The test appears to have gone well, following an earlier test in January that cut off after about 67 seconds because of errors and equipment problems. On Thursday, NASA set out for a second time to prove that the Space Launch System is ready to take flight, conducting a continuous “hot fire” of its engines for more than eight minutes. The launch vehicle is central to the agency’s Artemis program to return humans to the lunar surface, and later, land them on Mars. The rocket is taller than the Statue of Liberty, pedestal and all, and is the cornerstone of NASA’s astronaut ambitions. Framed by the industrial test platform to which it is mounted, the Space Launch System’s core section is a gleaming, apricot-colored column cast into relief by twisting pipes and steel latticework. space program, Draper looks forward to contributing to the success of NASA’s partners and developing the next generation of human-rated spacecraft,” Neil Adams, vice president of Draper’s National Security and Space Systems business, said.ĭraper’s work for Artemis is taking place at the company’s offices in Houston, Texas Huntsville, Alabama and Cambridge, Massachusetts.Update, March 18: This essay has been revised to reflect that the Space Launch System completed its second hot-fire test.Įleven years in the making, the most powerful NASA-built rocket since the Apollo program at last stands upright. As with our past contributions to the U.S. “Artemis is a bold challenge to return to the Moon, a challenge that Draper-with a heritage in human space exploration-is proud to support. Similarly, a flight trajectory guidance algorithm originally developed by Draper for the Space Shuttle was modified to accommodate Artemis’ more complex mission.
New nasa space shuttle software#
The flight computer for SLS, for instance, is backed up by a redundancy management system that uses software instead of propriety hardware, which gives NASA ownership of a software system that is easier to customize for future flights. government and commercial customers.įor Artemis, Draper contributed to the development of new capabilities.
Draper has been a leader in space exploration for over a half-century, and it has provided system evaluations capabilities including guidance, navigation and control and flight test support for its U.S. Artemis III and IV will advance NASA’s lunar capabilities at and near the Moon.ĭraper’s work on Artemis builds on its legacy of support to NASA, which began with Draper’s design of the Apollo Guidance Computer and continued with programs that include the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Shuttle. While Artemis I is uncrewed and highly automated, Artemis II will require advanced controls and displays for an onboard crew.
Work is already underway for follow-on Artemis missions. In 2021, NASA awarded Draper a $49 million five-year contract to provide advanced GN&C and avionics technology development and analysis for the agency’s next generation of human-rated spacecraft on missions beyond low-Earth orbit.
New nasa space shuttle series#
Elements of NASA’s lunar exploration efforts include the Space Launch System, Orion, Gateway, Commercial Lunar Payload Services and the Human Landing System.Īrtemis I is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars. “Artemis presents an opportunity to return Draper to lunar missions that began with the Apollo Program.”ĭraper is proud to be a key contributor on multiple core elements of Artemis. space program continue with Artemis,” said Pete Paceley, principal director of Civil and Commercial Space Systems at Draper. “Draper’s pioneering contributions to the U.S. Today, as NASA prepares to launch its next generation of human-rated spacecraft, it will be guided by technologies and operational support provided by Draper. CAMBRIDGE, MA-Experience is critical to success and safety in missions to the Moon.
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