#space_technology

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Euclid Space Telescope continues to be plagued by technical problems Euclid's problems began when its guidance system failed to observe dim stars. The Euclid Fine (FGS) is a device that helps orient the telescope. Under normal conditions, FGS records known stars to determine where the telescope is pointing. Engineers extensively tested the FGS before launch, but real-world space conditions are difficult to simulate—ground tests don't always account for factors such as cosmic rays that interfere with the device's performance. [caption id="attachment_60436" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Euclid Space Telescope[/caption] To resolve a fault in the system, the Euclid mission was extended to develop a software update to correct the problem, and ESA is optimistic about the outcome of the problem. However, this is not all the problems that Euclid has encountered. One of the instruments caught strange streaks of light from time to time. The ESA command center soon determined that the Sun was to blame. Euclid Space Telescope continues to be plagued by technical problems Euclid is located at the L2 Lagrange point, sharing this space with NASA's James Webb Telescope. Here, “behind the Earth,” the Sun is behind the telescope, and the telescope is in the shadow of the Earth. To provide protection from excess radiation, the telescope has a sun shield. But the sunscreen doesn't shade everything it should. Euclid reflects a small amount of light that appears to evade the sunscreen. Euclid's visible light instrument (VIS) is sensitive enough to detect even reflected light when the instrument is turned at certain angles. In total, stray light appears in approximately 10% of VIS images. How much this will impact the success of the Euclid mission remains an open question. The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Euclid Space Telescope from Cape Canaveral on July 1. By all accounts, the start went smoothly.

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China prepping for mission to bring back material from moon#stockmarkets#aerospace_and_defense_industry #aerospace_technology #astronomy #bring #business #china #general_news #industrial_products_and_services #industrial_technology #mars #material #mission #moon #planetary_systems #planets #prepping #science #solar_system #space_exploration #space_industry #space_launches #space_technology #technology

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Bhutan and India Must Work Together in Space Technologies and Digital Payments: PM Modi

#Bhutan and India Must Work Together in #Space_Technologies and #DigitalPayments: #PM_Narendra_Modi

Calling India as the home of biggest startup eco-systems of the world Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that this is the time to innovate in his country, proposing extensive cooperation between the two neighbours in new areas like space and digital payments. PM Modi also commented that India is witnessing great transformation in many sectors and this can be leveraged by emerging neighbouring…

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Falcon 9 launches - strategic partnership between Amazon and SpaceX Amazon's Kuiper project, which aims to provide broadband Internet, could become a competitor to SpaceX's Starlink satellite network. There is no place for friendship in the world of business: Amazon announced a contract for three launches of Project Kuiper satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Thus, Amazon is expanding its capabilities to implement its deployment strategy. Information on the exact dates and costs of launches was not provided. Project Kuiper, similar to Starlink, is being developed to provide broadband Internet access to millions of people around the world. SpaceX is already well ahead of its competitors, launching thousands of satellites and attracting more than two million subscribers to its Starlink network. In October, Amazon launched two prototypes for the first time on United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket. A few weeks ago, Amazon announced that the satellites had successfully passed tests and were now scheduled to begin mass production at a plant in Kirkland, Washington. The SpaceX factory is also nearby in Redmond. [caption id="attachment_85356" align="aligncenter" width="630"] SpaceX[/caption] Amazon signs contract to launch Kuiper satellites using Falcon 9 rocket from rival SpaceX The first Kuiper satellites to users are due to launch early next year, with beta service becoming available in the second half of 2024. Under a license from the FCC, half of the Kuiper constellation of 3,236 satellites is expected to be in low-Earth orbit by mid-2026. Most of Amazon's launches are planned to be carried out on three types of rockets (which have not yet flown a single mission): Blue Origin's New Glenn, ULA's Vulcan and Arianespace's Ariane 6. In addition to the three Falcon 9 launches, Amazon has reserved space on eight Atlas V rockets, which are solid choices. So SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch reservation provides some security for Amazon's deployment plan. The selection of SpaceX for a portion of Project Kuiper's launches could also affect the lawsuit, which alleges Amazon did not sufficiently consider SpaceX as a potential launch provider. In August, a pension fund that has Amazon shares in its portfolio filed a lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that Amazon's directors and officers refused to cooperate with SpaceX because of the latter's competition with Blue Origin. “In light of SpaceX's proven reliability and economic advantages, the decision by Bezos-led Amazon not to even consider SpaceX as a launch provider highlights the conflicting interests Bezos has with Amazon and Blue Origin and the significant impact these conflicts will have on the board's ability to protect the interests of the company and its shareholders in conducting contract negotiations,” the pension fund said in its lawsuit. SpaceX's choice for some of Kuiper's launches refutes the pension fund's arguments. However, a hearing in this case has not yet been scheduled. Amazon said that the pension fund's claims are "completely baseless" and they intend to prove this during the legal process.

