Exploration Mission 1

Exploration Mission 1

Operator	NASA/ESA
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Orion MPCV
Start of mission
Launch date	November 2018[1]
Rocket	SLS Block 1[2]
Launch site	Kennedy LC-39B[3]
End of mission
Landing site	Pacific Ocean[4]
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Circumlunar
Flyby of the Moon
Closest approach	December 2018
Distance	TBD
Beyond Low Earth Orbit Program ← EFT-1 EM-2 →

Exploration Mission 1 or EM-1 (previously known as Space Launch System 1 or SLS-1) is the first planned flight of the Space Launch System and the second uncrewed test flight of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. As of December 2014, the launch is projected to occur September 30, 2018 from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, and the Orion spacecraft would perform a circumlunar trajectory during the seven day mission.^[3][5] It is planned to be followed by Exploration Mission 2.

Overview

The Block 1 version of SLS used on this mission will consist of two five-segment Solid Rocket Boosters, four RS-25D engines built for the Space Shuttle program and an Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage.^[5] EM-1 is intended to demonstrate the integrated spacecraft systems prior to a crewed flight and demonstrate a high speed reentry (11 km/s) on Orion's thermal protection system.^[5]

On January 16, 2013, NASA announced that the European Space Agency would build Orion's service module based on its Automated Transfer Vehicle, so the flight could also be regarded as a test of ESA hardware as well as American, and of how the ESA components interact with the American Orion components.^[6]

The EFT-1 flight article was consciously constructed in a way that if all the missing components (seats, life support systems) were added, it would not meet the mass target. It was planned that subsequent capsules would be modified to be lighter, based on manufacturing experience.

In January 2015 NASA and Lockheed announced that some components in the EM-1 capsule would be up to 25 percent lighter compared to the previous one. This would be achieved by changes to the primary structure - the EM-1 article it would be welded together from three panels for the cone, as opposed to 6 panels used for the EFT-1 article. The total number of welds was reduced from 19 to 7,^[7] thus saving the additional mass of the weld material. Other savings would be thanks to revisiting its various components and wiring. For EM-1 the capsule will be outfitted with complete life support system and crew seats, just no crew.^[8]

Gallery

Predecessors

Apollo 8 was launched on a similar flight path by the Saturn V launch vehicle in 1968. This was also a mission designed to flight test a Command Service Module beyond low Earth orbit, crewed by 3 astronauts. It made use of its Service Module engine three times, to enter and leave lunar orbit.

Apollo 13 also flew a similar circumlunar flight path, after sustaining damage in an explosion, which prevented use of the Service Module engine and threatened the crew's survival. The spacecraft passed the Moon on a free return trajectory, and as a result holds the current absolute altitude record for a manned spacecraft. The mission's commander, James Lovell, holds the distinction of having set this record twice, the first time on Apollo 8.

References

External links

• Orion MPCV homepage (NASA)