Category: NASA

Image credit: NASA
Eleven new astronaut candidates are joining the ranks of space explorers. NASA introduced the new class during a Space Day celebration today at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The class of 2004 will be the first focused from the very beginning on realizing the new Vision for Space Exploration.

NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe called members of the new astronaut class, “our next generation of explorers, who’ll help blaze a galactic trail through the solar system.

“We are indeed living in an age of heroic potential, as we move forward in the Solar System to explore mysterious new worlds, make important new discoveries and help to expand the sense of possibility for all humans on his planet,” O’Keefe said.

Former Astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn, who introduced O’Keefe, looked back, and ahead. “How far we’ve come in the past few years,” he said, “how far we yet have to go, and how much we have yet to learn. I’m envious of the young people just coming into the space program now for the opportunities that they have.”

The class includes pilots, mission specialists (MS) and three new mission specialist-educator (MS-E) astronauts, teachers who will help ensure there’s always a next generation primed to explore.

The astronaut candidates:

# Mission Specialist-Educator Joe Acaba: A 36-year-old teacher at Dunnellon Middle School in Florida and a former Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic.

# Mission Specialist-Educator Ricky Arnold: A 40-year-old math and science teacher at the American International School of Bucharest, Romania; he’s also taught in Morocco, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.

# Pilot Randy Bresnik: A 36-year-old Marine Corps major, F/A-18 pilot and experimental test pilot who’s getting married this month in a Scottish castle.

# Mission Specialist Chris Cassidy: A 34-year old Navy Seal who has done two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

# Pilot Jim Dutton: A 35-year-old U.S. Air Force major and F/A-22 test pilot who flew combat air patrols over northern Iraq in the 1990s.

# Mission Specialist Jose Hernandez: A 41-year-old engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston; grew up as a migrant farm worker before settling in Stockton, Calif.

# Mission Specialist Shane Kimbrough : A 36-year-old U.S. Army major and flight simulation engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston; served as a platoon leader in an Apache helicopter company during Desert Storm.

# Mission Specialist Tom Marshburn: A 43-year-old flight surgeon at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston; also an avid mountain climber and a private pilot.

# Mission Specialist-Educator Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger: A 29-year-old science teacher at Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver, Wash.; she was a championship runner in college.

# Mission Specialist Bobby Satcher Jr.: A 38-year-old M.D. and orthopedic surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago; he’s done charity medical work overseas.

# Mission Specialist Shannon Walker: A 38-year-old Ph.D and manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston; she’s lived and worked in Russia, and is an avid private pilot.

After their formal introduction, the new astronaut candidates joined students from NASA’s Earth Crew at an afternoon webcast from NASA Headquarters. The kids introduced the class and showered them with cheers and confetti.

Also at that event, NASA’s Deputy Administrator Fred Gregory read a special Space Day message from President Bush, congratulating the class and praising “America’s spirit of discovery and innovation.”

The candidates will report to NASA’s Johnson Space Center this summer. Once settled in Houston, they will begin the intensive training. Initially, they will undergo land survival training, T-38 jet ground and flight training, Shuttle orbiter systems training, Space Station systems training, science and engineering briefings, and orientation tours at all NASA centers, including the Kennedy Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center.

“These are the men and women who will help us ‘extend life to there,'” Readdy said. “Naming this new class is an important next step in our exploration goals.”

“Right now, tomorrow’s space explorers are seated in America’s classrooms. As NASA carries out the vision for space exploration, the Education Enterprise remains committed to working closely with our nation’s schools, fostering learning environments that will stimulate students to participate in the journey to go to the Moon, Mars and beyond,” said Dr. Adena Loston, NASA’s Associate Administrator for Education.

Original Source: NASA News Release

The NASA program that offers cash prizes for the development of new capabilities to help meet the agency’s exploration and program goals is conducting its first workshop June 15-16 at the Hilton Hotel, Washington.

Centennial Challenges is a novel program of challenges, competitions, and prizes. NASA plans to tap the innovative talents of the nation to make revolutionary, breakthrough advances to support Vision for Space Exploration and other NASA priorities.