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This is already the 348th correction of the ISS orbital altitude in the history of the station’s flight. This morning, October 19, 2023, the orbit of the International Space Station was adjusted to create the necessary ballistic conditions for the launch of the Progress MS-25 cargo ship. The press service of Roscosmos spoke about this. [caption id="attachment_71697" align="aligncenter" width="780"] MS-25 spacecraft[/caption] The engines of the Progress MS-24 cargo ship docked to the Zvezda service module of the Russian segment of the ISS, were turned on at 06:46 Moscow time and worked for 1029.9 seconds, producing an impulse of 1.5 m/s. After the maneuver, the average altitude of the ISS orbit increased by 2.8 km and amounted to 418.23 km above the Earth’s surface. ISS is being prepared for the launch of the Progress MS-25 spacecraft During the entire flight of the ISS, 348 corrections to the altitude of its orbit were carried out, 194 of them using the engines of the Progress spacecraft. The launch of the Progress MS-25 cargo ship from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle is scheduled for December 1, 2023. Currently on board, the ISS is the crew of the 70th long-term expedition, which includes cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and Konstantin Borisov, NASA astronauts Jasmine Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen and JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.   

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Complaints not only about the Starship design, but also about the launch pad The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published an analysis of the investigation following the first flight of the SpaceX Starship. The regulator has counted 63 problems that SpaceX must fix so that Starship can take off again. [caption id="attachment_54056" align="aligncenter" width="530"] SpaceX[/caption] “ There are 63 problems that urgently need to be corrected, including the ship's hull and launch pad ,” the FAA report said. The FAA said the completion of the accident investigation does not mean Starship launches can immediately resume. To comply with all regulatory requirements, SpaceX must correct the above issues and apply for approval for a second flight. SpaceX needs to fix 63 problems to get the Starship spacecraft back in the air. Interestingly, SpaceX also published material with its own investigation and analysis of the reasons that led to the premature termination of the Starship flight. The company pointed out that several rocket engines shut down during the flight, which led to the failure of the second stage separation, and a fuel leak in the tail of the rocket caused numerous fires inside, which affected the spacecraft's computer system and made it impossible to control the engines - this and was the main cause of the rocket explosion. SpaceX also said it has upgraded the rocket's thrust vector control system. The company stressed that this update " is not related to any issues discovered during the first flight tests ."

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The next launch could take place in December Visitors to the SpaceX Starbase spaceport in Boca Chica now have another place against which they can take beautiful pictures. A photograph of a giant neon sign with the inscription “Gateway to Mars” was published a couple of hours ago by the head of the company, Elon Musk. [caption id="attachment_85542" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Starship launch pad[/caption] Last week, workers began installing massive white letters on a newly built wall near the Starship launch pad. Some SpaceX fans have expressed regret over the recent construction of a large wall around parts of the launch complex. They see this as another step towards gradually closing SpaceX Starbase to the public. “Gateway to Mars,” a huge neon sign appeared on the Starship launch pad The new sign appeared a couple of weeks after Starship's second launch. This time we managed to reach the stage of stage separation, but a few moments later the launch vehicle exploded. The Starship spacecraft continued its flight , but also exploded approximately 8 minutes after it began. [caption id="attachment_85543" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Starship launch pad[/caption] Musk said the next Starship could be ready to fly in December, but SpaceX needs to get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

