Orion and Space Launch System

Funding for Orion/SLS:  New CR funds government through April 28, protects SLS/Orion and JPSS  A proposed budget Continuing Resolution, written by House appropriators and approved by the House, would keep government agencies operating through April 28 at 2016 spending levels. However, a special provision would enable NASA’s Space Launch System, Orion and new ground support programs to spend at rates needed to support the planned November 2018 launch of Exploration Mission-1. EM-1 is to be the first unmanned test flight of the SLS and Orion, key elements of NASA’s plans to launch humans on future missions to lunar orbit and Mars. EM-1 would send Orion around the moon and back to Earth over a three week voyage. The full House, Senate and President Obama must sign off on the proposed Continuing Resolution. The current CR expires Friday, December 9 at midnight. The 2017 federal fiscal year began October 1 without a budget.

EM-2 Mission:  NASA considers shorter first crewed SLS/Orion mission  Exploration Mission-2, planned by NASA as the first crewed mission of a Space Launch System boosted Orion capsule, would orbit the Earth for a day before embarking on a free return loop around the moon and back, according to a presentation from Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for human exploration and operations, before the NASA Advisory Council. The council gathered in California last week. One previous EM-2 proposal involved a nine to 13 day mission. The latest proposal would relax propulsion requirements and life support demands on the new Orion spacecraft. The proposed eight-day version of EM-2 would follow EM-1, a three week unmanned test of an SLS launched Orion spacecraft around the moon and back to Earth planned for late 2018.

SLS Testing:  NASA shows how close its SLS rocket is to getting a ‘fatal’ squeeze  Experts at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center are bringing first-stage components of the giant Space Launch System (SLS) exploration rocket together for a series of ground tests that will simulate launch like conditions. More than 50 different tests of the hardware will begin in January. SLS is a cornerstone of NASA’s plans to resume human deep space exploration with journeys to lunar orbit and Mars by the mid-2030s. The first launch of the SLS, Exploration Mission-1, is planned for late 2018.

Citizens for Space Exploration – a pro-space, taxpayer, grassroots advocacy group (http://www.bayareahouston.com/content/c_s_e/c_s_e) – has traveled to Washington, D.C. the past 24 years to meet face-to-face with Members/staff of Congress to discuss the value of America’s investment in space exploration. In order to sustain that dialogue on a regular basis, Citizens distributes “Space Exploration Update” to Congressional offices on a weekly basis. The intent is to provide an easy, quick way to stay abreast of key human space exploration program and policy developments.