News Archive / Tagged: Exploration Mission 1

• Companies selected to study lunar landers for Artemis program

  Derek RichardsonMay 17th, 2019

  In order to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024 under the Artemis program, NASA needs to get a jump start on the development of crew-rated lunar landers.

• Orion’s European Service Module makes its debut at Kennedy Space Center

  Joe LatrellOctober 27th, 2018

  NASA's Exploration Mission 1 is just over the horizon, but it wouldn't be able to fly to the Moon without a critical component developed from a surprising source.

• Mobile Launcher test drive inches SLS one step closer to Exploration Mission-1

  Curt GodwinSeptember 1st, 2018

  A Chinese proverb roughly states: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." While this adage rings true for those undertaking Earthly ventures, it is also fitting for the launch of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS).

• NASA tests solar sail for Exploration Mission 1’S NEA Scout

  Jim SharkeyJuly 5th, 2018

  On June 28, 2018 NASA conducted a successful deployment test of the solar sail for the space agency's Near-Earth Asteroid Scout (NEA Scout) CubeSat mission. NEA Scout is a small satellite designed to study asteroids close to the Earth and is scheduled to launch on Exploratory Mission-1 (EM-1). The test was conducted inside a clean room at the NeXolve facility in Huntsville, Alabama. 

• Orion spacecraft planned for lunar mission begins construction by Lockheed Martin

  Jason RhianFebruary 14th, 2018

  Lockheed Martin has begun producing the Orion spacecraft that is planned to send NASA astronauts on a journey around the Moon. NASA's Exploration Mission 2 (EM-2) which is currently slated for a 2022 launch date has seen the first two components of the craft's pressure vessel welded together.

• First SLS hardware turned over to Ground Systems for EM-1 flight

  Bart LeahyNovember 22nd, 2017

  NASA reports that the rocket stage designated to accelerate the Orion spacecraft to the Moon in 2019 has been turned over to the Ground Systems Development and Operations (GSDO) team at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The flight stage – called the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) – is being processed for Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), the first integrated flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion.

• NASA Exploration Mission-1 managing current challenges, but launch could slip to 2020

  Bart LeahyNovember 9th, 2017

  On November 8, 2017, NASA released an update following a schedule review of Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), the first uncrewed flight test of the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft to the Moon.

• NASA conducts 5th test of RS-25 engine flight controller unit

  Heather SmithSeptember 1st, 2017

  The final test of the RS-25 engine for the new Space Launch System (SLS) took place on August 30, 2017, at Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The 500-second hot-fire test is the fifth of the RS-25 engine flight controller unit on the A-1 test stand.

• NASA: No crew to fly on EM-1

  Jason RhianMay 13th, 2017

  NASA acting administrator Robert Lightfoot and other NASA officials provided an overview of the feasibility study of having crew fly on the first flight of the agency's new super-heavy-lift rocket – the Space Launch System (SLS). Both the studies primary areas came up with one answer to the question of whether astronauts could be included on the mission: No.

• ULA gives sneak peek at SLS’ second stage before it gets shipped to Florida

  Curt GodwinFebruary 20th, 2017

  DECATUR, Ala. — United Launch Alliance invited media to their rocket factory in northern Alabama to get a look at the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage flight hardware for NASA's Space Launch System. SpaceFlight Insider was on hand at this event and had a chance to speak with industry insiders.

• Orion update for January 2017

  Mackenzie KaneJanuary 18th, 2017

  Before the end of 2016, progress on NASA's Orion capsule for Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) took some significant leaps forward. The coming year looks to be no different – with the crew-rated spacecraft being prepared for its first flight atop SLS.

• Orion Mission Update for September 2016

  Mackenzie KaneOctober 1st, 2016

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — As NASA’s Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) approaches, its science and technology are being tested and prepared across the country. EM-1 is set to launch the Orion capsule aboard the new Space Launch System (SLS) out past the Moon, crewless, for systems testing.

• Installation of heat-shielding tiles marks new phase for Orion spacecraft

  Laurel KornfeldAugust 1st, 2016

  The bonding of heat-shielding, waterproof tiles on NASA's Orion spacecraft has begun, marking a key milestone and new phase in the development of the vehicle that will replace the Space Shuttle. Designed to protect the spacecraft from 5,000-degree-Fahrenheit (2,760-degree-Celsius) heat during re-entry, the tiles are being bonded to nine panels that cover the crew module, which will one day carry astronauts into deep space beyond low-Earth orbit.

• NASA scores successful Orion solar array deployment test

  Michael ColeMarch 1st, 2016

  NASA took another important step in testing the Orion crewed spacecraft yesterday with the successful completion of a solar array deployment test inside the Space Power Facility (SPF) at NASA’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio.

• ‘S’ in SLS could stand for ‘science’ for Exploration Mission 1

  Joe LatrellFebruary 4th, 2016

  One of the criticisms of NASA's SLS has been the lack of science missions planned for the heavy-lift launch vehicle. On Tuesday, NASA worked to address those concerns with the announcement of the Science and Technology missions that have been chosen for the first SLS flight – EM 1.