“Centennial Challenges is a small but potentially high-leverage investment by NASA to help address some of our most difficult hurdles in research and exploration,” said NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe. “I look forward to stimulating competitions and very innovative wins that advance the nation’s Vision for Space Exploration,” he added.

The goal of Centennial Challenges is to stimulate innovation in fundamental technologies, robotic capabilities, and very low-cost space missions by establishing prize purses for specific achievements in technical areas of interest to NASA. By making awards based on achievements, not proposals, NASA hopes to bring innovative solutions from academia, industry, and the public to bear on solar system exploration and other technical challenges.

“From 18th century seafaring, early 20th century aviation to today’s private sector space flight, prizes have played a key role in spurring new achievements in science, technology, engineering, and exploration,” said Craig Steidle, NASA’s Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems. “The Centennial Challenges Program is modeled on the successful history of past prize contests, and I am proud the Office of Exploration Systems is shepherding this path-finding program for NASA,” he added.

“This workshop will help NASA develop challenges that are of high value to the agency,” said Brant Sponberg, Centennial Challenges Program Manager. “The workshop also will provide input into what challenges NASA announces this year and next year and what the rules for those competitions will be. It should be an invigorating way to lay the groundwork for this exciting program,” he said.

NASA invites individuals and organizations interested in competing to attend the 2004 Centennial Challenges Workshop. The agenda and registration information for the workshop is available on the Internet at:

http://www.tisconferences.com/nasa_centennial/

NASA plans annual Centennial Challenges workshops. For information about the program on the Internet, visit:

centennialchallenges.nasa.gov

Original Source: NASA News Release

Image credit: NASA
NASA has set Saturday, March 27, for the flight of its experimental X-43A research vehicle. The unpiloted 12-foot-long vehicle, part aircraft and part spacecraft, will be dropped from the wing of a B-52 aircraft, boosted to nearly 100,000 feet by a booster rocket and released over the Pacific Ocean to briefly fly under its own power at seven times the speed of sound, almost 5,000 mph.

The flight is part of the Hyper-X program, a research effort designed to demonstrate alternate propulsion technologies for access to space and high-speed flight within the atmosphere. It will provide unique “first time” free flight data on hypersonic air-breathing engine technologies that have large potential pay-offs.

Hyper-X is inherently a high-risk program. No vehicle has ever flown at hypersonic speeds powered by an air-breathing scramjet engine. In addition, the rocket boost and subsequent separation from the rocket to get to the scramjet test condition have complex elements that must work properly for the mission to be successful.

The $250 million program began with conceptual design and scramjet engine wind tunnel work in 1996. In a scramjet (supersonic-combustion ramjet), the flow of air through the engine remains supersonic, or greater than the speed of sound, for optimum engine efficiency and vehicle speed. There are few or no moving parts, but achieving proper ignition and combustion in a matter of milliseconds proved to be an engineering challenge of the highest order. After a series of successful wind tunnel tests, however, NASA is ready to prove that air-breathing scramjets work in flight.

This will mark the first time a non-rocket, air-breathing scramjet engine has powered a vehicle in flight at hypersonic speeds, defined as speeds above Mach 5 or five times the speed of sound.

Researchers believe these technologies may someday offer more airplane-like operations and other benefits compared to traditional rocket systems. Rockets provide limited throttle control and must carry heavy tanks filled with liquid oxygen, necessary for combustion of fuel. An air-breathing engine, like that on the X-43A, scoops oxygen from the air as it flies. The weight savings could be used to increase payload capacity, increase range or reduce vehicle size for the same payload.

The X-43A will fly in the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Sea Range over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California.

After booster burnout, the 2,800-pound, wedge-shaped research vehicle will separate and fly on its own to perform a preprogrammed set of tasks. After an approximate ten second test firing of the engine, the X-43A will glide through the atmosphere conducting a series of aerodynamic maneuvers for up to six minutes on its way to splashdown.