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Scientists are excited about the opportunity to work with real lunar samples NASA has allowed agency-funded researchers to apply for access to Chinese lunar samples collected by the Chang'e 5 mission. The return of China's mission to Earth in December 2020 with 1,731 grams of lunar samples collected from the Ocean of Storms region on the near side of the Moon was a significant achievement for scientists around the world. China provides these samples to researchers from different countries. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is currently conducting the 7th round of applications for access to Chang'e-5 lunar samples, which will be open until December 22 of this year. NASA has confirmed its intention to Congress to allow scientists to apply for access to Chang'e-5 samples. These samples are collected from areas of the Moon that have not yet been studied by NASA, and are expected to provide valuable scientific data about the history of the Moon, which could influence NASA's future plans to explore our moon. [caption id="attachment_85412" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] The popular Wolf Law, which prohibits cooperation between NASA and Chinese government agencies, remains in effect and is not repealed by the new permit. The amendment, supported by Frank Wolf, a previous lawmaker and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee's Commerce, Justice and Science subcommittee that funds NASA, was introduced in response to human rights abuses, theft of US intellectual property and other geopolitical issues. NASA has allowed American scientists to access lunar samples collected by the Chinese Chang'e-5 mission. “The Wolf Amendment is not an absolute ban on cooperation, but in order for it to occur, NASA must obtain congressional authorization and meet certain requirements,” explained Marsha Smith, editor of the information portal SpacePolicyOnline.com. American scientists involved in lunar exploration welcome the new step from NASA. “This is great news because it will allow American scientists to apply their knowledge to the analysis of unique lunar samples. Several American scientists have already been able to make an initial interpretation of the age of young basalt samples from Chang'e-5 and have participated in the first publications. However, this is the first time we will have the opportunity to work with real samples,” said Clive Neal, leading lunar expert at the University of Notre Dame Research Center. “Our scientists will b [caption id="attachment_85413" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] The samples collected by the Chang'e 5 mission open up new opportunities for studying the Moon, especially in the northern Ocean of Storms region. These samples belong to the youngest basalts on the Moon, and their age will help understand how the evolution of lunar volcanism occurred. Also showing interest in these samples is James Head, a lunar expert who took part in the Apollo program. He notes the importance of the Chang'e 5 mission and says: "This mission provided valuable information about the Moon, bringing back samples from the northwestern part of the Moon - the Ocean of Storms, one of the youngest and least explored lunar regions." Head hopes the new NASA initiative will encourage more international sharing of samples in the future: “Mars, asteroids, comets—the solar system is rich in diversity. "If different agencies share samples and research results, it will help planetary science get a more complete picture." Chinese researchers also continue to develop new missions to the Moon. The Chang'e 6 mission, planned for 2024, will land in the South Aitken Basin on the far side of the Moon. Its goal will be to collect samples and send them to Earth. The Chang'e 6 mission will consist of several components - an orbiter, a lander, an ascent module and a sample return module. Chinese scientists plan to extract one or two kilograms of lunar samples. If the mission is successful, it will be the first sample from the far side of the Moon.

