7 a.m EST on July 2nd, 2019 marks another stride towards NASA’s Artemis Missions to the Moon that will lead them to Mars. Early in the morning, on a warm summer day at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, NASA launched a test of an Orion crew module called Ascent Abort-2. This test launch is to test the abort system that pulls astronauts to safety in the event of an emergency during a launch. After traveling to an altitude of 6 miles, the Orion test spacecraft began to experience high stress conditions, as expected, and the abort system was triggered. Within seconds, the crew module was ejected and pulled away to safely descend into the Atlantic Ocean. The test launch was very successful and proved to be another major accomplishment in the preparation of the Artemis Missions.
Two Federal Contracts Corp representatives (FCC Owner, Clark Ricke and FCC Rental Manager, Matt McHone) were in attendance to watch the launch. Federal Contracts Corp is very proud that we were able to not only witness this moment, but that we provided multiple pieces of equipment that helped make the test launch possible.
Federal Contracts Corp provided the two large metal towers on either side of the launch pad. These towers create a Lightning Protection System so that in case of storms, lightning does not strike the launch pad. We also provided the large protective mobile room that the spacecraft was built in before being moved to the launch pad, along with several other pieces of equipment.
The Artemis Missions are something that Federal Contracts Corp is thrilled to be a part of, and we are excited to continue to provide equipment for future tests and the final mission.
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