperatures upon reentry than during EFT-1, and data and ascent atop SLS. Meanwhile technicians at NASA’s from last year’s test flight is helping NASA improve Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans began the design of the heat shield to meet this challenge. welding together Orion’s pressure vessel, the underlying Engineers also reduced the Orion crew module’s mass, structure of the crew module for EM-1. The majority evaluated design changes to its protective fairings that of the welds were completed by December and the encase the service module and continue to evaluate its crew module is set to be shipped to NASA’s Kennedy parachute system through testing. Space Center in Florida in February for outfitting and processing. The Orion team also completed two important programmatic milestones leading up to the spacecraft’s In November, NASA welcomed the arrival of a next flight. The Critical Design Review was carried out structural test article of the ESA (European Space over a 10-week period and included a review of common Agency)-provided service module for testing at Glenn aspects of the spacecraft for EM-1 and the spacecraft Research Center’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, for EM-2, the first Orion mission with astronauts, such Ohio. NASA’s work with ESA on this element expands as the spacecraft’s structures, pyrotechnics, launch an already strong partnership and ensures continued abort system, guidance, navigation and control and international collaboration on the journey to Mars. Next software, among other elements. With the design year, engineers will test the hardware to make sure confirmed, work is now underway to manufacture the the service module, which provides Orion’s in-space parts and assemble the spacecraft. Agency officials propulsion, power, air and water, can withstand the also completed a separate, rigorous technical and powerful launch into space. programmatic review, confirming continued support of the program and establishing NASA’s commitment to Engineers also made strides to refine the spacecraft’s the program’s technical, costs and schedule baseline. design in other areas. Orion’s heat shield will be built in blocks for the next mission, rather than as a monolithic In 2016, NASA will make more critical progress structure, as a result of the insights gained testing building Orion for its next mission, continuing to build the design in space. On the next flight, Orion will on the foundation of the spacecraft’s successful first trip to space.

ORION’S POWER SYSTEM TO BE PUT TO THE TEST NASA LANGLEY PREPARES TO MAKE THE DROP

NASA is about to begin testing the heart of Orion’s power Engineers at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, systems at the world’s largest, most powerful space Virginia, coupled a NASA Orion crew module mockup with the environment simulation facility early next year. Test engineers heat shield from the spacecraft’s first flight test, Exploration at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Plum Brook Station in Flight Test 1. The integrated Orion mockup and EFT-1 heat Sandusky, Ohio, are preparing to put a full-size test version of shield will be tested next year to simulate water landings during the European Service Module (ESM) for the spacecraft through actual missions. a series of crucial tests to verify the structural integrity of the hardware to withstand the dynamic environment of launch into space atop the agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. u Read the full story NASA NAMES BACK STORY ON THE CHARLIE LUNDQUIST BACK SHELL PANEL AS DEPUTY PROGRAM MANAGER FOR ORION

Orion’s EFT-1 back shell panel continued its world tour with a stopover at Space Center Houston during the holiday season. The historic artifact complemented the full-scale Orion crew module mockup that is on permanent loan to the visitors center. In addition, NASA and Lockheed Martin leadership presented Space Center Houston with a U.S. flag flown on Orion’s first spaceflight in 2014. The back shell panel has been displayed at events around the world including the Paris Air Show in France, Space Symposium in Colorado and SpaceCom in Houston. The panel was recently shipped back to Lockheed Martin’s Littleton, Colorado, facility where it is now undergoing On Dec. 9, NASA named Charlie Lundquist as deputy additional testing and analysis on the EFT-1 crew module. manager of the agency’s Orion Program. Along with

Program Manager Mark Kirasich, Lundquist will be Pictured above: Fred Haise Jr., Apollo 13 astronaut with responsible for oversight of design, development and NASA Orion Program Manager Mark Kirasich in front of the testing of the Orion spacecraft, as well as spacecraft Orion back shell panel display at Space Center Houston. manufacturing already underway at locations across the county and in Europe. Lundquist has served as manager of the Orion crew and service module office since 2008. ACTION! NEW NASA VIDEO

“Charlie has outstanding program management skills HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS ON and has played pivotal roles in many of Orion’s EXPLORATION MISSION-1 accomplishments, including Orion’s successful flight test last year,” said Kirasich. “As we manufacture and deliver The latest quarterly video produced by NASA’s hardware and software for Orion’s next mission during the Exploration Systems Development division features coming months and years, his leadership will be essential.” many of the manufacturing, testing and facility upgrade milestones completed in 2015 to send NASA’s Orion

u Read the full story spacecraft to deep space atop the Space Launch System on Exploration Mission-1.

u Watch the video MORE SNOOPYS FOR ORION TEAM!

Image: Charles Shulz

NASA and Lockheed Martin Orion team members were recognized this fall with Silver Snoopy awards presented at various recognition events across the country.

The top awards presented by NASA’s Space Flight Awareness program, Silver Snoopys are given to NASA employees and contractors across the agency for outstanding achievements related to human flight safety and mission success. The small silver lapel pins were flown in space and are traditionally presented by an astronaut.

Silver Snoopy events were held across Lockheed Martin Orion program sites in Houston, Denver, NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility and Kennedy Space Center. Astronauts Ricky Arnold, Stan Love, Christina Hammock Koch and Eric Boe presented the Silver Snoopys at these events.

Lockheed Martin honorees included: Lisa Akers, Matt Allen, Tim Cichan, John Creasey, Jonathan DeLaRosa, Thomas Haregot, Michael Heckwolf, Gary Keyser, Aaron Larson, Lance Lininger, John McCulley, Sandy Mossman, Jim Olson, Carolyn Overmyer, Chad Purser, Jules Schneider, Jim Skaggs, Johnny Spriggs and Todd Surla.

Pictured below: Astronaut Lee Morin presented NASA’s Elizabeth Fountain with a Silver Snoopy on Sept. 16 at Johnson Space Center in recognition of her exemplary sustained performance in contract management supporting NASA’s next human-rated exploration spacecraft. 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

Take a look back at our accomplishments from 2015. We analyzed the first Orion spacecraft which flew in 2014 and started construction and testing of the next spacecraft which will fly on the Space Launch System in 2018.

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Heat shield evaluation at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center Crew module structural test article adapter arrives at the Space in Huntsville, Alabama Power Facility at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Plum Brook Station

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Orion avionics mockup at Lockheed Martin Integrated Test Machining the aft bulkhead for EM-1 crew module at Ingersoll Lab in Littleton, Colorado Machine Tools in Rockford, Illinois

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Parachute tests at the U.S Army Yuma Proving Ground Lockheed Martin engineers perform the first weld of Orion’s in Arizona Exploration Mission-1 crew module at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans u Read u Read

Astronaut egress training at NASA Johnson Space Center’s Lockheed Martin engineers complete 5 of 7 welds at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, Texas Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana

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Airbus Defence and Space delivers the ESA - European Space ESA - European Space Agency service module structural test Agency service module structural test article to NASA Glenn article is ready for testing at the Space Power Facility at NASA Research Center’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio Glenn Research Center’s Plum Brook Station

ORION BACKSTAGE PASS

Meet the people building the spacecraft that will take humans on the journey to Mars. In this episode, Tobias Fricke, a quality engineer from Airbus Defence and Space, discusses testing a structural representation of Orion’s service module at NASA Glenn Research Center’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio. u Watch the video

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