Orion EFT-1, Delta IV Heavy, December 4th, 2014.
Felt that now that we're in 2012, that I should make a thread dedicating to the processing into the EFT-1 (formerly known as the OFT-1) flight mission of the Orion MPCV capsule's maiden voyage on a Delta IV Heavy, targeted for now Spring 2014. This thread for the next few years will be dedicated to updates only, so please leave discussions on the future of NASA's Space Launch System program out of here.
SOURCE OF ARTICLE: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/01/eft-1-spring-2014-launch-date-contract-negotiations/
Launch date: December 4th, 2014
Launch window: 7:05am EST (12:05 UTC) to 9:44am EST (14:44 UTC).
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Payload: EFT-1
Felt that now that we're in 2012, that I should make a thread dedicating to the processing into the EFT-1 (formerly known as the OFT-1) flight mission of the Orion MPCV capsule's maiden voyage on a Delta IV Heavy, targeted for now Spring 2014. This thread for the next few years will be dedicated to updates only, so please leave discussions on the future of NASA's Space Launch System program out of here.
SOURCE OF ARTICLE: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/01/eft-1-spring-2014-launch-date-contract-negotiations/
The mission was initially targeting for July, 2013 – before slipping to October, 2013 – per Lockheed Martin updates relating to the EFT-1 launch date (L2 Link). However, it was noted at that time that Orion/MPCV (Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) teams outside of JSC were speaking of December, 2013 at earliest, with a likely slip into 2014.
....
“NASA has a one-time requirement for critical performance data from an integrated flight test of the Orion spacecraft as part of the Orion Design, Development, Test and Evaluation (DDT&E) phase,” noted the opening remarks. “The EFT-1 is an early test flight required by early 2014, of the Orion spacecraft that is currently being developed by Lockheed Martin.
“The EFT-1 flight test of the Orion spacecraft is required to facilitate earlier and more robust testing of critical Orion systems that contribute to 10 of the 16 highest risks to crew survivabilitu and exploration mission failure, including parachutes, back shell and heat shield Thermal Protection System, Forward Bay Cover separation contact and flight software.”
Launch date: December 4th, 2014
Launch window: 7:05am EST (12:05 UTC) to 9:44am EST (14:44 UTC).
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Payload: EFT-1
Last edited: