Exploration Flight Test 1

EFT - 1 (Eng. Exploration Flight Test ) is a mission name for the U.S. Orion - MPCV (English Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) of NASA, whose launch is scheduled for December 2014. It is the first orbital test flight of the spaceship, to be tested with the critical systems. Since the actual launcher of the MPCV, which will be SLS, not yet completed at the time of the test flight of the Delta IV Heavy launch on a United Launch Alliance will take place.

Mission preparation

In December 2013, the Launch Abort System was completed, which will be inactive for this mission and can only separate from the crew module. Then the service module for the mission was completed in January 2014, which is also not fully equipped.

So are ready two of three components of the Orion MPCV for EFT -1. The crew module is to be completed in spring 2014. In March 2014, shifting the start date from September to December 2014, it was announced one is actually still building the space capsule and launch vehicle on schedule for a launch in the fall, but the USAF was given with the launch of two spy satellites of priority.

Mission History

The spacecraft to be launched in December 2014 by a Delta IV Heavy from Launch Complex 37 at the Kennedy Space Center to complete a several-hour flight with two times around the world. Currently ( March 2014 ), two different dates still in the room, according to NASA, December 4 and December 15, according to USAF. The upper stage of the Delta IV will be linked to the re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere to the energy supply of the MPCV, as the photovoltaic panels are not installed. In the second orbit the spacecraft will be placed in an increased height of about 5800 km, which is about 15 times higher than the orbit of the ISS. Then it is at a speed of about 32,000 km / h re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, and then splash down in the Pacific Ocean. During the entire flight, the spacecraft will be under pressure, as is also the case when astronauts on board would be.

Mission Objectives

Exploration Flight Test 1 is intended mainly for important systems, such as avionics, the heat shield and to test the parachutes. For this reason, the mission is also a preparation for EM-1, the first start of the MPCV with its launcher SLS in 2017Vorlage: Future / in 3 years.