Exploration Ground Systems

Launch pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is being prepped for the first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years, with repairs underway to fixthe damage caused by the inaugural flight of the space agency’s lunar program.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewEngineers with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program are completing a set of upgrades to mobile launcher 1 and launch pad 39B in anticipation of the upcoming Artemis 2 mission, which is set to launch in late…

NASA’s Crawler Transporter 2 was originally designed to carry Saturn V rockets during the Apollo program nearly 60 years ago. The aging giant recently got a much-needed upgrade for supporting the Artemis SLS megarocket, beating its twin vehicle for a world record.China's Plan to Land Astronauts on the MoonOn Wednesday, Guinness World Records presented NASA teams at the Kennedy Space Center with a certificate confirming that, at a whopping 6.65 million pounds (3 million kilograms), Crawler Transporter 2 is the world’s…

The pre-existing liquid hydrogen tank at Kennedy Space Center, which holds roughly 50% less LH2 than the planned storage tank.Photo: NASA/Ben SmegelskyPreparations for the crewed Artemis 2 trip to the Moon are in full swing, with NASA rolling-out various fixes, upgrades, and new technologies to support the mission, which could happen as soon as 2024. Among the more exciting developments are a gigantic new hydrogen fuel tank and an updated escape system that harkens back to the Space Shuttle era.Artemis 2, the sequel to…

Orion gazes back at the Moon, on December 7, 2022.Photo: NASAAll good things come to an end, including NASA’s wildly successful Artemis 1 mission to the Moon and back. At least, it’s been successful so far, as Orion must still perform a harrowing reentry through Earth’s atmosphere. You can follow the action live right here.NASA’s coverage of this event is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. (all times Eastern), with the live broadcast available on NASA TV, YouTube and at the live stream below. The coverage will…

The Artemis 1 recovery team during a practice exercise on December 2, 2022. Photo: NASAShould all go as planned, NASA’s Orion spacecraft will splash down off the coast of Baja, California, on Sunday, December 11 at 12:40 p.m. ET. As the uncrewed capsule bobs up and down in the open ocean, a crack team will spring into action and attempt to pull off a carefully choreographed recovery operation. Here’s how we expect it to unfold.The sight of Orion floating in the Pacific Ocean will most assuredly be a welcome sight this…

Photo: NASA/Keegan BarberThe most anticipated launch of the year has finally happened, so it gives us great pleasure to show you some of the more memorable moments from this historic event. NASA’s most powerful rocket ever, Space Launch System, has passed its biggest test yet. After two scrubs, two hurricanes, and an extra launch rehearsal, NASA’s SLS finally blasted off, delivering the Orion crew capsule to space and kickstarting the Artemis lunar program. Photos of the launch were—as expected—nothing short of…

SLS at the Kennedy Space Center launch pad.Photo: NASAThe Artemis era appears to be at hand. After 12 years of anticipation, two scrubs, and two hurricanes, NASA’s 322-foot-tall (98-meter) SLS rocket is finally ready to take flight. You can watch the action live right here. Update: November 16, 2:30 a.m. ET. NASA’s SLS megarocket launched successfully at 1:47 a.m. ET. Read more here. Original post follows. Alright, so this could be it. Staying awake for a launch that could happen an hour after midnight shouldn’t pose a…

NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket shortly after arriving at the Kennedy launch pad earlier today. Photo: NASA/Joel KowskyThe towering Space Launch System is back at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, following a nine-hour trek from the nearby Vehicle Assembly Building. The agency is targeting November 14 for the rocket’s first launch, an event that will kick off the Artemis 1 mission and NASA’s return to the Moon.Could this be it? Might this finally be the last time NASA has to cart the…

Engineers repairing the area where a liquid hydrogen leak was detected during the second attempted launch of SLS on September 3. This photo was taken on September 8 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo: NASAA demonstration to confirm a repaired hydrogen leak appears to have gone well, with NASA declaring Wednesday’s cryogenic tanking test a success. Engineers still need to review the results, but the space agency could be on track to perform its third launch attempt of its SLS megarocket in just six days—a mission…

SLS at Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Photo: NASAAfter replacing faulty seals that resulted in the second scrubbed SLS launch attempt on September 3, NASA is ready to proceed with a full-scale cryogenic tanking test of its megarocket on Wednesday, which you can watch live right here. The tanking test starts bright and early on Wednesday, September 21, with the launch director expected to get the ball rolling at around 7:00 a.m. (all times Eastern). Should everything go smoothly, the test will conclude at…