Preparing America for Deep Space Exploration Episode 13: Some Assembly Required.

NASA’s Orion, Space Launch System (SLS) and Ground Systems Development & Operations Programs, which together are developing and building the spacecraft, rocket and infrastructure necessary to send humans to deep space destinations, made important progress in the first quarter of 2016. Progress included: the delivery of the Orion pressure vessel to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for outfitting, a test between Orion’s rotational hand controller and crew, a deployment test of a solar array wing, the delivery of additional platforms for Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building, where Orion and SLS will be integrated, preparations for a qualifications test of the SLS booster, the manufacture of the SLS core stage test article, launch vehicle stage adapter test article, and a test stand, as well as a hot fire of the RS-25 engine.