News Archive / Tagged: Human Space Flight

• Study suggests increased cancer risk on Mars missions

  Paul KnightlyJune 13th, 2017

  A new study by researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) suggests the cancer risk for astronauts on a mission to Mars could be higher than expected. The results of the study were published in the May issue of Scientific Reports and show the risk is effectively doubled compared with previous models.

• New NASA astronaut class to be announced June 7

  Bart LeahyMay 31st, 2017

  After fielding more than 18,300 applications between December 2015 and February 2016, NASA is ready to announce its astronaut class for 2017. Out of that record-breaking number, a bare 8–14 people will be selected to be part of the agency’s next human spaceflight missions. The space agency will make the announcement at 2 p.m. EDT (18:00 GMT) on June 7, 2017.

• SLS structural test article arrives at Marshall

  Scott JohnsonMay 17th, 2017

  HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — On May 15, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) core stage engine section structural test article (STA) arrived at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama. The STA will soon be placed in a test stand located in MSFC's Building 4619 and subjected to extreme loads to certify the section for flight.

• Space Launch System (SLS) upper stage testing begins

  Scott JohnsonMay 8th, 2017

  HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A series of structural qualification tests on the SLS Integrated Spacecraft and Payload Element – a test version of the SLS upper / "in-space" section – is underway at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. The tests began on Feb. 22 and are expected to be completed by mid-May.

• NASA’s human spaceflight plans come into focus with announcement of Deep Space Gateway

  Curt GodwinApril 1st, 2017

  With NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) well into development, the agency has finally laid out plans for the early missions of its super-heavy-lift rocket. After an initial shakedown flight for Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1), the SLS will deliver components of what has been designated a "Deep Space Gateway" to lunar vicinity.

• Trump: ‘American footprints on distant worlds are not too big a dream’

  Derek RichardsonFebruary 28th, 2017

  During President Donald Trump’s first address to Congress, he made a single reference to human space exploration. However, the Feb. 28, 2017, speech, which included a number of priority policy items, did not give any clue to any proposed direction the 45th U.S. president has in mind for NASA.

• Space Launch System upper stage testing set to begin

  Scott JohnsonNovember 22nd, 2016

  Huntsville, Ala. — This past week, on Nov. 15, a test version of the Space Launch System's (SLS) Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) was moved to Marshall Space Flight Center's (MSFC) historic West Test Area in preparation for early 2017 testing. SpaceFlight Insider was on hand at a media event following the move.

• New photos emerge of SpaceX ITS LOX tank

  Scott JohnsonNovember 15th, 2016

  On Friday, Nov. 11, Reddit / Imgur user Death_Cog_Unit posted new photos of what is purported to be SpaceX's Interplanetary Transport System (ITS) – formerly Mars Colonial Transporter (MCT) – liquid oxygen tank (LOX) being loaded / unloaded on a barge in Anacortes, Washington.

• Orion heat shield arrives at Kennedy Space Center

  Scott JohnsonSeptember 22nd, 2016

  The titanium truss structure component (along with its composite "skin") of the Exploration Mission (EM) -1 Orion crew capsule heat shield has arrived at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. With this new portion of hardware in place, NASA is one step closer to conducting the maiden flight of the SLS rocket.

• NASA’s EM-1 Orion spacecraft ready to ship to Florida

  Scott JohnsonJanuary 30th, 2016

  NEW ORLEANS, La. — On Jan. 26, NASA and Lockheed Martin hosted members of the media at the agency's MAF, to view the recently completed EM-1 Orion pressure vessel – the underlying structure on which all of the spacecraft’s systems and subsystems will be built and integrated.

• NASA Administrator views progress of new Marshall Center test stand

  Scott JohnsonDecember 15th, 2015

  On Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, astronaut Butch Wilmore, members of the media, and others gathered at the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center to view progress on the new SLS core stage liquid hydrogen tank test stand.

• NASA signs new Space Launch System RS-25 engine contract

  Scott JohnsonNovember 26th, 2015

  On Monday, Nov. 23, 2015, NASA and Aerojet Rocketdyne announced a $1.16 billion contract for Aerojet Rocketdyne to resume production of the RS-25 engines that helped power the Shuttle to orbit for 30 years.

• 8th Wernher von Braun Memorial Symposium

  Scott JohnsonNovember 4th, 2015

  Last week, SpaceFlight Insider had the opportunity to attend the American Astronautical Society's (AAS) 8th Wernher von Braun Memorial Symposium at The University of Alabama, Huntsville.

• George Mueller, ‘Father’ of the Space Shuttle, passes away

  Scott JohnsonOctober 18th, 2015

  Dr. George E. Mueller, the leader of NASA's human spaceflight programs in the 1960s, died of congestive heart failure on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, at his home in Irvine, Cal. He was 97 and is survived by his second wife, Darla; two children from his first marriage, Jean Porter and Karen Hyvonen; two stepchildren, Wendy Schwartzman and Bill Schwartzman; 13 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

• NASA names John Honeycutt new SLS Program Manager

  Scott JohnsonOctober 12th, 2015

  This past week, NASA named John Honeycutt as the manager for the U.S. space agency’s Space Launch System (SLS) Program. Honeycutt succeeds Todd May, who in August was promoted to deputy director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) located in Huntsville, Alabama.