Orion
It means transferring possession of the craft from the company to NASA’s own Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) team. A significant milestone for NASA and the Artemis industry team, they will start to prepare to launch a crew of four astronauts for establishing a human presence on the Moon again.
Specifically, Lockheed built this version of Orion’s crew module, crew module adaptor and launch abort system. It describes Orion as the most advanced, human-rated, deep space spacecraft ever developed.
The company explains:
“To support the health and safety of the crew, new systems have been added, which include life support – air, water, thermal control, waste management – displays and controls, audio communications, an exercise machine and a fully functional Launch Abort System. Additionally, the vehicle is outfitted with a subset of docking sensors and an experimental laser communication system, enabling high data-rate communications and paving the way for future missions.”
Milestone
The plan is the mission will build the foundation for humans travelling to Mars.
“This achievement is a testament to our employees and suppliers who have worked tirelessly to get us to this important milestone,” said Kirk Shireman, vp of Human Space Exploration and Orion program manager at Lockheed Martin.
“The Orion spacecraft completion for Artemis II is a major step forward in our nation’s efforts to develop a long-term lunar presence. It’s exciting to think that soon, humans will see the Earth rise over the lunar horizon from our vehicle, while also travelling farther from Earth than ever before.”
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for Orion on the various Artemis Missions.
Launch
What comes next? Orion be moved from the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to various processing facilities.
EGS will load propellants and other consumables, such as water and oxygen, and install the launch abort system and its protective fairings.
When this is complete, it will then travel to the Vehicle Assembly Building. Here, EGS will lift it onto the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion will undergo final preparations for launch.
Artemis II
Artemis II is the second launch in NASA’s programme to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon by 2028.
The uncrewed Artemis 1 launched on 16 November 2022. Lockheed Martin similarly announced the completed assembly and testing of the Artemis I mission craft back in January 2021.
Artemis II carries four crew plus the three robots. And Artemis III, in 2025, plans to land crew on the moon.
Artemis IV, in 2028, plans to link up with a space station orbiting the moon called the Lunar Gateway. Annual landings on the moon will follow as part of the preparations for a flight to Mars.
Image: Lockheed Martin
See also: Lockheed Martin completes TacSat specialised sensing satellite
