14 DAY TRIAL // Scientists at Lockheed Martin announce that the efforts to construct the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle are currently progressing smoothly, and that the spacecraft will most likely be ready by 2013.
At this point, the Lockheed-led engineering crew in charge of creating the Orion has begun lean assembly pathfinding operations. The efforts are being conducted at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
The facility, located in Cape Canaveral, Florida, is one of the most important symbols of American spaceflight, and also the home base for the space shuttles.
Given that the orbiter fleet is due to be retired next year, and that the Orion was initially conceived as a replacement for the three spacecraft, it was only natural for its construction site to be the KSC.
Additionally, basing the efforts here results in time and cost savings, as the capsule does not need to be transported all over the country. When Orion will launch, it will be from this space center.
“The unique benefit of this complete on-site operation is that we will build the spacecraft and then move it directly onto the launch vehicle at KSC, which saves the government transportation costs associated with tests and checkout prior to launch,” says Richard Harris.
He is the Lockheed Martin deputy program manager for the Orion production operations “This capability also facilitates the KSC workforce transition efforts by providing new job opportunities for those employees completing their shuttle program assignments,” he adds.
At this point, Lockheed engineers are verifying the tools, processes and spacecraft integration procedures that will be used for constructing the actual capsule.
They are performing the tests with a full-scale mock-up of the future spacecraft. If any glitches exist in the flow of operations involved in constructing the Orion, then these tests will reveal them.
The capsule is being developed in the KSC Operations & Checkout (O&C) Facility, a building that has undergone extensive renovations recently, and is now a state-of-the-art construction site.
It features about 90,000 square feet of air-bearing floor space. This system allows only a few workers to move very heavy weights across the floor with the minimum amount of effort.
This may prove useful as large parts are being shuffled around before final assembly. The O&C is also energy efficient, and features latest generation HVAC systems.
“Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for the Orion Project and leads the industry team that includes major subcontractors as well as a network of minor subcontractors and small businesses working at 88 facilities in 28 states,” the company says in a press release.