24/7 Space News
ROCKET SCIENCE
Kennedy Space Center Enhances Altitude Chamber for Artemis II Spacecraft Trials
illustration only
Kennedy Space Center Enhances Altitude Chamber for Artemis II Spacecraft Trials
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 12, 2024

As NASA prepares for the Artemis II mission, the Orion spacecraft is set for extensive testing to ensure its readiness for lunar exploration. Engineers at Kennedy Space Center have recently upgraded the altitude chamber used for these tests. The upgrades were made in anticipation of the testing phase, ensuring the spacecraft endures conditions similar to those it will face in space.

The primary testing ground is the high bay altitude chambers in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building. Starting April 10, the tests have included evaluations of electromagnetic interference and compatibility to confirm the spacecraft's performance under both internally and externally generated electromagnetic energies.

Significant improvements were made to the west altitude chamber to facilitate testing in a simulated vacuum environment mimicking altitudes up to 250,000 feet. These enhancements have revitalized the altitude chamber testing capabilities for Orion, a procedure previously conducted at NASA's Glenn Research Center for Artemis I. Moreover, a 30-ton crane has been installed in the O&C for maneuvering the spacecraft within the facility.

On April 4, the Artemis II spacecraft was placed inside the altitude chamber, marking a milestone as it was the first human-rated spacecraft to undergo testing there since the Apollo missions. Post-testing, the spacecraft will proceed to the Final Assembly and Systems Testing (FAST) cell for further preparation, with a follow-up test scheduled for later this summer to simulate deep space vacuum conditions.

Historically, these chambers were integral during the Apollo Program for testing environmental and life support systems. Post-Apollo, they were utilized for Shuttle program leak tests on modules destined for the International Space Station. Upgrades to the west chamber include a new oxygen deficiency monitoring system, LED lighting, a modernized pressure control system, and enhanced safety features like new guardrails and service platforms.

An updated control room now supports the operation of these sophisticated systems, allowing precise management of the vacuum testing processes.

Marie Reed, the West Altitude Chamber Reactivation Project Manager, highlighted the team effort involving over 70 professionals from NASA, Lockheed Martin, Arctic Slope Research Corps, and Jacobs Engineering. "It was an amazing opportunity to lead a diverse and exceptional team to re-activate a capability for testing NASA's next-generation spacecraft that will carry humans back to the Moon," she said.

The Artemis II mission aims to orbit four astronauts around the Moon for a 10-day test flight, evaluating the Orion's life support systems in preparation for subsequent missions. This endeavor is a part of NASA's broader Artemis campaign to return humans to the Moon, focusing on the lunar South Pole.

Related Links
Artemis II
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ROCKET SCIENCE
RS-25 engines certified for future Artemis missions after long testing program
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 08, 2024
L3Harris Technologies and Aerojet Rocketdyne have concluded a comprehensive series of development and certification tests for the RS-25 engine, confirming its readiness for upcoming Artemis missions, starting with Artemis V. These tests were carried out at NASA's Stennis Space Center, involving a total of 45 development tests and 24 certification tests. The RS-25 engines, crucial for the propulsion of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), have undergone significant upgrades to meet the needs of future ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
Expedition 71 Crew Conducts Medical Exams and Spacecraft Maintenance Aboard ISS

NASA Advances Solar Sail Technology for Future Space Exploration

Emerging Markets in the Space Economy: Opportunities Beyond the West

NASA Unveils Comprehensive Space Sustainability Strategy

ROCKET SCIENCE
Russian rocket lifts off at third attempt

Private Sector Innovation and Its Impact on the Space Industry

SpaceX launches military weather satellite into orbit

Private space company, Taobao team up to test rocket-powered deliveries

ROCKET SCIENCE
Exomars 2028 and the Search for Life on Mars

Looking back at Hinman Col: Sols 4146-4147

Perseverance uncovers a watery past on Mars

Continuing up the Channel: Sols 4139-4140

ROCKET SCIENCE
Space Devices Ensure Health of Taikonauts Aboard Tiangong Space Station

Shenzhou 17 astronauts complete China's first in-space repair job

Tiangong Space Station's Solar Wings Restored After Spacewalk Repair by Shenzhou XVII Team

BIT advances microbiological research on Chinese Space Station

ROCKET SCIENCE
Navigating the New Frontier: The Space Economy and Its Global Implications

Exolaunch Collaborates with HawkEye 360 for Satellite Deployment Services

The Economics of Falling Satellite Costs and Their Global Impact

UK Space Agency allocates 13 million pounds to international space projects

ROCKET SCIENCE
Chinese Satellite Successfully Tests 3D-Printed Storage Tank in Orbit

Revising satellite reentry design to mitigate orbital debris risks

SpaceBilt and Phison Skyrocket to International Space Station in 2025

Zenno Astronautics collaborates with Faraday Factory Japan on space-bound superconducting magnets

ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA's planet-hunter TESS temporarily shuts off

New insights into Earth's carbon cycle offer clues for habitability of other planets

First 'glory' on hellish distant world

CHEOPS identifies phenomenal 'Glory' on distant exoplanet WASP-76b

ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA unveils probe bound for Jupiter's possibly life-sustaining moon

Juice mission successfully tests Callisto flyby simulation

Assessing the ages of moons from impact craters

The PI's Perspective: Needles in the Cosmic Haystack

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.