The largest rocket ever constructed is coming along–a highlight of last month’s progress was the final welding of a liquid oxygen tank confidence article. Designed to offer the highest payload mass and volume capability among launch systems, SLS will include a core stage with super-cooled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. At more than 200 feet tall, the stage will contain the fuel for the two RS-25 engines and is being constructed at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
Confidence hardware is used to verify that weld procedures are working as planned and that the interfaces between tooling and hardware are correct. Confidence hardware will additionally be used to develop how the thermal insulation foam that gives the tank its orange color will be applied.
Welding was completed in February for components of the liquid hydrogen tank confidence article. This summer, all welding of the core stage for the rocket’s Block 1 configuration will be finished in preparation for the first flight of SLS in 2018.
