Orion’s thruster propellant lines have been welded

A bunch of pipes were welded together in Florida last month. Why does this matter?

They’re not just any old pipes – they’re pipes for fuel. What’s the fuel for? Thrusters on a spacecraft that will take humans deeper into space than they’ve ever gone before.

The spacecraft is Orion – NASA’s new crew capsule. It launches in 2018 on top of the agency’s new rocket called Space Launch System (SLS). Traveling on a three week journey, Orion will voyage thousands of miles beyond the moon before coming back to Earth. The mission is called Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1).

At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center last month, the first tubes for the propellant system were welded together – an important milestone in the development of Orion. They’re located on the outside of the vehicle’s underlying structure known as the pressure vessel.

Orion pressure vessel. Image credit: NASA/Rad Sinyak

This structure will be where astronauts work and live, and will contain the atmosphere for them to breathe. The pressure vessel will also take the loads and forces caused by the vehicle’s launch and landing.

The metal tubes which have been welded together are part of the propulsion line. The welds were inspected for imperfections, and more tubes will be welded in the clean room to complete the line. The Environmental Control and Life Support System will be finished in the clean room as well.

Orion clean room. Image credit: NASA]

Connecting the propellant tanks to the thrusters, the tubes are like an artery of the spacecraft. Hydrazine will flow through the propellant lines. The thrusters help steer Orion while in space.

A founding member of the Coalition, Lockheed Martin is the manufacturer of Orion. During the first integrated mission of Orion and SLS, critical systems will be confirmed. During the following flight of Orion known as EM-2, the mission will be manned. With the continuing progress of Orion’s preparation for future missions, we are a step closer to humans exploring deep space.

Learn more about NASA’s Orion capsule at NASA.gov.