AA-2 is here: Everything you need to know
2018-03-05
March 2 marks the arrival of the Orion crew module. It portends an exciting time for the Johnson Space Center team, who will begin outfitting the spacecraft for the Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) flight test next year.
The work done on the crew module will take place in the recently updated Building 9S high bay and use lean-development practices, with a nod to JSC 2.0, and rely on collaboration between teams agencywide for completion.
Five Facts Worth Knowing:
Artist's rendition of the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility high bay, where AA-2 will spend its time while at Johnson.
Johnson timeline (subject to change):
A video sneak peek into AA-2. Image Credit: NASA
The test will see a booster, provided by Orbital ATK, launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida, carrying a fully functional launch abort system (LAS) and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 32,000 feet at Mach 1.3 (over 1,000 mph). At that point, the LAS’ powerful reverse-flow abort motor will fire, carrying the Orion test vehicle away from the missile. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with a Space Launch System rocket while the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into or beyond orbit for deep-space missions.
Coming soon:
Sandra Jones
NASA Johnson Space Center
The work done on the crew module will take place in the recently updated Building 9S high bay and use lean-development practices, with a nod to JSC 2.0, and rely on collaboration between teams agencywide for completion.
Five Facts Worth Knowing:
- The test is critical to ensuring crew safety during Orion launches on the Space Launch System rocket.
- AA-2 work at Johnson is a collaboration between Orion, Engineering, and the Advanced Exploration Systems Division at Headquarters, with support from several other JSC organizations.
- More than 100 people at the center are part of the team who will outfit the crew module with the hardware and software it needs for its test, and some of them will serve as the flight control team on launch day.
- The AA-2 crew module will have touched Johnson, Langley Research Center, Glenn Research Center and Kennedy Space Center, with contributions from Armstrong Flight Research Center before launch.
- AA-2 will launch in April 2019 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Artist's rendition of the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility high bay, where AA-2 will spend its time while at Johnson.
Johnson timeline (subject to change):
- Feb. 26: Crew module departs via truck from Langley.
- March 2: Crew module arrives at Johnson (crew module to be immediately offloaded).
- June: Crew module initial power up.
- July: Crew module rolled on side for center-of-gravity test.
- July/August: Crew module shipped to Glenn Plum Brook Station for month-long testing.
- August: Separation ring (CSR) arrives at Johnson and is outfitted for integration with the crew module.
- September: Crew module returns to Johnson for integration with CSR and testing.
- December: CSR ships to Kennedy.
A video sneak peek into AA-2. Image Credit: NASA
The test will see a booster, provided by Orbital ATK, launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida, carrying a fully functional launch abort system (LAS) and a 22,000-pound Orion test vehicle to an altitude of 32,000 feet at Mach 1.3 (over 1,000 mph). At that point, the LAS’ powerful reverse-flow abort motor will fire, carrying the Orion test vehicle away from the missile. The test will verify the LAS can steer the crew module and astronauts aboard to safety in the event of an issue with a Space Launch System rocket while the spacecraft is under the highest aerodynamic loads it will experience during a rapid climb into or beyond orbit for deep-space missions.
Coming soon:
- Launch overview infographic
- Livestream of test
- Image gallery
- … and more
Sandra Jones
NASA Johnson Space Center
AA-2 mission patch. Image Credit: NASA
Researchers conduct mass property testing of the Orion crew module for the Ascent Abort Test-2 on Feb. 16 at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Image Credit: NASA/David C. Bowman