This will be the second flight in the X-43A project. On June 2, 2001, the first X-43A vehicle was lost moments after release from the wing of the B-52. Following booster ignition, the combined booster and X-43A vehicle deviated from its flight path and was deliberately destroyed. Investigation into the mishap showed that there was no single contributing factor, but the root cause of the problem was identified as the control system of the booster.

For this flight, the B-52 will carry the booster with the attached X-43A to at least 40,000 feet before its release, versus the 24,000 feet of the first attempt. The booster will carry the X-43A research vehicle to approximately the same test conditions — altitude and speed — as planned for the first flight.

NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., and Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., jointly conduct the Hyper-X program.

A video clip, images and additional information about the project are available on the Internet at:

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/x43-main.html

NASA Television will carry the flight and the post-flight news briefing live. NASA TV is available on AMC 9, TRANSPONDER 9C, 85 degrees west longitude, vertical polarization with a frequency of 3880 MHz and audio of 6.8 MHz.

Original Source: NASA News Release

Image credit: NASA/JPL
NASA has a new partner in its mission to explore the universe and search for life.

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Naval Reactors (NR) Program joins NASA in its effort to investigate and develop space nuclear power and propulsion technologies for civilian applications. These activities could enable unprecedented space exploration missions and scientific return unachievable with current technology.

NR brings 50-plus years of practical experience in developing safe, rugged, reliable, compact and long-lived reactor systems designed to operate in unforgiving environments. NR is a joint DOE and Department of the Navy organization responsible for all aspects of naval nuclear propulsion.

The partnership is responsible for developing the first NASA spacecraft, the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO), that will take advantage of a nuclear-reactor energy source for exploring our solar system. JIMO will visit Jupiter’s three icy moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. These icy worlds, in particular Europa, are believed to have liquid-water oceans, under a thick layer of ice on their surfaces, which could potentially harbor life.

The reactor system will provide substantially more electrical power. This will greatly enhance the capability of ion-drive propulsion, the number and variety of scientific instruments on the spacecraft, the rate of data transmission, and orbital maneuvering around Jupiter’s moons.

NASA sought this partnership because NR has an enduring commitment to safety and environmental stewardship that is a requirement for an undertaking of this magnitude, ” said NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe.

“This partnership will help ensure the safe development and use of a space-fission reactor to enable unparalleled science and discovery as we explore the solar system and beyond. This work is an integral piece of the President’s exploration agenda,” Administrator O’Keefe said.

NASA, through its newly created Office of Exploration Systems, expects that several reactor modules of the same or similar design as that required for JIMO would be developed for use on future exploration missions. NR will direct and oversee the development, design and delivery of, and operational support for these civilian reactor modules.

The Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, another DOE organization with extensive nuclear-reactor development experience, will retain responsibility for supporting NASA’s other space nuclear technology efforts, including long-term space-reactor science and technology development not associated with NR’s responsibilities.

All activities in support of NASA will be conducted as part of NR’s civilian responsibilities for the National Nuclear Security Administration, a semi-autonomous agency of DOE. Activities in support of NASA are not part of NR’s Navy responsibilities or any Department of Defense activities. This partnership with NASA is consistent with NR’s history of supporting fission-reactor work for civilian applications, including the first U.S. commercial production of electricity from nuclear power at the Shippingport Atomic Power Station.

NASA will fund all work under the partnership. Specific roles and responsibilities will be defined in Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements currently being drafted by NASA and NR. NR and the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy will also review capabilities and facilities at DOE laboratories outside NR for consideration in support of JIMO and other Project Prometheus activities.

Established in 2003, Project Prometheus is developing radioisotope electric power sources for use in space and on planets or moons, as well as new fission-reactor power sources for advanced missions into deep space requiring higher power levels for science observations, propulsion, communications and life support systems.

More information on Project Prometheus is available at:
http://spacescience.nasa.gov/missions/prometheus.htm

More information on the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter is available at:
http://spacescience.nasa.gov/missions/JIMO.pdf

Original Source: NASA News Release

Image credit: NASA
The IMAX Corporation today, in association with Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks, and aerospace technology leader Lockheed Martin Corporation, announced a new IMAX? 3-D space film, which will take moviegoers to the moon and allow them to walk side-by-side with the brave astronauts of the Apollo program.

IMAX will produce “Magnificent Desolation” along with Hanks’ and Gary Goetzman’s production company Playtone. Lockheed Martin will sponsor it.

“NASA is proud to collaborate with Playtone, as well as continue our successful relationships with IMAX and Lockheed Martin,” said Glenn Mahone, Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Tom Hanks’ enthusiasm for exploration is clearly evident in his previous productions that chronicle NASA’s remarkable history, and we believe ‘Magnificent Desolation’ is a wonderful opportunity to capture the interest and curiosity of the next generation of explorers.”

The film will take the audience to the surface of the moon, to the Ocean of Storms, the Fra Mauro Highlands and the Taurus Littrow Valley, as well as the Sea of Tranquility, as only IMAX? 3-D cameras can. “Magnificent Desolation” continues IMAX’s space film legacy and its unique production partnership with Lockheed Martin and NASA.

“We believe ‘Magnificent Desolation’ holds the potential to be extremely successful given the exciting subject matter and Tom Hanks’ passion and creative vision. The film will be designed by Playtone and IMAX to play at both commercial and institutional IMAX? theaters for many years,” said IMAX Co-CEOs and Co-Chairmen Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. “We are thrilled to partner once again with Lockheed Martin, which together with NASA and IMAX have created one of the highest-grossing large-format film franchises, featuring space films that have cumulatively grossed more than $350 million.”

“For nearly 20 years, Lockheed Martin has teamed with IMAX and NASA to produce films with the goal of educating and inspiring young and old about the wonders of math, science and technology through the prism of space,” said Dennis Boxx, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Lockheed Martin Corporation. “And through our newly formed partnership with IMAX, NASA and now the creative team headed by Tom Hanks, a new generation will be enticed by the excitement and drama the astronauts of the Apollo program brought into our homes as they dared to dream of space and set foot on the lunar surface.”

IMAX? space films have been seen by over 85 million people and played in over 15 languages worldwide. The most recent collaboration between Lockheed Martin, NASA and IMAX was the extremely successful release of “SPACE STATION,” an IMAX? 3-D film released in April 2002, which has grossed nearly $70 million at the box office and continues to play in theaters worldwide.

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov
For more information about the IMAX corporation on the Internet, visit:

http://www.imax.com

Original Source: NASA News Release

NASA’s Office of Biological and Physical Research recently selected 22 researchers to receive grants of up to four years to conduct research and development in advanced human support technologies. These technologies are expected to have a significant impact on the ability of humans to conduct long-duration space flight missions safely. Benefits to the quality of life on Earth from improved environmental technologies may also result from this research.

The proposals were selected for one-to-four-year efforts, and are potentially worth $16.5 million over four years. Work under these grants will enhance safe human space flight in both low earth orbit, where the International Space Station operates, and in exploration of the solar system beyond low earth orbit.

Five of the grants are for new technologies in advanced environmental monitoring of space habitats. Three grants address strategies for advanced control systems or systems analysis. Two projects are for biomass production. Four projects focus on space human-factors engineering. Eight others address novel approaches to waste processing, including air revitalization, water recycling and treatment of solid wastes.

NASA received 122 proposals in response to a NASA Research Announcement, which was released in March 2003. The proposals were peer-reviewed by scientific and technical experts from academia, government and industry before selections were made. In addition to technical and scientific merit, selection criteria also included cost, relevance to NASA programs and feasibility of utilization by NASA.

For a listing of the selected researchers, listed by state, along with their institutions and their research titles, visit:

http://research.hq.nasa.gov/code_u/nra/current/NRA-03-OBPR-01/winners.html
For more information on space research, visit:

http://spaceresearch.nasa.gov/

Original Source: NASA News Release

NASA has released its fiscal year 2005 budget, which includes specific prizes for the various activities outlined in President Bush’s new space initiative announced earlier in January. One interesting line item is $20 million set aside for something called the “Centennial Challenges“. Here’s the description:

