ATK’s static fire test of a NASA Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) – to provide performance data on replacement insulation materials for the shuttle’s remaining flights, and test data for the first stage of Ares I – has been successful.
The booster – FSM-14 (Flight Support Motor) – was fired for the standard two minutes at the test range in Promontory, Utah, north of Salt Lake City, in the first test firing of 2007.
Huge amounts of VSE related insider news and presentations – THE most comprehensive place to follow Ares/Orion development – are available for download on L2. See list at the end of this article.
**ARES I / ORION LIVE UPDATE PAGES**
**ARES V / Mars Transport Vehicle (MTV) LIVE UPDATE PAGES**
**CLICK HERE FOR ATK PDF PRESENTATION ON THE TEST**
‘This is a good example of why static firings are so important to not only the Space Shuttle but the entire space program,’ said ATK Launch Systems president Ron Dittemore, who emphasized the synergy in the transition from STS and Ares.
‘Every test objective performed for the shuttle’s RSRM program will also benefit the Ares I first stage element as well.’
The event had 58 principal test objectives, including the collection of wide view far field plume radiometric measurements for Ares I, while also obtaining accelerometer, acoustic, and displacement measurements to support definition of motor-generated external loads for the shuttle replacement vehicle.
Thursday’s firing was also used to obtain thermal performance of all field joints using O-rings made with low-temperature V1288 seal material, along with other insulation and material test data based around the testing of improved nozzle and case insulation materials.
The RSRM generated 2.6 million pounds of average thrust throughout the duration of the test, which was conducted in association with the Space Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Booster Project Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
‘Static tests are an integral part of ATK and NASA’s commitment to ensure the safety of NASA’s astronauts.’ added Dittemore. ‘These tests will also aid in the development of the Ares I launch vehicle, providing a smooth technical and workforce transition as the shuttle program is retired.’
Meanwhile, NASA wrapped up six months of system requirements reviews for the Orion spacecraft, the Ares launch vehicles and other support systems, bringing together the Constellation Program’s list of basic capability needs.
Classed as a baseline synchronization, carried out on Wednesday, came after individual Systems Requirements Reviews (SRRs) that were conducted by Constellation. The synchronization effort was designed to identify any conflicts or gaps between and among the projects and the program and to establish a plan for resolving those issues.
‘This has been an eventful spring, known as the ‘season of SRRs,” said Jeff Hanley, Constellation Program manager. ‘This summer will bring a new season of rolling system definition reviews that will finish our requirements for initial mission capability and set us up for our first preliminary design reviews.’Selection of L2 Resources For Ares I, V and Constellation: Updates Constellation launch schedule through to Orion 15. Orion Seat test photos. New ML Graphic and info. New Ares V graphic and baseline data. Large collection of hi res Orion paracute drop tests. SIX Part Series of Ares I Upper Stage Graphical Overviews. DAC-1C DDD Vast Slides on Vehicle Design. ATK First Stage Presentation. 39B Lightning Towers Slides. DAC-1C Departure points to DAC-2 Upper Stage Graphcs (Many Changes).
Orion/CEV Display Layout Presentation (40 pages) – Feb 5. ATK figures on the 5-Seg Booster weight for CLV – Feb 2. Weather Shield (Rain Shield) for Orion on the pad – Feb 1. New Super hi-res images of Ares I – Feb 1. ATK Cutaway graphics of Ares I – perspective and axonometric – Feb 1. Ares I/Orion CxP 72031 Requirements Validation Matrix Information. CEV Paracute Assembly System (CPAS) Presentation.
Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) overview presentation – Jan 16. Major changes to Ares I Upper Stage – expansive details and data. Ares I/Orion CxP 72031 Requirements Validation Matrix Information. Saturn Twang Test Video for use with Ares I-1R. CLV Umbilical Trade Matrix XLS.
Vehicle interfaces for the DAC 1C version of Orion Ares – Jan 3. Ares I-1R Test Flight Plan (full outline) Presentation. Ares I-1 timeline and modification expanded info. Ares I troubleshooting latest. Ares I Reference Trajectory. Boeing’s STS to Ares – Lessons Learned Presentation. Latest Ares I and Ares V baseline Configuration image and data. CLV DAC-1C (Changes to CLV Upper Stage).
Ares I-1: Four Seg+Dummy ‘Tuna Can’ stage. Ascent Developmental Flight Test Presentation. CLV Pad 39B Handover Info and Latest. New images of CLV on top of new MLP and LUT. Lockheed Martin CEV/Orion Updates. Constellation news updates. ATK figures on the 5-Seg Booster weight for CLV.
90 Minute Video of Constellation all hands meeting. CLV TIM Meeting Information. CLV/CaLV Infrastructure, Timelines and Information. Escape System Trade Study Presentation.
CEV-CLV Design Analysis Cycle Review (DAC-2) Presentation. Constellation SRR updates. CLV Stick – Troubleshooting/Alternatives/Updates. New CEV Images (include abort mode). Flight Design and Dynamics Division CEV update. CLV Mono-propellant RCS system. CEV pressurisation system review. CLV/CEV Configuration Images. The 2×3 Seg SRB Crew Launch Vehicle Option Presentation…plus more.
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