This is the current working timeline.
We’re back!! Engineer Sarah Blyde watches as Blue is set gently down at Astrotech Space Operations near Cape Canaveral to begin testing and integration activities. Program Executive Skyler Kleinschmidt, PI Rob Lillis, and Systems Engineer Sasha Courtade with the Twins in the background.
At NASA HQ in Washington DC, we joined senior SMD leadership for KDP-E (Key-Decision Point to proceed to Phase E). We presented our readiness for launch as well as our plan and budget for the next four years of mission operations and science. L to R: Shannon Curry (Project Scientist), Read more
We gathered (Project + NASA) at UC Berkeley to review spacecraft readiness for shipping to the launch site, as well as our readiness to operate the spacecraft after launch. Result: we passed! Spacecraft Systems Engineer Christophe Mandy presents.
NASA decided not to fuel the two ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft. The agency’s decision to stand down was based on a review of launch preparations and discussions with Blue Origin, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Space Launch Delta 45 Range Safety Organization, as well as NASA’s Launch Read more
On Sunday, August 18, 2024 at around 3 AM, “Betty” Blue and “Goldilocks” Gold arrive at the Astrotech Space Operations processing facility just outside Kennedy Space Center, following a three-day journey across the country from California.
More great work from our Rocket Lab partners and both spacecraft are finished environmental testing!
Blue, the spacecraft on the left, has completed a successful thermal vacuum test campaign. Meanwhile Gold, the spacecraft on the right, has completed pre-environments testing and is now into vibration testing. Not long to go until these beautiful machines are shipped out to the Cape ready for their journey to Read more
Blue spacecraft completed shock & vibe testing at Rocket Lab USA, Long Beach. Ready for TVAC!
The full Science & Project teams met at UC Berkeley on January 29 to provide updates and familiarize all parts of the project with each other as we move into our launch year!!