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Titan exploration tentatively pushed back to 2028 NASA's Dragonfly mission, aimed at exploring Saturn's moon Titan, will be delayed: the next stage of development has been postponed by a year, and the launch is scheduled for July 2028. The official reason for the delay was budget uncertainty, which delayed official confirmation and determination of the cost and schedule of the Dragonfly mission. The Dragonfly team will continue to work on the next phase of development, Phase C, which will develop a rotary unmanned vehicle the size of a car. This vehicle will fly over Titan's dunes and will be able to land to study Titan's abundance of organic molecules. [caption id="attachment_85385" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Dragonfly mission[/caption] On November 28, at a meeting of NASA's External Planetary Assessment Group (OPAG), Laurie Glaze, director of the agency's planetary science division, announced the reasons for the delay in the launch, which was originally scheduled to take place in 2027. Funding and budget uncertainties for 2024 and 2025 were the main reason for the delay in official confirmation of the Dragonfly mission. Glaze also noted that the Dragonfly mission design will be presented again to the program management council (APMC) in the spring of 2024, following the preliminary readiness of the fiscal year 2025 budget proposal at NASA. Dragonfly mission to Titan: launch delayed by a year due to budget uncertainty The Dragonfly team will replan the mission, and once all necessary changes are completed and verified, NASA will assess the mission's readiness for launch in mid-2024. As a result, some elements of the Dragonfly mission will be delayed while other aspects continue to be developed. Dragonfly is the only NASA mission planned to explore the surface of Titan. When the device arrives on Titan, it will look for signs indicating the possibility of life. Dragonfly will also study how advanced prebiotic chemistry is on Saturn's moon, and even look for signs of water or hydrocarbon-based molecules. In addition to traveling further on Titan than any other alien rover on its missions, Dragonfly will also land on Saturn's surface in different regions, collecting samples to determine the composition of surface materials in different regions. Studying Titan is a high priority for planetary scientists because it is the only moon in the solar system known for its thick atmosphere and hydrological cycle similar to Earth's. It is also an oceanic world with clouds of methane, rain, and liquid on the surface that forms lakes and seas. The discovery of oceans and the potential presence of organic matter frozen in Titan's ice increases the potential for viability on this moon. The Dragonfly mission is being developed and will be managed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland. To carry out the research on board the device, cameras, sensors and sample collection tools will be used. “Dragonfly is a fearless engineering concept that is one of a kind. I am inspired by how our team has repeatedly overcome obstacles by working together and thinking outside the box,” said Dragonfly Principal Investigator Elizabeth Turtle. Several Dragonfly components, including control and navigation systems, have already been tested over California deserts chosen for their similarity to the dunes on Titan - as well as in wind tunnels at NASA's Langley Science Center. The full-scale model was also tested in the Titan Simulation Chamber at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory—which recreates the cold temperatures and atmospheric pressures similar to Titan's methane environment. For now, the Dragonfly mission remains the only NASA mission planned to study the surface of Titan. It represents an important step in exploring the potential viability and organic chemistry of other planets and moons in the solar system. “Team Dragonfly has demonstrated readiness for the next phase of our journey to conquer Titan. We are relentlessly moving forward without losing the curiosity and creativity that are key to the success of the Dragonfly mission,” said Turtle.

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ISRO announced the successful launch of the ASPEX experiment and revealed plans to study solar wind using Aditya-L1 The Indian space agency ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) announced that the Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload on board the Indian Aditya-L1 satellite has begun to function normally. Aditya-L1 was launched on a PSLV-C57 launch vehicle from Sriharikota on September 2. The satellite is placed in a halo orbit at the L1 Lagrange point, located between the Earth and the Sun. The goal of the Aditya-L1 project is to study solar wind and space weather. The information obtained by the satellite will reveal the origin, acceleration and direction of the solar wind, as well as understand its impact on Earth. [caption id="attachment_85365" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Aditya-L1 mission[/caption] Aditya-L1 mission: instruments begin collecting data on space weather and solar wind Aditya-L1 is the second ISRO spacecraft to move beyond the Earth's gravitational sphere of influence after the successful Mars Exploration Mission. Aditya-L1 carries seven scientific instruments, including four solar observation instruments and three plasma and magnetic field measurements. ASPEX includes two important instruments: the Solar Wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS) and the High Energy Particle Spectrometer (STEPS). STEPS was launched on September 10th and SWIS started on November 2nd this year and has already shown results. SWIS, using two sensor units with a full 360° view, operates in planes perpendicular to each other. This spectrometer monitors solar wind ions, particularly protons and alpha particles. According to ISRO, SWIS has successfully measured these particles, which are a major contributor to the solar wind. An energy histogram obtained from one of the SWIS sensors over two days in November shows changes in the number of protons (H+) and alpha particles (He2+). These data provide a rich set of information about the behavior of the solar wind. This measurement will help resolve questions about the properties of the solar wind, its basic processes and influence on the Earth. Also, the change in the proportion of protons and alpha particles observed by SWIS has the potential to provide indirect information about the occurrence of coronal mass ejections at the L1 Lagrange point. After careful analysis of the collected data, the scientific community expects to gain new knowledge about the characteristics of the solar wind and its impact on Earth from the ASPEX experiment on the Aditya-L1 satellite.

