NASA rethinks EM-1 date

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Director Jody Singer said the agency is reassessing the 2020 launch readiness date for Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), the first launch of Space Launch System (SLS) with an uncrewed Orion capsule. Singer, speaking at a Space Transportation Association (STA) meeting on Capitol Hill Tuesday, said the launch readiness date for EM-1 is still in 2020, but did not give a more precise estimate of the date. Singer outlined how much has been accomplished to date. All the segments for EM-1 are ready except the core stage being built at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. She said it's “almost ready,” but much testing remains. The “Green Run” all-up system test of the core stage and four RS-25 engines at Stennis Space Center, Miss., will take place late this year or early next, she said. Singer described SLS as “America’s rocket” because more than 1,100 companies in 44 states are involved in building it, supporting more than 32,000 jobs and producing $6 billion in economic benefit.(Sources: SpacePolicyOnline, SpaceNews, 03/05/19)