posted 01-24-2007 02:09 PM               

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NASA's Kennedy Space Center will host a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 30 to commemorate the transition of the historic Operations and Checkout Building high bay for use by the Constellation Program. Originally built to process space vehicles in the Apollo era, the building will serve as the final assembly facility for the Orion crew exploration vehicle.

Orion, America's human spaceflight vehicle of the future, will be capable of transporting four crew members for lunar missions and later will support crew transfers for Mars missions. Each Orion spacecraft also may be used to support up to six crew members to the International Space Station after the space shuttle is retired in 2010.

Design, development and construction of Orion's components will be performed by Lockheed Martin for NASA at facilities throughout the country. The first operational launch of Orion atop an Ares I rocket is planned for no later than 2014.

Representatives from NASA, Lockheed Martin, Space Florida and the State of Florida will participate in the ceremony.

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posted 01-24-2007 04:37 PM               

NASA: NASA Opens 'Door to Exploration'

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As the door is closing on NASA's Space Shuttle Program, another door is opening to make way for the next generation of human space vehicles: the Constellation Program.

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Boeing is partnering with NASA and the State of Florida to make way for future space exploration vehicles processing in the Operations and Checkout Building (O&C) facility located at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

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posted 01-24-2007 08:38 PM               

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Originally posted by DavidH:
For those, like me, trying to picture the building, info is here and here.

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Just to point out, it is also the building you see the astronauts walk out of during the traditional 'walkout' as they board the astrovan for the trip to the launch pad a few hours before liftoff.

posted 01-30-2007 09:57 PM               

From this position I took photos of both the east and west ends of the bay. On the northeast wall are the two altitude chambers in which they pressure test the spacecraft.

I kept thinking about the scene in FTETTM about making the LM where the "Eagle" is being carried by the hoist away from the actors.

Each speaker spoke of the cooperation of local, state and federal politicians and organizations, saluting the fact that the Orion will not only be processed for flight but built in the O&C Building as well.

At the conclusion of the ceremony they unfurled a banner which had the "NASA", "Orion", "Constellation" and Lockheed Martin Orion Team logos on it. It will hang in the High Bay for the duration of the program.

All in all it was a nice way to finish up the weekend. Remembering our fallen heroes and looking forward to the next challenge.