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| Image above: An Earth Departure Stage, docked to
the Crew Exploration Vehicle, fires its engine to leave Earth's orbit.
Credit: NASA/John Frassanito and Associates |
Building NASA's new spacecraft: Constellation work assignments
NASA's Constellation Program is getting to work on the new spacecraft
that will return humans to the moon and blaze a trail to Mars and beyond.
Thousands of people across the agency are pulling together to meet this
challenge, with work assignments that will sustain ten healthy and productive
centers.
Each NASA center is playing a vital role in making the Vision for Space
Exploration a reality:
Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, Calif.
NASA Ames will be the lead for development of thermal protection systems
and information technology for NASA's exploration effort. This responsibility
includes developing the heat shield and aeroshell for the new spaceship
called the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). Read
More
They're also leading the development of the Lunar Crater Observation
and Sensing Satellite, which will launch with the Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter in 2008 and crash into the lunar south pole to search for water
ice. Read
More
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| Image above: Components of the Crew Exploration Vehicle.
Credit: NASA |
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif.
Dryden will lead the abort flight test integration and operations for
the CEV.
The center will support abort systems tests, drop tests, landing and recovery
tests, flight re-entry and landing profiles and range safety.
Dryden
Center Site
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
Glenn will manage the work on the CEV's service module, which will provide
maneuvering with its propulsion system, generate power using solar arrays,
and keep the vehicle cool with heat rejection radiators. Glenn is also
the lead for the upper stage of the Crew Launch Vehicle.
Glenn
Center Site
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
Goddard has responsibility for communications, tracking and support mechanisms
for the CEV. The center will also continue its work on the Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter mission, set to launch in October 2008.
Goddard
Center Site
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
JPL leads a multi-center activity in support of the Mission Operations
Project to plan systems engineering processes related to operations development
and preparation. JPL also provides co-leadership for the Constellation
Program Office Systems Engineering and Integration Software and Avionics
team.
JPL
Center Site
Johnson Space Center, Houston
Johnson, home to NASA's astronaut corps and mission control, is managing
the Constellation Program. The center will integrate the CEV, Crew Launch
and Cargo Launch Vehicles for all mission operations. JSC is the lead
for the crew module, and will provide flight operations support to the
Crew Launch Vehicle. As with Shuttle program and Apollo before, JSC will
plan missions, train crews and run mission control.
Johnson
Center Site
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Kennedy will continue its tradition of launching NASA's explorers into
space. KSC hosts the Ground Operations Project, which manages all activities
related to ground operations for the launch and landing sites, including
ground processing, launch, and recovery systems.
Kennedy
Center Site
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| Image above: The Crew Launch Vehicle, top, and the
Cargo Launch Vehicle. Credit: NASA/John Frassanito and Associates |
Langley Research Center, Hampton Roads, Va.
Langley leads Launch Abort System integration supporting the CEV Project,
providing oversight and independent analysis of the system's development.
Langley also leads the Command Module Landing System Advanced Development
Project and will support CEV testing.
Langley
Center Site
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
Marshall hosts the Constellation Launch Vehicle projects, responsible
for managing all Crew Launch and Cargo Launch Vehicle related activities.
Marshall will design the Crew Launch Vehicle's first stage and is responsible
for launch vehicle testing.
Marshall
Center Site
Stennis Space Center, Miss.
By building on more than 40 years of experience in rocket propulsion testing,
Stennis will continue to serve in its traditional test role, serving as
the integration lead for all propulsion testing. The first rocket engine
to be tested will be the J-2X, an engine similar to those tested at the
center 40 years ago for the Apollo Saturn V rockets. In the Constellation
Program, the J-2X will be used to power the Upper Stage of the Crew Launch
Vehicle.
Stennis
Center Site
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