Airbus Coordinates Several European Defence Fund Projects - Avionics International

Airbus Coordinates Several European Defence Fund Projects: The European Commission announced plans to fund 41 collaborative defense research and development projects as part of the European Defence Fund.

Airbus Launches Two R&D Projects As Part of the European Defence Fund - Avionics International

Airbus Launches Two R&D Projects As Part of the European Defence Fund - Avionics International: Airbus is coordinating two research & development projects: European Defence Operational Collaborative Cloud and EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies.

Airbus to Provide Tactical Satellite Communications for Belgian Ministry of Defence - Avionics International

Airbus to Provide Tactical Satellite Communications for Belgian Ministry of Defence - Avionics International: Airbus signed a contract with Belgian Ministry of Defence to provide tactical satellite communications services for the Armed Forces over a 15-year period.

Airbus Leads Large-Scale Manned-Unmanned Teaming Flight Demo - Avionics International

Airbus Leads Large-Scale Manned-Unmanned Teaming Flight Demo - Avionics International: Two fighter jets, a helicopter, and 5 drones participated in a large-scale, multi-domain flight demo of manned-unmanned teaming, led by experts from Airbus.

Orion Program Update:Launch Windows Set for Artemis I Mission - plus a closer look at the Orion capsule

On 2 July 2022,the complete Space Launch System rocket/Orion spacecraft stack for the uncrewed Artemis I test flight arrived back at the Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).It had completed the wet dress rehearsal,or fueling test,at Launch Complex 39B and been moved on the crawler transporter to the VAB.NASA teams extended access platforms around the stacked vehicles to facilitate final preparations for launch.The preferred launch windows for the mission are from 23-29 August and 2-6 September 2022.Artemis I involves sending the Orion crew module and European Service Module (ESM) on a journey 40,000 miles/64,373.6 kilometers past the Moon,the farthest a human-rated spacecraft has ever been from Earth.Three manikins will be strapped into the capsule to provide data on what the astronauts will experience on Orion.* In the VAB,technicians are inspecting,fixing and checking out equipment associated with a seal of the tail service mast umbilical that leaked during the 20 June wet dress rehearsal.Engineers are examining the area where they will replace two seals on the quick disconnect hardware.Engineers have already completed the last remaining engineering test that is part of the VAB integrated testing operations.In other work,engineers swapped out a computer on the Boeing Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) called the Inertial Navigation and Control Assembly unit and replaced it with the actual flight computer,which will be tested next week.The new flight unit has freshly calibrated inertial navigation sensors and updated software to guide and navigate the upper stage during flight,the NASA Artemis blog indicated.Technicians have also been activating numerous batteries for the SLS rocket elements,such as those on the Solid Rocket Boosters and ICPS.Still to come is activation of batteries for the SLS Core Stage and the installation of all batteries.Batteries power the rocket elements in the final countdown moments and during ascent on launch day.As well,enginners charged batteries for the secondary payloads located on the Orion Stage Adapter.In coming weeks,they will install the payloads inside the Orion spacecraft,NASA said.* The Orion capsule,which forms the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (OCMPV) with the ESM,is uniquely designed for deep space exploration.It can accomodate a crew of four for up to 21 days on journeys to the Moon and lunar orbiting Gateway space station.Eventually,the Orion spacecraft will play a key role in sending humans to Mars.Together with the ESM,the capsule offers advanced technology for deep space missions that will provide life support,avionics,power systems and state-of-the-art thermal protection during launch,landing and recovery.* A backbone assembly of crisscrossing aluminum beams in the Orion capsule provides the floor structure where crew seats are attached and crew storage lockers are located.Touch screen control panels eliminate the need for paper manuals and toggle switches.Water tanks and a dispenser will provide drinking water and facilitate rehydration and warming of food.A hygiene bay contains a new compact toilet with advanced design making it easier to use for both men and women,while a built in exercise device provides both aerobic and strength training.Two large storage lockers on the floor of the capsule serve as shelters during a radiation event such as solar flares,using dense materials on board for shielding.The Orion crew module is 50% larger than the Apollo capsule.* Lockheed Martin is prime contractor for the Orion spacecraft and Airbus Defence and Space builds the ESM.Thales Alenia Space makes thermomechanical contributions to the ESM,including micrometeoroid protection.* Lockheed Martin (LMT),Boeing (BA),Airbus Group (EADSY) US:OTC

Orion Program Update:ESM Construction at Full Speed in Germany;Capsule Software and Display Mini-Sim;Prepping for AA-2

Here is some of the Orion Program work being carried out as the launch of the uncrewed test Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1) rapidly draws near (as early as December 2019) and the first crewed mission,EM-2,is not too far over the horizon (2023):
At the Airbus Defence & Space clean room in Bremen,Germany,the Orbital Manoeuvering System engine for EM-1's European Service Module (ESM) has been mated to the ESM.The OMS engine is the main engine for getting the Orion spacecraft into deep space.It is the 33rd and last engine for the ESM.The others include 8 auxiliary thrusters and 24 attitude control thrusters.
The first ESM is on a full-rate production schedule,as Airbus technicians work in shifts 24 hours a day to meet the goal of shipping it to the US this summer.
Also in Bremen,the structure of the second ESM,to be used for EM-2,the first crewed Orion mission that will take humans farther into outer space than ever before,some 40,000 miles beyond the Moon,has arrived.Technicians have begun installing its almost 7.5 miles of cables;fuel;water;air tanks;computers;engines;and so on that support the crew module and up to four crew members.
The ESM also protects the spacecraft from launch energy and vibrations from the new Space Launch System rocket;moreover,it shields the crew from micrometeoroids and space debris.*
Congratulations to the ESM Assembly,Integration &Test team from Airbus,ArianeGroup and NASA for their excellent work.*
Meanwhile,the Orion Rapid Prototype Lab (RPL) team of astronauts and flight controllers designed and executed complex,innovative simulations of newly prototyped Orion crew on-orbit burn display formats and electronic procedures.They thus gained valuable experience using the displays and procedures in a more realistic scenario for the crew members and ground controllers,NASA said.This will help validate or identify areas needing updates so key changes can be made more expeditiously and  economically in the software development cycle.
Also on the team for this fifth in a series of mini-sims were members from Aerospace Applications North America;Barrios Technology;NASA Ames Research Center;and interns from NASA and Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies Inc.*
At NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans,Louisiana,Lockheed Martin technicians completed the forward structure to cone weld on the EM-2 crew module pressure vessel.The Orion Program team members at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston from LMT and NASA continued outfitting the Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) capsule for its critical flight test at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,Florida in April 2019.*