Request includes funding to establish a series of annual prizes for revolutionary, breakthrough accomplishments that advance exploration of the solar system and beyond and other NASA goals. Some of the most difficult technical challenges to exploration will require very novel solutions from non-traditional sources of innovation. By making awards based on actual achievements instead of proposals, NASA will tap innovators in academia, industry, and the public who do not normally work on NASA issues. Centennial Challenges will be modeled on past successes, including 19th century navigation prizes, early 20th century aviation prizes, and more recent prizes offered by the U.S. government and private sector. Examples of potential Centennial Challenges include very-low-cost space missions, contests to demonstrate highly mobile, capable, and survivable robotic systems, and fundamental advances in technical areas like lander navigation, spacecraft power systems, life detection sensors, and nano-materials.

This sounds like NASA is going to be awarding prizes for successful space accomplishments, similar to the privately-funded $10 million X-Prize that will reward the first private firm to achieve sub-orbital flight twice within two weeks. Prizes like this have been one of the most successful technology drivers in the past; one of the best known examples is the Orteig Prize, won by Charles Lindbergh, which demonstrated that flights across the Atlantic Ocean were possible.

Pretty exciting news, we’ll see how this turns out.

Fraser Cain
Publisher
Universe Today

P.S. Thanks to Spaceprojects.com for the heads up.

NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe faced some tough questions from US senators on Wednesday as they attempted to learn how the agency would actually pay for the ambitious plan presented by President Bush a few weeks ago. Senator Bill Nelson was concerned that Bush didn’t mention the space initiative in his State of the Union announcement just six days later, “if we don’t put the full weight of the president behind it, I’m afraid it’s going to fizzle.”

Image credit: NASA

NASA announced on Thursday that it would be reorganizing aspects of the agency to better support the new vision of space exploration laid out by George Bush earlier in the week. The Office of Exploration Systems was created, and will be led by Craig Steidle to build the equipment that will take humans back to the Moon. A special committee was appointed by the President, and is expected to deliver a more concrete plan for the space initiative within four months.

In a move designed to align the agency with the new exploration agenda outlined yesterday by President George W. Bush, NASA Deputy Administrator Frederick D. Gregory announced a comprehensive restructuring of the offices within Headquarters in Washington.

The alignment impacts NASA management, the strategic Enterprises, and the agency’s functional offices. The new alignment goes into effect immediately and reflects the new vision and the results of a comprehensive review of Headquarters operations, which first began when Gregory became Deputy Administrator in 2002.

Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Craig E. Steidle is the new Associate Administrator, Office of Exploration Systems. Since retiring from the Navy in March, 2000, he has been an independent aerospace consultant. He was Chief Aerospace Engineer and Vice Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, which develops, acquires and supports naval aeronautical systems, when he retired.

The Office of Exploration Systems is established to set priorities and direct the identification, development, and validation of exploration systems and related technologies. Users and technologists will work together to enable a balancing of factors between requirements, program schedules and costs.

Steidle entered the Navy after graduating with merit from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. He trained as an attack pilot, test pilot and test pilot instructor. Steidle commanded the Navy’s F/A-18 Program, naval aviation’s largest production, research and development program, as well as the largest Foreign Military Sales Program. The Secretary of Defense presented Steidle with the Navy’s Outstanding Program Manager Award. While Director of the Joint Strike Fighter Program, the program was awarded the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award.

Steidle earned Master of Science degrees in Systems Management and Aerospace Engineering. He is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Dr. J. Victor Lebacqz is the new Associate Administrator, Office of Aeronautics, which was previously known as the Office of Aerospace Technology. He has served as Acting Associate Administrator of the Office of Aerospace Technology since July 2003. He was appointed as Deputy Associate Administrator in December 2002.

The new Office of Aeronautics was created to reflect NASA’s commitment to aviation research and aeronautics technologies for the nation’s civil and defense interests.

“This alignment gives us the ability to specifically focus on our aeronautics and exploration systems,” Gregory said. “These management adjustments will give us new opportunities for more effective leadership, policy and program success.”

The changes are consistent with NASA’s ongoing responses to the management and cultural issues addressed by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. “We live in a different world than we did just a few years ago, and our management structure should reflect the priorities and objectives of our commitments,” Gregory added.

