KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - In the face of criticism to its current plans for development of the Ares I and V launch vehicles in project Constellation, NASA has released an internal study comparing the space agency's Ares rockets with the proposal favored by a small but vocal group of engineers, scientists and regular people advocating DIRECT, which proposes an alternative shuttle-derived vehicle dubbed Jupiter. Calls for exploring the DIRECT 2.0 option have grown in recent months, with some congressmen even lending a voice of support for at least investigating the proposal. Seeking to defend Ares against any potential threats, NASA conducted a cost, schedule and performance comparison study last year and determined that DIRECT would not meet the agency's needs. That report is now available to the public for the first time.

READ: NASA Background on Ares Vehicles versus the DIRECT Proposal
READ: DIRECT 2.0 Space Exploration Architecture Performance Analysis
READ: Ares V Reference Payload Capabilities, 10/2007
READ: Ares Project Status, 2006

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CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - As Florida's Space Coast, home to Kennedy Space Center, grapples with the potentially devastating impact of thousands of lost jobs brought about by the retirement of the space shuttle in 2010, the state's two U.S. Senators held a special field hearing at Port Canaveral today to highlight the problems the local community and NASA face in the coming years, and options the space agency may be able to undertake to help mitigate the losses.

ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBERS: WATCH THE JUNE 23 SENATE COMMERCE CMTE. HEARING ON SHUTTLE TRANSITION ISSUES

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NASA and industry engineers successfully completed the first drop test of the main parachute that will help recover the first stage of the Ares I crew launch vehicle. Ares I will carry the NASA's Orion crew exploration vehicle to space.

(Image right: The first parachute for Ares I is drop-tested. Click to enlarge. Image Credit: NASA/MSFC)

The test, conducted on September 25 at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground near Yuma, Ariz., is part of an ongoing series of tests to support the design and development of the Ares I parachute recovery system, which is derived from the system NASA uses to recover the space shuttle?s solid rocket boosters after launch. Tests for the pilot, drogue and three main parachutes will continue through 2010. The next test is scheduled for November 2007.

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WASHINGTON, DC - NASA has issued a request for proposals from industry for the design, development and production of a new spacesuit system for Constellation Program voyages to the International Space Station and the moon.

(Image right: This artist's rendering represents a concept of a lunar lander, lunar rover and astronauts on the moon's surface. Earth is also visible in this rendering. (Depicts obsolete configuration.) Image credit: John Frassanito and Associates)

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WASHINGTON, DC - NASA on Tuesday selected The Boeing Co., Huntsville, Ala., as the contractor to provide manufacturing support for design and construction of the upper stage of the Ares I rocket. Ares I will launch astronauts to the International Space Station and eventually help return humans to the moon.

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NASA ANNOUNCES BOEING HAS WON THE CONTRACT TO BUILD THE ARES I SECOND STAGE (CREDIT: NASA TV) (DOWNLOAD)

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ST. LOUIS, MO - The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a NASA contract valued at approximately $514.7 million to produce the upper stage of the Ares I crew launch vehicle. This element provides the navigation, guidance, control and propulsion required for the ascent of the second-stage Ares I into low-Earth orbit.

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NASA ANNOUNCES BOEING HAS WON THE CONTRACT TO BUILD THE ARES I SECOND STAGE (CREDIT: NASA TV) (DOWNLOAD)

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WASHINGTON -- NASA has issued a draft environmental impact statement on potential environmental impacts associated with the Constellation Program. NASA's Constellation Program is developing a space transportation system that is designed to return humans to the moon by 2020. The Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement concludes that localized and global environmental impacts associated with implementing the Constellation Program would be comparable to past or ongoing NASA activities.

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WASHINGTON - NASA has signed a $1.2 billion contract with Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne Inc., of Canoga Park, Calif., for design, development, testing and evaluation of the J-2X engine that will power the upper stages of the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles. The contract includes ground and test flight engines. It continues work that began on June 2, 2006, under a preliminary letter contract with Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne.

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Decades of successful spaceflight and aircraft avionics integration and a highly experienced network of suppliers are the key to the Boeing bid to provide a low-risk approach to producing Instrument Unit Avionics (IUA) for the next-generation Ares I crew launch vehicle.

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Washington, D.C. - NASA associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Scott Horowitz briefed reporters today on the progress the space agency is making toward finalizing plans for the transition from space shuttle operations to Constellation. Whilw the briefing was somewhat short on specifics in terms of budgets and worforce and facilities requirements, the press was given a detailed timeline of how the process will play out and some of the keys to making the transition as smooth as possible and to ensure the safe and successful development of the constellation elements: the Ares launch vehicles, Orion crew capsule and the lunar lander and Earth Departure Stage that will propel future astronauts back to the Moon.

DOCUMENT: NASA TRANSITION BRIEFING PRESENTATION

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