Two massive solid rocket boosters will be part of the nation’s new deep space rocket, Space Launch System (SLS). The new rocket will take human and robotic explorers missions to destinations in deep space.
The most powerful solid propellant booster ever built, the booster burns nearly six tons of propellant every second! Each booster will produce more thrust than 14 jumbo commercial aircraft with four engines each!
What does that look like? Here’s the booster in action during the second full-scale ground test that took place in June:
Small businesses around the country are an essential part of these massive boosters. They provide critical materials and services for the development and support of the SLS program.
A founding member of the Coalition, Orbital ATK is the prime contractor for these solid rocket boosters. Together, the boosters will provide more than 75 percent of the rocket’s total thrust at launch. Based on the space shuttle boosters, they incorporate several improvements including the addition of a fifth propellant segment and a new nozzle design.
Let’s take a closer look at just two of the many small businesses supporting the program.
AcuFast Aircraft Products, founded in 2006, has supported the SLS program since 2007. Providing fasteners to the program, this small business is based in Sylmar, CA and has over 50 employees. Back in 2007, the business worked with ATK Launch Systems (now Orbital ATK) supplying ignition nozzle fasteners for the redesigned Space Shuttle solid rocket motor. In 2007, the small business also started producing high-strength precision fasteners used in the thrust nozzle section.
As a result of supporting NASA programs, AcuFast Aircraft Products profile and reputation in the industry has greatly benefited. It allowed the company’s management to look forward and to grow their manufacturing departments. These improvements have benefited all of their customers. The company is looking forward to providing high-strength close-tolerance fasteners to future space flight applications.
Another small business, American Pacific, is known for their quality, reliability, technical performance and innovation. With over 150 employees, the Utah-based business provides a mission-critical product for the solid rocket motors and has supported the SLS program since 2011. This business is the only manufacturer of rocket-grade ammonium perchlorate (AP) in North America.
The AP provided by this small business is the oxidizer used in the solid rocket motors for SLS. AP provides oxygen for combustion, which is used to accelerate the rocket. As every program using solid rocket propellant has their own oxidizer requirements, this small business worked to figure out the production adjustments to produce the oxidizer for SLS. The business will continue to support NASA for existing programs, both manned and unmanned future space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.
In total, more than 800 small businesses across the country contribute to the SLS program and provide tremendous value. The giant solid rocket boosters are essential to the nation’s new rocket which will open up a new era of exploration in deep space, and small businesses are a key component of that future.
Learn more about SLS at NASA.gov.