AeroVironment’s Post

How to Ship a Spacecraft: NOAA GOES-U Weather Satellite | Lockheed Martin FriendsofNASA.org: Have you ever wondered how Lockheed Martin ships a spacecraft? We had to move GOES-U from the Lockheed Martin facility in Colorado to its launch site in Florida. 🚀 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-U, the fourth and final satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series, the Western Hemisphere’s most advanced weather-observing and environmental monitoring system, is entering the final stage of preparations before liftoff. NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than April 30, 2024, for the launch of GOES-U on a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Video Credit: Lockheed Martin Duration: 1 minute Release Date: Feb. 1, 2024 Lockheed Martin NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration NASA Goddard Space Flight Center NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration U.S. Department of Education National Science Teaching Association #NASA #NOAA #Earth #Science #Space #Satellite #Weather #Meteorology #GOES #GOESU #LockheedMartin #SpaceX #FalconHeavyRocket #GSFC #KSC #MerrittIsland #Florida #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #Timelapse #HD #Video

The $125 Million Lesson: How a Simple Unit Conversion Error Lost NASA a Spacecraft** In 1999, a tiny oversight in engineering cost #NASA a $125 million spacecraft—the Mars Climate Orbiter. This wasn't a high-tech failure, but a simple unit conversion error. NASA used the metric system, while #Lockheed Martin used the imperial system. The result? A miscommunication that caused the spacecraft to enter Mars' atmosphere at the wrong angle, leading to its destruction. Imagine this: NASA's navigation team expected data in newton-seconds (metric), but Lockheed Martin provided it in pound-seconds (imperial). This small discrepancy in force calculation led to the orbiter flying far closer to Mars than intended—at an altitude of 57 km instead of the safe range of 140-150 km. The spacecraft couldn't handle the atmospheric friction at that altitude, and it was lost. This incident highlights the importance of consistency in engineering practices, especially in projects involving multiple teams and contractors. It's a stark reminder that attention to detail, even something as seemingly small as a unit of measurement, can make or break a mission. For engineers, the lesson is clear: #Standardization matters. Cross-checking and clear communication between teams are crucial.Every calculation, every piece of data, must be verified across the board. This isn't just about preventing mistakes; it's about ensuring the success of complex projects where there's no room for error. As we continue to push the boundaries of technology and exploration, the Mars Climate Orbiter serves as a reminder: Precision is not just a goal—it's a necessity. #engineering #nasa #aerospace #spaceexploration #engineeringexcellence #technicalleadership #projectmanagement #standardization #innovation #marsmission #techfailures #aerospaceengineering #lockheedmartin #precisionengineering #spacecraft #engineeringlessons #engineeringlife #attentiontodetail

The Apollo I Fire Disaster At the height of the space race in the 1960s, the United States pursued an accelerated program to put men on the moon before the Soviet Union. Apollo 1 was to be the first crewed mission of the United States Apollo program, the undertaking to land the first men on the moon. On February 21, 1967, Apollo 1’s three crew members, Command Pilot Virgil Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White, and Pilot Roger B. Chaffe, were set to launch the first low Earth orbital test of the Apollo command and service model. But during a launch test rehearsal on January 27, a cabin fire broke out, and all three crew members perished inside. Immediately after the fire, NASA convened an Accident Review Board to determine the cause of the fire. The command module was built by North American Aviation. Initially, NASA hoped to launch the Apollo Program mission alongside the final Gemini Program mission in November 1966. However, Apollo 1’s launch date was delayed to February 21, 1967, as its command and service module (CSM) was larger and more complex than previous spacecraft designs, and therefore took longer than expected to develop and build. In August of 1966, only months prior to the originally-targeted launch date, the Apollo 1 crew met with Spacecraft Program Office manager Joseph Shea to express concerns about the amount of flammable material in the cabin. In response, Shea directed his engineers to remove the flammable material. (To continue reading, click the link in the Comments section.) #Apollo1#Engineering #FamousFridayFailures #NoonPi

