NASA Invites Media to View the Morpheus Lander at Kennedy

July 27, 2012

Trent J. Perrotto
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0321
trent.j.perrotto@nasa.gov

Amber Philman
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
amber.n.philman@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-141

NASA INVITES MEDIA TO VIEW THE MORPHEUS LANDER AT KENNEDY

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Media representatives are invited to view
NASA's Morpheus lander at the agency's Kennedy Space Center at 3 p.m.
EDT Wednesday, Aug. 1. The vehicle arrived at Kennedy Friday to begin
a series of tests during the next three months.

Morpheus is a prototype lander engineers can use to integrate
technologies for future spacecraft that could land on a variety of
destinations in our solar system. The technologies include a new
propulsion system that uses liquid oxygen and methane, two "green"
fuels that could be manufactured on other planetary bodies. Morpheus
also is testing technology capable of identifying and avoiding
surface hazards to enable a safe and accurate landing anywhere on a
planetary surface and under any lighting conditions.

Morpheus is one of 20 projects comprising the Advanced Exploration
Systems (AES) program in NASA's Human Exploration and Operations
Mission Directorate. AES projects pioneer new approaches for rapidly
developing prototype systems, demonstrating capabilities and
validating concepts for future human missions beyond Earth orbit.

The lander underwent testing at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston
for almost a year in preparation for its first free flight at
Kennedy. Once Morpheus has performed several successful free flights
there, it will fly about a half a mile -long approach that simulates
avoiding hazards in a landing field. Teams have spent the last two
months creating a hazard field of craters and rocks at the end of the
runway of Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF).

Repurposing the SLF for Morpheus testing is one of many projects under
way at Kennedy. Across the space center, teams are preparing for the
next generation of launch vehicles and spacecraft. The preparations
include upgrading launch pads and the space shuttle crawler
transporter, and modifying and refurbishing the Vehicle Assembly
Building.

Journalists can photograph Morpheus, the hazard field and the mobile
control center for the vehicle. NASA officials also will be available
for interviews.

Media should arrive at Kennedy's Press Site by 2:30 p.m. for
transportation to the SLF. Journalists without Kennedy accreditation
must to apply for credentials by 4 p.m. July 31. International media
accreditation for this event is closed. Badges for this specific
event can be picked up at the Kennedy Space Center Badging Office on
State Road 405 on Merritt Island. Media must apply for credentials
online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

For more information about Project Morpheus and videos of past tests
visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/OmxmBP

For more information about NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems
projects, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/OjU0fQ


-end-



To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov