Nov. 16, 2006
Michael Braukus/Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/2087
Kelly Humphries/John Ira Petty
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
RELEASE: 06-354
NASA COMPLETES MILESTONE REVIEW OF NEXT HUMAN SPACECRAFT SYSTEM
NASA has completed a milestone first review of all systems for the
Orion spacecraft and the Ares I and Ares V rockets. The review brings
the agency a step closer to launching the nation's next human space
vehicle.
NASA completed the thorough systems requirements review of the
Constellation Program this week. Review results provide the
foundation for design, development, construction and operation of the
rockets and spacecraft necessary to take explorers to Earth orbit,
the moon, and eventually to Mars.
"This review is a critical step in making the system a reality," said
Constellation Program Manager Jeff Hanley of NASA's Johnson Space
Center, Houston. "I am proud of this dedicated and diligent NASA-wide
team. We have established the foundation for a safe and strong
transportation system and infrastructure. It is a historic first
step."
This is the first system requirements review NASA has completed for a
human spacecraft system since a review of the space shuttle's
development held in October 1972. The Constellation Program system
requirements are the product of 12 months of work by a NASA-wide
team.
The system requirements review is one in a series of reviews that will
occur before NASA and its contractors build the Orion capsule, the
Ares launch vehicles, and establish ground and mission operations.
The review guidelines narrow the scope and add detail to the system
design.
"We are confident these first requirements provide an exceptional
framework for the vehicle system," said Chris Hardcastle,
Constellation Program systems engineering and integration manager at
Johnson. "This team has done a significant amount of analysis which
will bear out as we continue with our systems engineering approach
and refine our requirements for the next human space transportation
system."
An example of the activity was a review and analysis that confirmed
the planned Ares I launch system has sufficient thrust to put the
Orion spacecraft in orbit. In fact, the Ares I thrust provides a 15
percent margin of performance in addition to the energy needed to put
the fully crewed and supplied Orion into orbit for a lunar mission.
Engineers established Orion's take off weight for lunar missions at
over 61,000 pounds.
Each Constellation project also is preparing for a narrower,
project-level systems review, according to the following schedule:
* Orion crew exploration vehicle, February 2007
* Ground operations (launch support), February 2007
* Mission operations (mission support), March 2007
* Extravehicular activity (space suits), March 2007
Once the project-level reviews are complete, the Constellation Program
will hold another full review to reconcile the baseline from this
first review with any updates from the project reviews. A lunar
architecture systems review of equipment associated with surface
exploration and science activities on the moon is expected in the
spring of 2009.
For more information about NASA's Constellation Program, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/constellationFor information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/home
