Orbital ATK announced on Monday, Feb. 29 that it had successfully conducted a structural qualification test of the abort motor case that the company is manufacturing for NASA’s Orion spacecraft. The test was conducted on January 26 at Orbital ATK’s facility in Clearfield, Utah. The motor is a crucial part of Orion’s Launch Abort System, which is designed to ensure the safety of astronauts flying on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS).
Successful testing of the Motor Structural Test (MST-1) case is an important step on the path to qualifying the abort motor production design. Motor qualification tests demonstrate that the abort motor can perform under the extreme speed, temperatures and G-forces of a crew rescue.
“We are proud to be a vital part of Orion’s Launch Abort System,” said Fred Brasfield, Vice President of NASA Programs for Orbital ATK via a release. “This unique abort system safety feature is similar to an ejection seat found in a fighter jet. If an emergency were to arise at the pad, or during launch and ascent, the abort system would lift the capsule and crew safely away from the rocket.”
During the qualification test, the case withstood axial tension and compression loads in excess of a half million pounds, as well as simultaneous side loads. The loads applied to the case during testing exceeded those that would be applied during a launch abort scenario.
“A little over a year ago, our inert abort motor flew on the first flight test of Orion,” said Charlie Precourt, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Propulsion Systems Division, and four-time space shuttle astronaut. “Now, with this test and other abort motor milestones, we’re moving even closer to the first SLS flights that will lay the foundation for NASA’s journey to Mars.”