The Apollo I Fire Disaster At the height of the space race in the 1960s, the United States pursued an accelerated program to put men on the moon before the Soviet Union. Apollo 1 was to be the first crewed mission of the United States Apollo program, the undertaking to land the first men on the moon. On February 21, 1967, Apollo 1’s three crew members, Command Pilot Virgil Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White, and Pilot Roger B. Chaffe, were set to launch the first low Earth orbital test of the Apollo command and service model. But during a launch test rehearsal on January 27, a cabin fire broke out, and all three crew members perished inside. Immediately after the fire, NASA convened an Accident Review Board to determine the cause of the fire. The command module was built by North American Aviation. Initially, NASA hoped to launch the Apollo Program mission alongside the final Gemini Program mission in November 1966. However, Apollo 1’s launch date was delayed to February 21, 1967, as its command and service module (CSM) was larger and more complex than previous spacecraft designs, and therefore took longer than expected to develop and build. In August of 1966, only months prior to the originally-targeted launch date, the Apollo 1 crew met with Spacecraft Program Office manager Joseph Shea to express concerns about the amount of flammable material in the cabin. In response, Shea directed his engineers to remove the flammable material. (To continue reading, click the link in the Comments section.) #Apollo1#Engineering #FamousFridayFailures #NoonPi

NASA fires up X-59 Quesst supersonic aircraft engine NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration has started testing the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology demonstrator aircraft’s engine, firing it up for the first time at the end of last month. The Quiet SuperSonic Technology (Quesst) program started in 2016 to develop and validate new ways to minimize the noise made by aircraft when breaking the sound barrier. Engineers believe that a combination of aerodynamic features in its design will turn the characteristic supersonic boom into a thud that is more acceptable to people on the ground. Click here to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eh6RPAkV #space #supersonic #nasa #enginetesting #aerospace #aerospacetesting

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration warns of a 72% chance of asteroid impact after recent planetary defense exercise. Urgent preparedness needed. Read Full Story on: www.famedelivered.com . . . #nasa #planetarydefense #asteroidalert #space #earthprotection #spaceexploration #scientificresearch #spaceagency #asteroidthreat #spacewatch #nasaalert #asteroiddeflection #astronomy #spacepolicy #futuretech #asteroidawareness #nasaevent #spaceagency Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. Image credited to the original publisher.

Today, I'm sharing some tough "news": the NASA VIPER mission, where I led the mobility, navigation, and controls systems for five years, has been canceled. Honestly, this hit hard. VIPER was more than just a project—it was a passion, driven by a team dedicated to expanding our lunar knowledge. The decision to cancel it is not just frustrating; it's deeply disappointing. Though this chapter ends abruptly, I'm proud of our achievements and grateful for my incredible team. We've learned a lot, and these lessons will guide us as we explore new horizons. Thanks to everyone who supported this mission. Here's to looking forward and keeping our eyes on the stars. #NASA #VIPER #spaceexploration #engineering #aerospace #robotics

Nasa overlooked minor leak in Boeing starliner pre-launch: Report Full Article Link >>> https://lnkd.in/ga4MsyzA Welcome To Latest IND >> Fastest World News Prior to the launch of the Starliner rocket on June 5, Nasa and Boeing officials were aware of a helium leak but deemed it too minor to pose a safety risk to the spacecraft. However, once in orbit, the Starliner developed four additional helium leaks, rendering one […] . . Latest IND . . . . #trendingnews #newstrending #trendingtopicnews #lifestyle #business #news #healthylifestyle #smallbusiness #supportsmallbusiness #lifestyleblogger #luxurylifestyle #businessowner #businesswoman #smallbusinessowner #businessnews

Starliner Soars Towards ISS: A Quick Take Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, propelled by United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, is on its way to the International Space Station (ISS) carrying NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. This mission marks a critical step in enabling NASA to regularly transport astronauts to and from the ISS. The Atlas V rocket successfully launched, and its powerful Centaur upper stage is playing a crucial role in propelling Starliner to its destination. Let's break down the journey- 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗩'𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: The Atlas V rocket provided the initial thrust to lift Starliner off Earth and into space. 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿'𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Centaur upper stage, measuring 10 feet in diameter and 41.5 feet long, took over after separating from the Atlas V. Powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, its twin Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10A-4-2 engines burned for approximately seven minutes. This crucial burn placed Starliner into a precise suborbital trajectory. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆: After separating from the Centaur, the Starliner crew capsule, with astronauts Wilmore and Williams aboard, is independently maneuvering to reach the ISS. #NASA #Boeing #Starliner #ULA #ISS #CommercialCrewProgram #SpaceExploration

After the long journey to the Moon 🌕 and back, Orion’s splashdown into the Pacific Ocean will be one of the most critical phases of the mission. URT-11 was the eleventh in a series of joint training exercises involving NASA and the Navy. Here’s how the recovery mission went: https://lnkd.in/gfHD-yQ4 #artemismission #orion #nasa #artemis