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The problem arose when one of the three gyroscopes gave incorrect readings. The team is working to fix the problem, but for now all scientific missions are suspended NASA has suspended all current science missions of the Hubble telescope due to a gyroscope malfunction. The problem arose on November 19, when the telescope went into safe mode after one of its three gyroscopes gave erroneous readings. The team quickly resumed work after fixing the problem, but the unstable gyroscope attracted attention twice, causing the telescope to go into safe mode again on November 21 and 23. After the incident on November 21, the agency was able to restore operations. However, on November 23, the telescope went into safe mode again, prompting NASA to suspend all science missions until the cause was determined. [caption id="attachment_85327" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Hubble Telescope[/caption] Hubble Telescope temporarily suspends science missions due to faulty gyroscope Gyroscopes are important components of the Hubble Telescope, helping to measure its rotation speed and determine its direction. The NASA team is actively working to determine the cause of the gyroscope malfunction. The gyroscopes were last replaced during the shuttle's fifth and final executive mission in 2009. Six gyros were replaced as part of this mission, and the faulty gyro is one of three that are still operational. Despite the need for another service mission, NASA believes Hubble will continue to make breakthrough discoveries with the James Webb Telescope for the rest of this decade, and possibly well into the next. The space agency has not released details about when it hopes to return Hubble to service once the gyroscope problem is fixed. Even if you need to turn off the faulty gyroscope, the telescope will be able to continue working, since NASA claims that for Hubble to continue moving and participate in scientific missions, one working gyroscope is enough. Hubble launched in 1990 and spent 33 years exploring our Universe, giving us iconic views of the cosmos, including a spectacular view of the Creation Pillars, which was also photographed by astrophotographers and the James Webb Telescope.

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The ship is scheduled to dock with the ISS on December 3 Today, a Soyuz 2.1a rocket with a Progress MS-25 space truck launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The press service of Roscosmos spoke about this. [caption id="attachment_85149" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Progress MS-25 truck[/caption] The launch took place at 12:25 Moscow time from the 31st site of the cosmodrome. As noted in Roscosmos, the launch of the Progress MS-25 into a given orbit, its separation from the third stage of the rocket, and the deployment of the ship’s antennas and solar panels took place as usual. [caption id="attachment_85150" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Progress MS-25 truck[/caption] The Progress MS-25 truck with tangerines and the Future Games trophy went to the ISS The docking of Progress MS-25 to the small research module Poisk of the Russian segment of the International Space Station is scheduled for December 3, at 14:15 Moscow time. The Progress MS-25 will deliver 2,528 kg of cargo to the ISS: 515 kg of fuel for refueling the station, 420 kg of drinking water and 40 kg of nitrogen, as well as 1,553 kg of resource equipment, stowage for scientific experiments, food, medical and sanitary and hygienic products. Among other things, the truck will deliver tangerines, New Year's gifts and a trophy from the Future Games tournament to the astronauts, which is due to return to earth in 2024. [caption id="attachment_85151" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Progress MS-25 truck[/caption] At the station, the ship is waiting for the crew of the 70th long-term expedition - Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub and Konstantin Borisov, NASA astronauts Jasmine Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen and JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.

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The ship will soon enter the atmosphere and collapse Today, the Progress MS-23 cargo ship set sail from the International Space Station, having worked on it for more than six months. The press service of Roscosmos spoke about this. [caption id="attachment_84916" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Progress MS-23[/caption] At 10:55:26 Moscow time, the ship undocked from the small research module “Poisk” of the Russian segment of the station. Progress MS-23 has set sail from the ISS https://youtu.be/2jj-X6SR8c8 At 14:02 Moscow time, the Progress MS-23 engine is scheduled to be switched on for braking to deorbit, as a result of which the ship will enter the atmosphere and be destroyed. According to the calculations of specialists from the Mission Control Center, the unburnt elements of its structure will fall at 14:43 in a non-navigable area of ​​the South Pacific Ocean, 2320 km from the city of Wellington (New Zealand). [caption id="attachment_84918" align="aligncenter" width="544"] Progress MS-23[/caption] The Progress MS-23 spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on May 24, 2023 by a Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle and delivered 2.5 tons of cargo to the ISS. Its place at the station will be taken by the Progress MS-25 spacecraft, which is scheduled to launch from Baikonur on December 1. The crew of the 70th long-term expedition is working on the ISS, consisting of Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub and Konstantin Borisov, NASA astronauts Jasmine Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen and JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa.

