First Orion test flight slips to December
Posted: Sat, Mar 15, 2014, 9:45 AM ET (1345 GMT)
The first launch of NASA's Orion spacecraft has been delayed from September to December because of issues with the launch manifest, NASA announced late Friday. The Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) mission will launch an uncrewed Orion atop a Delta 4 Heavy rocket into an elliptical orbit to test spacecraft systems, including a high-speed reentry. NASA announced late Friday that while the spacecraft will be ready to support a launch in September or October, they are now targeting a launch in early December so that United Launch Alliance (ULA), which constructs Atlas and Delta rockets, can "support allowing more opportunities for launches this year." Reports speculate that the delay will make room for ULA to launch a pair of previously-classified space surveillance satellites prior to the Orion test.
The first launch of NASA's Orion spacecraft has been delayed from September to December because of issues with the launch manifest, NASA announced late Friday. The Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) mission will launch an uncrewed Orion atop a Delta 4 Heavy rocket into an elliptical orbit to test spacecraft systems, including a high-speed reentry. NASA announced late Friday that while the spacecraft will be ready to support a launch in September or October, they are now targeting a launch in early December so that United Launch Alliance (ULA), which constructs Atlas and Delta rockets, can "support allowing more opportunities for launches this year." Reports speculate that the delay will make room for ULA to launch a pair of previously-classified space surveillance satellites prior to the Orion test.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, January 20
Gilmour Space’s mega-raising turns rocket maker into unicorn
Australian Financial Review — 5:41 am ET (1041 GMT) Adam’s last rocket blew up. Taxpayers are betting $75m the next one will go better
The Age — 5:39 am ET (1039 GMT) Rocket fuel: Gilmour Space hits unicorn status after $217 million Series E
Startup Daily — 5:38 am ET (1038 GMT) Gilmour Space secures $217M investment to scale Australian space manufacturing capability
Australian Manufacturing — 5:38 am ET (1038 GMT) Gilmour Space secures major Australian investment to scale sovereign space capability
Gilmour Space — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) |
