New Morpheus Vehicle To Arrive KSC 12 Nov; Will Conduct Dry Run, Wet Run & Test Readiness Review In Early Dec; 3 Free Flight Operations & First Flight Campaign In Mid Dec; Craft Will Then Help Test Key Technologies Such As In-Space Propellant Transfer; Team Hopes To Scale Up 500-kg Payload Lander So It Is Able To Land Habitat With Crew On Moon
Image Credit: NASA
Project Morpheus VTVL Autonomous Vehicle Recently Passed 80-Second Tethered Test (#28) At Johnson Spaceflight Center Houston TX; Expected To Be Shipped To Kennedy Space Center Cape Canaveral FL Soon To Perform Untethered Flight Test; Aug 2012 Untethered Test Destroyed Prototype Lander Seconds After Takeoff; Team Hopes 70 Adjustments / Upgrades To Vehicle & Ground Systems Will Result In Success
Image Credit: NASA
Morpheus Vertical Takeoff & Landing Vehicle Performs Successful 74-Second Tethered Test Flight At JSC In Houston, TX; Next Test Within 1 Week; Mighty Eagle Moon Lander Prototype Undergoing Heat Shield Inspections & System Leak Checks At MSFC In Huntsville, AL; Flight Tests Planned For July To Include Optical Hazard Avoidance – About 200 Tons Of Dirt Will Simulate Lunar Landing Situation, Vehicle To Demonstrate Ability To Detect Hazards
Image Credit: NASA
Morpheus 1.5 Bravo Moon Robotic Lander With Engine Capable Of 22,000 Newtons Of Thrust Is Now Ready For Flight Test Program At JSC; Completed 50-Second Static Hot Fire Of Main Engine With Thrust Vector Control Demonstration; Will Perform Dynamic Tethered Flights Soon In Preparation For Summer 2013 Return To KSC; 70 Vehicle Upgrades Include Advanced Engine Performance Capabilities, Increased Structural Margins, Mitigated Launch Vibroacoustic Environments
Image Credit: Kris Kehea, NASA
Morpheus / ALHAT Team Building New Morpheus 1.5B & 1.5C Vehicles For Static Hot Fire & Dynamic Tethered Tests This Spring At NASA JSC, Project Will Then Return To Free-Flight Testing At KSC This Summer; Morpheus Had 26 Successful Test Flights Before Aug 2012 Crash Caused By Vibration Breaking Connection Of Navigation Instruments; New Craft Design Will Protect Against Shaking; Project Goal To Develop Craft Capable Of Autonomous Moon Landing
Image Credit: NASA