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NASA conducted a ceremony at the Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, run by the Glenn Research Center, to mark the completion of environmental testing of the Orion spacecraft that will fly the Artemis 1 mission The Orion spacecraft scheduled to fly on the first launch of the Space Launch System has completed testing at an Ohio facility and will soon be shipped out to the Kennedy Space Center for final launch preparations. NASA conducted a ceremony at the Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, run by the Glenn Research Center, to mark the completion of environmental testing of the Orion spacecraft that will fly the Artemis 1 mission. The spacecraft arrived in Plum Brook in November 2019, for thermal vacuum and electromagnetic environment testing. "The tests were extremely successful," said Jules Schneider, director of assembly, test, and launch operations for Orion at Lockheed Martin. "The thermal vacuum tests, where the spacecraft was subjected to temperatures ranging from about –155 to 150 degrees Celsius, were completed in 47 days instead of the planned 63 days." The spacecraft also went through an electromagnetic interference and compatibility of spacecraft systems tests. However, these took longer than expected, being completed in 13 days instead of the planned 8. The tests did not reveal any significant issues with the spacecraft. “We learned some things, but nothing jumped out at us. We didn’t discover anything that was going to pose major problems for us to operate the spacecraft, things that would force us to go back in and either change the design or the location of anything,” said Jules. The spacecraft will now be moved back to the Kennedy Space Center on a Super Guppy aircraft. The final processing for its launch will be completed at the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. Currently, Lockheed is preparing to continue the work despite the growing impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. While access to the Kennedy Space Center is not restricted, center officials have agreed to consider Orion's work to be essential. This means that staff can continue to go on-site even if the center institutes mandatory telework. The spacecraft is expected to be formally handed over to ground systems contractor Jacobs in June. Once the handover is complete, it will mark the end of Lockheed’s work on the spacecraft under its contract. Jacobs will then be responsible for launch preparations, such as fueling the spacecraft and later integrating the spacecraft with the SLS. See Also:  Top Space Technology Companies ...Read more

The CSF represents large companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin, but the majority of its members are small and medium-sized entrepreneurial companies that are prone to the be impacted by the COVID- 19 pandemic The Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF), an industry group representing 85 companies in the space sector, is working with congressional committees to ensure coronavirus stimulus legislation includes assistance for small and mid-size suppliers. The CSF represents large companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin, but the majority of its members are small and medium-sized entrepreneurial companies that are prone to the be impacted by the COVID- 19 pandemic . According to CSF President Eric Stallmer, the smaller companies stand the risk of going out of business or their investments drying up due to the outbreak of the virus. “The large companies will weather the storm,” he said. “I’m worried about their suppliers. Those are going to need help.” Last week, the CSF sent a letter to the congressional leaders warning that the unfolding crisis threatens to inflict lasting harm to the space industry. The current emergency is unprecedented and has an impact on nearly every sector of the U.S. economy. As a result, it is not helpful for trade organizations to fight over what industries should deserve help from the government at the expense of others. “We recognize the number-one priority is the health of the nation,” said Stallmer. The space industry in the U.S. enjoys widespread support from Capitol Hill due to its significance in national security and for being a driving factor of economic growth. “Congressional staff and members that have been champions of the space industry reached out to us and asked what they can do to help,” said Stallmer. One of CSF's proposal includes the establishment of a USD 5 billion grant or low-interest loan program to help small and medium firms weather the storm over the next several months. Stallmer stated that it is difficult to pin down solutions with everything being very fluid with the virus still spreading and Congress writing legislation while events unfold. “We are asking for help so small companies can keep their employees through the crisis,” he said. “This is not the time for everyone to try to push their wish list.” See also:  Top Aerospace Tech Solution Companies ...Read more

The company stated that the Talon-A is a flexible, high-speed testbed built for offensive hypersonics, hypersonic defense, and hypersonic R&D Air launch company Stratolaunch has started developing a reusable hypersonic vehicle designed to be launched from the company’s giant aircraft. The company founded by late billionaire Paul Allen has named the vehicle Talon-A. The vehicle, powered by a liquid propellant rocket engine, will be launched from the company's aircraft and will be capable of flying up to speeds of Mach 5 to Mach 7 before gliding back to a runway landing. It will also be able to take off on its own from a runway under rocket power. [vendor_logo_first] The company stated that the Talon-A is a flexible, high-speed testbed built for offensive hypersonics, hypersonic defense, and hypersonic R&D. “Our hypersonic testbeds will serve as a catalyst in sparking a renaissance in hypersonic technologies for our government, the commercial sector, and academia," said Jean Floyd, chief executive of Stratolaunch. The company expects an initial operating capability for the vehicle in 2022. Stratolaunch plans to support multiple Talon-A missions on a single flight of its aircraft by 2023. The company believes they can place up to three Talon-A vehicles on a single aircraft. “This unique capability enables multiple hypersonic flight opportunities on a single day or the near-simultaneous launch of three Talon vehicles, which may support specific operational scenarios,” the company stated. The vehicle is designed to be 8.5 meters long with a wingspan of 3.4 meters and a total mass of about 2,720 kilograms at launch. The company, however, did not disclose details about the vehicle's propulsion system. Company spokesperson Art Pettigrue stated that the company planned to procure the engine from another company, which will be named at a later date. Stratolaunch refused to discuss the cost of developing the vehicle. "The company has been recapitalized by a private investor group with a long-term horizon that includes funding for its initial development," added Pettigrue. The announcement confirms Stratolaunch’s pivot from a launch services company to one that will provide high-speed flight test services . Allen founded Stratolaunch in 2011 to serve as an air-launch company, cycling through a series of different rocket designs before deciding to use the existing Pegasus XL rocket from Northrop Grumman. See also:  Top Aerospace Tech Solution Companies ...Read more