Building something to blast off and enable the Journey to Mars?
That’s exactly what NASA is up to! They’re getting ready for the first launch of their new rocket, Space Launch System (SLS).
SLS will launch for the first time in 2018 on Exploration Mission-1. This will send NASA’s new crew capsule, Orion, beyond the moon. The capsule will return to Earth. In addition, this launch will carry 13 secondary payloads into deep space.
There are some important tests which will be starting soon. These will make sure the structure of the massive rocket will be able to handle the forces of launch.
At NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, a massive test stand is being prepared for the tests.
SLS test stand, Image Credit: NASA
The tests will evaluate many parts of the rocket – core stage simulator, interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS), the component connecting the core stage with the ICPS, launch vehicle stage adapter, part of the separation system, Orion stage adapter and spacecraft simulator. Let’s break that down.
SLS expanded view Block 1, Image credit: NASA/MSFC
The core stage simulator resembles the top of the rocket’s core stage. It will be about 10 feet high and have a diameter of 27.5 feet.
The interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) will power the Orion capsule when it’s in space to fly past the moon. The stage uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, but will be tested using liquid nitrogen.
The component of the rocket connecting the core stage and the ICPS is the launch vehicle stage adapter (LVSA). This stands 26.5 feet tall. It has a bottom diameter of 27.5 feet and top of 16.8 feet.
The part of the separation system being evaluated in this testing is the frangible joint assembly used to separate off the ICPS.
The stage adapter connects the Orion crew capsule with the ICPS. And finally, the spacecraft simulator is a recreation of Orion’s bottom portion.
The test articles will undergo around 50 test cases. They will be pushed and pulled, and the tanks will be filled. There will be instrumentation to record strain, temperature, deflection, and other reactions of the test articles.
With robust testing upcoming to qualify these components of SLS, NASA continues to make excellent progress toward the inaugural flight of SLS. The rocket will enable missions to be conducted in cislunar space, and an advanced configuration will eventually take humans to the red planet!
Learn more about SLS.