Episode 716: A Swan Returns to the Stars

Come along with the Talking Space Team  to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center(KSC) as we bring to you the sights and sounds leading up to the return toflight of Orbital ATK’sCygnus Cargo spacecraft (named after pioneering Astronaut  Donald K. Slayton) and the resumption of ISS logisticsdelivery missions from US Soil.  In this special expanded show, we discussthe mission , designated OA4,the  Cygnus itself and just why we are launching from Floridaand not the usual home port for Cygnus of Wallops Island, Virginia. Also why weare flying on United LaunchAlliance’s AtlasV and not OrbitalATK's Antares booster. With wind measurements playing a hugefactor in this launch (wind delayed in the launch three times) Mark Rattermantakes us on a tour of a key instrument, NASA’s Doppler Radar Wind Profiler. Once fully commissionedthe system will  make sure the “highway to space” is safe for launchvehicles leaving KSC.  We spend some time with Mr. Frank DeMauro, OrbitalATK’s Vice President of HumanSpaceflight Systems to discuss his career, his role in supporting thisreturn to flight mission, and what the future holds for the Cygnusspacecraft.

There was a bit of controversy surrounding Space Exploration Technologies(Space X) and their future return to flight plans, we discuss. We also look atthe company’s progress with reimagining historic Launch Complex 39-A.  Wealso make commentary as to why we think their message last week surroundingtheir future launch plans became somewhat muddled.

In a future show, we will profile progress being made by United LaunchAlliance at LaunchComplex41 to support human missions. We’ll also examine Boeing’s efforts to getthe former Orbiter Processing Facility 3 now known as the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility ready tofabricate the CST-100 Starliner , and NASA’s Launch Equipment Testing Facility , making sure thatconnections on the new Mobile Launcher will support the Space Launch System andOrion.

Talking Space wishes to thank NASA’s George Diller and OrbitalATK’s Frank DeMauro fortheir time with us.

Show recorded 12-07-2015

Host this week: Sawyer Rosenstein

Commentators: Mark Ratterman & Gene Mikulka