The Office of the NASA Administrator will be streamlined to allow for more independent leadership in areas vital to the execution of NASA’s vision and mission. Among the changes, three new independent offices will be created.

The new offices include:

* The Office of Chief Engineer is established to ensure agency development efforts and mission operations are planned and conducted using sound engineering
* The Office of Health and Medical Systems is established to ensure the well-being of the NASA workforce and to provide independent oversight authority for healthcare, related research and information
* The Office of the Chief Information Officer is established to manage the agency’s Information Technology (IT) investments, lead the development of an IT strategic plan, and create a roadmap to guide the agency’s IT programs and policies.
* The Office of Institutional and Corporate Management (Code O) is established to lead the oversight of NASA’s management systems, institutional, and corporate activities

Leadership for the new offices, as well as staffing requirements and resource allocations, will be addressed as the new alignment is implemented this calendar year.

For additional information about NASA and management programs on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Original Source: NASA News Release

Image credit: NASA

NASA has tested out rocket engines and parachutes that could help astronauts escape from the Orbital Space Plane (OSP) if there’s a problem on the launch pad. The RS-88 engines, which would launch the astronauts away from the OSP, were fired 14 times for a total of 15 seconds of operation. The parachutes were tested at the US Army’s Yuma Proving Grounds and verified that the four main and single drogue parachutes were working as expected. NASA has several Pad Abort Demonstration tests planned for the future, which should give astronauts a better chance of surviving if there’s a problem with the spacecraft.

NASA has tested rocket engines and parachutes that could be instrumental in developing the first spacecraft crew launch escape system in almost 30 years.

The tests pave the way for a series of integrated Pad Abort Demonstration (PAD) test flights to support NASA’s Orbital Space Plane (OSP) program. Launch pad abort tests support development of a system that could pull a crew safely away from danger during liftoff. Knowledge gained from the testing will reduce the future design and development risks of a launch escape system that could be used for the OSP.

“PAD is the first launch pad crew escape system NASA has developed since Apollo,” said Chuck Shaw, PAD Project Manager at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston. “The engine and parachute tests followed successful vehicle wind tunnel tests in September.”

The engines were fired in tests at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Ala., in November and December. A series of 14 hot-fire tests of a 50,000-pound thrust RS-88 rocket engine were conducted, resulting in a total of 55 seconds of successful engine operation. The final test was completed Dec. 11. The engine is being designed and built by the Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power unit of The Boeing Company.

The parachutes were tested at the Army’s Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz., Dec. 9. The tests verify the function, performance and stability of an 80-foot drogue parachute and four 156-foot main parachutes. A 12.5-ton pallet, simulating the size and weight of a crewed vehicle, was dropped from 10,000 feet. The pallet descended to a soft landing under almost two acres of parachutes. A second set of parachute tests will be conducted at Yuma in spring 2004.

Integrated launch abort demonstration tests in 2005 will use four RS-88 engines to separate a test vehicle from a test platform, simulating pulling a crewed vehicle away from an aborted launch. Four 156-foot parachutes will deploy and carry the vehicle to landing. Lockheed Martin Corporation is building the vehicle for the PAD tests. “The separate subsystem tests will allow NASA and Lockheed Martin to begin integration of the test vehicle, its engines and parachutes over the next year,” Shaw said.

Seven integrated PAD test flights are planned during 2005/06. For the initial PAD flight test in mid-2005, a representative crew escape module will be mounted on a pusher propulsion module. Instrumented mannequins will represent a spacecraft crew during the tests.

NASA awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin in November 2002, to design and build a crew escape and survivability system demonstrator and to establish a flexible test bed for use in support of the OSP program.

The OSP program will support U.S. International Space Station requirements for crew transport, rescue and contingency cargo. The OSP will initially launch on an expendable vehicle and provide rescue capability for at least four crewmembers. OSP could launch as early as 2008. Crew transfer for the Station is planned as soon as practical, but no later than 2012. The PAD project is managed at JSC for the OSP Program. The OSP Program is managed at MSFC.

Original Source: NASA News Release