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It took engineers three months to plan this “operation.” The American Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA shared the latest news from Mars. NASA's Odyssey orbiter captured an unusual view of the Mars horizon with its camera. The department itself called the resulting photos “stunning.”  [caption id="attachment_84900" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] The images were taken from an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers above the surface of Mars - approximately the same altitude at which the International Space Station orbits Earth. NASA said: The Odyssey orbiter captured clouds and dust in the sky of the Red Planet, as well as one of its two tiny moons. The spacecraft captured a series of panoramic images showing the curved Martian landscape beneath transparent layers of clouds and dust. As noted by NASA, ten images “stitched” one after another offer not only a stunning new view of Mars, but will also help scientists gain new insight into the Martian atmosphere. NASA Odyssey captured stunning photos of the Mars horizon https://youtu.be/gm_g93wNj_8 Jonathon Hill from Arizona State University explained:  If there were astronauts in Mars orbit, they would see exactly this prospect. No Mars spacecraft had ever captured this view before.  The reason this species is so unusual is the difficulty involved in creating it. Engineers at the mission and Lockheed Martin Space, which built Odyssey, spent three months planning the THEMIS observations. The infrared camera's sensitivity to heat allows it to image ice, rock, sand and dust, as well as temperature changes on the planet's surface. In October 2023, NASA Odyssey marked 22 years since its arrival at Mars in 2001. 

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Launch is scheduled for December 1, 2023 Today, the Soyuz-2.1a space rocket with the Progress MS-25 cargo ship was transported to the launch complex of the 31st site of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The press service of Roscosmos spoke about this. [caption id="attachment_84709" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Progress MS-25[/caption] After installing the rocket in a vertical position at the launch complex, Roscosmos specialists continued preparing it for launch. [caption id="attachment_84710" align="aligncenter" width="337"] Progress MS-25[/caption] "Soyuz" with "Progress MS-25" already at the start of Baikonur The launch of the Progress MS-25 cargo spacecraft by the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle is planned on December 1, at 12:25:11 Moscow time. [caption id="attachment_84711" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Progress MS-25[/caption] The ship must deliver about 2500 kg of cargo on board the ISS, including 515 kg of fuel in refueling tanks, 420 kg of drinking water and 40 kg of compressed nitrogen, as well as 1553 kg of resource equipment and stowage for scientific experiments, food, medical and sanitary-hygienic means in the cargo compartment to ensure the work and life of the crew. [caption id="attachment_84712" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Progress MS-25[/caption] [caption id="attachment_84713" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Progress MS-25[/caption]

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A year after the launch of the Artemis1 mission, NASA continues to investigate damage to the fireproof shield on the Orion spacecraft, which may take several more months. On November 17, NASA Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems Development Jim Free spoke about plans for the Artemis 2 project at a committee meeting. He stressed that the launch of the first manned mission still needs to be delayed until the problems are analyzed and appropriate changes are made. [caption id="attachment_83984" align="aligncenter" width="780"] NASA[/caption] After the Artemis 1 mission last December, NASA managers noted that the fire shield on Orion was more damaged than expected during reentry. However, this does not pose a threat to the ship, since the fireproof shield still contains a sufficient layer of ablative material. NASA continues to investigate the failure of the Orion spacecraft's fireproof shield. Lakeisha Hawkins, assistant deputy administrator in NASA's Luna-Mars program office, said the temporary authorization to determine the cause of the fire shield failure is expected in the spring. Engineers are studying factors that could have caused the damage, including Orion's reentry trajectory and the properties of the Avcoat material. NASA and its contractors are continuing to work on other elements of the Artemis 2 mission to stay on track for the 2024 launch schedule. As Free noted, work with the hardware continues at the moment and there is no reason to stop the process. However, if an issue is discovered that requires suspension, all processes and timelines will be immediately reviewed. It is unclear what impact this might have on the Artemis 2 schedule if the fire shield on the Orion vehicle requires modification or replacement. But other mission elements, such as the Space Launch System rocket and ground systems, are still on schedule, especially SLS. Determining the timing for SLS launch vehicle assembly and integration at Kennedy Space Center is a key issue. The launch will be carried out only after full readiness and understanding of all aspects related to Artemis 1.