On Friday, June 17, three of America’s best and brightest presented the work that is propelling their careers and passion to a “full house” on Capitol Hill. There, they shared the latest news about the nation’s next-generation deep space exploration systems – the Orion crew spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket. Moderated by former astronaut Bill Readdy, the early career professionals talked with more than 90 Congressional staff and interns about the progress of NASA’s deep space exploration programs, leading up to the first integrated test flight of Orion and SLS in 2018 and the first crewed flight in 2021. The event was sponsored by Coalition founding members Aerojet Rocketdyne, OrbitalATK, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing.
The three panel participants were:
Myron Fletcher – Myron is a Rocket Propulsion Engineer for Boeing, working on the Space Launch System. There he is responsible for the “debris catcher” and the Fill and Drain Lines for the core stage propulsion team – key elements of the system, without which the rocket cannot be properly fueled. Myron described the powerful rocket and its use in sending payloads into deep space. Audience members were shown the progress made on core stage construction and assembly of the world’s largest rocket, which will stand well over 300 feet high and carry Orion and her crew to multiple destinations in our solar system. Boeing is the prime contractor for the SLS.
A liquid oxygen tank confidence article for NASA’s new rocket, the Space Launch System, completes final welding on the Vertical Assembly Center at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
Vaneza Lopez – Vaneza is the Supply Chain Materiel Program Manager for NASA’s Space Launch System Program at Aerojet Rocketdyne (AR). She is responsible for managing the range of businesses that support the SLS program and interacts regularly with Product Teams, Operations, Business Management, Quality Control, and Program Management, touching most of the program “backbone” that ensures the work on SLS proceeds on schedule. Vaneza also cultivates relationships with small businesses and universities in support of the SLS program’s economic goals, discussing this with the audience. Aerojet Rocketdyne is responsible for the RS-25 and RL-10 engines that will power the SLS.
Kat Coderre – Kat is the Lockheed Martin Systems Engineering Lead for the Orion Thermal Protection System (TPS) or “heat shield”. The TPS will protect Orion’s crew members from the searing heat of re-entry through the Earth’s atmosphere as it returns from deep space missions. Kat shared the progress made on the first crew vehicle ever designed for interplanetary flight, focusing on updates since first test flight of Orion (EFT-1). Sharing videos and engaging in Q&A with attendees, she covered the crew module, development of the “brains” of the vehicle, and work on an updated TPS that has benefited greatly from data returned to NASA and Lockheed Martin by the EFT-1 flight. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for Orion.
Ground Test Article with heatshield and exterior panel.
The panel was moderated by Bill Readdy, a veteran astronaut with three shuttle missions and over 600 hours in space. He also served as Associate Administrator for the NASA Space Operations Mission Directorate. Astronaut Charles Precourt of Orbital ATK was scheduled to participate, but was not able to join as a result of a flight cancellation due to weather. Orbital ATK manufactures the five-segment solid rocket boosters for the SLS. They are the largest solid rocket motors ever built, and will be undergoing their second qualification test on June 28 at Orbital ATK facilities in Utah.
Orbital ATK prepares for the June 28 second qualification test of the solid rocket boosters that will help power the SLS.