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Constellation program advancement continues as the Exploration Development Lab at Houston (EDLH) celebrated its official opening with a ceremony on Dec. 12.

The Lockheed-Martin-operated labo-ratory is funded through research and development capital investment from the teaming partners and is located in USA’s Logistics Support Facility. USA completed construction of the EDLH in 2007.

“The opening of the EDLH is a great sign of progress,” said Anne Martt, USA Vice President and Constellation Program Manager. “The success of Constellation will greatly depend on the advancements developed within this lab.”

With more than 150 guests in attendance, Lockheed Martin Vice President and Constellation Program Manager Cleon Lacefield addressed the crowd about the EDLH’s impact on exploration. Johnson Space Center Director Michael Coats followed with a presentation highlighting JSC’s role in exploration.

“One thing we have learned in the space business is that you test, test, test,” said Coats. “The EDHL will enable us to do that.”

Following Coats’ presentations, NASA representatives provided program Constellation and Orion overviews while state of Texas and Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership representatives spoke about the benefits of exploration to the local community and state.

Designed to reduce cost and schedule risk by providing early testing opportunities for Orion avionics and software, the 10,000-sq.-foot EDLH will support Independent Research and Development activities as well as contract activities supporting manned space flight projects for CEV/Constellation development for low Earth orbit, Lunar and Mars exploration.

The lab will replicate or emulate Constellation Program-designed elements, such as the Flight Test Article (FTA), used for early abort flight tests, Orion, Ares, Earth orbit Departure Stage (EDS), Lunar Surface Access Module (LSAM) and ground support equipment, like the Mission Control Center and the KSC Launch Command and Control systems. Other EDL elements located in Colorado, Arizona and Virginia will be capable of joint-integrated, real-time testing controlled from the EDLH.

Tests run in the EDLH will help engi- neers identify early anomalies with hardware and software, reduce program execution risk, support the flight readiness schedule and enable increased collabo ration with other Constellation elements.

The EDLH will improve USA’s competitive position across all Constellation elements by providing a “ready now” laboratory for early prototyping and support the goals of the Lockheed Martin team for a laboratory capable of integrating multiple Constellation elements and ground support facilities.