 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
USA Partners With Pioneer Aerospace On CEV
Kennedy Space Center FL (SPX) Jul 06, 2006 United Space Alliance and Pioneer Aerospace announced Wednesday they have joined forces to develop a parachute landing system for NASA's new Crew Exploration Vehicle. The CEV is the crew vehicle of the space agency's next phase of exploration called the Constellation Program. This program aims to take astronauts to the Moon, Mars and beyond, beginning in the next decade. The new vehicle, which will resemble the space capsule of the Apollo era, will use parachutes for Earth landings. Unlike the Apollo capsules, however, which landed in the ocean, the CEV will be designed to touch down softly on land, using the ocean only in an emergency. The CEV will include many modern systems to make space flight safer for future astronaut crews. Jacobs Sverdrup plans to award the Crew Exploration Vehicle Parachute Assembly System contract in August of 2006. USA is currently responsible for the parachute systems on the space shuttle's solid rocket boosters. In addition, USA is responsible for the shuttle's drag-chute system, used to slow the vehicle as it lands on the runway. Both systems are recovered then processed for re-use in the USA Parachute Refurbishment Facility at Kennedy Space Center. Pioneer Aerospace developed the original SRB main parachute design and worked with NASA in developing the world's largest parafoil for the X-38 flight vehicle. The vehicle was to become the Crew Return Vehicle for the International Space Station astronauts. In addition, NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, both landed safely on the surface of the red planet using Pioneer parachutes. In January 2006, a Pioneer parachute system was used to recover the Stardust sample-return capsule following a seven-year mission in space. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links United Space Alliance Pioneer Aerospace Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
NASA To Study Plants To Help Astronauts Grow Food In Space
Moffett Field CA (SPX) Jul 13, 2006Someday, astronauts may grow food efficiently in space and use plants to clean spaceship air, thanks to a two-year experiment scheduled aboard the International Space Station. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
