Bold new steps The next journey of sending astronauts to Mars. But NASA flight ever since I was little,” said Brenda human space exploration the International Space Station and widen at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, who isIsaza, a Boeing structural design engineerwill continue to conduct research aboard has begun, and Boeing opportunities for private enterprise to designing ground support facilities for the is once again taking continues as prime contractor on the space developed by Lockheed Martin to carryOrion program. The spacecraft is beingprovide access to low Earth orbit. Boeing a leading role station, including both sustaining operations astronauts on missions beyond Earth orbit. and enhancing utilization. “My job is never boring. Every day By Bill Seil Boeing is designing and building the there’s something new and different A exploration, Boeing has been and payloads to the moon, asteroids, Mars go home and share what you did.”In Huntington Beach, Calif., anothergoing on,” Isaza added. “You alwayswant to get up and go to work, then-cryogenic stages and avionics for theSpace Launch System, or SLS, a powerful vehicle capable of propelling astronautss a leader in human spacepart of a remarkable journey of discovery and accomplishment for more and other distant locations. Boeing site that has played a huge role in than 50 years. Today, the company is Closer to home, Boeing was recently past space exploration, John McKinney once again taking bold new steps toward awarded a NASA contract to further shares that same excitement and enthusiasm the next space age. Employees across develop its Commercial Crew spacecraft, about the work he is doing. McKinney the enterprise are engaged in a range of CST-100, which is designed to ferry astro- is landing and recovery system lead for programs and studies that one day will nauts to and from the space station, and Boeing’s Commercial Crew program. He take astronauts far from their home planet. other low Earth orbit locations. conducts tests on the spacecraft to ensure “The space shuttle was a wonderful Boeing Advanced Space Exploration, that returning astronauts will land safely. vehicle, but it wasn’t designed to go beyond part of Phantom Works, is developing a Boeing’s years of experience in low Earth orbit,” said Mike Raftery, Boeing number of futuristic concepts, including manned space exploration—beginning director of International Space Station systems that will allow the efficient move- with Project Mercury—is of enormous Utilization and Exploration. “It was designed ment of people, structures and cargo on value in designing future space vehicles, to be a truck to build and support the long-distance and long-duration missions. McKinney said. space station, and it did that very well.” In addition, employees are working on “Our long history in spacecraft develop- Boeing played a major role in the Space systems that will support a far wider range ment has given us a unique capability to Shuttle program, which ended last year. of requirements for space exploration. leverage proven concepts with the highly “What we’re talking about now is Regardless of where they work or what mature technologies of today,” McKinney developing the ability to go way out and they are working on, employees know said. “This allows us to minimize risk and begin the exploration of our solar system,” Boeing’s rich history and leadership in keep costs as low as possible.” Raftery said. space exploration, and they are excited That history began more than 50 years NASA is focusing on destinations beyond about where the company is going next. ago when the United States named seven low Earth orbit. Ultimately, this could include “I’ve had a passion for human space- Mercury astronauts to compete with Russian PhOTO IlluSTRATION: The Space Launch System rocket, for which Boeing is building the cryogenic stages, could send astronauts to the moon or to Mars. NASA BOEING FRONTIERS / OCTOBER 2012 27
Frontiers October 2012 Issue
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