Space Launch System - Orion

[Beati Dogu]

Yeah, defo get a transferable ticket if you do.

Eric Mc said:

Have they made a final decision about the heat shield? They used an Apollo style ablative shield for the test flight in 2014 but they really want to use a reusable heat protection system.

Looks like they're still going with AVCOAT, which as you say is the modern version of what was used on Apollo. So probably no asbestos.

This is epoxy phenol formaldehyde resin with special additives (like silica fibres) in a fibreglass honeycomb matrix.


SpaceX use PICA-X (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator) heat shields on Dragon, which they co-developed with NASA Ames. It has been proven several times now and it good for up to 10 flights apparently, despite getting a seawater bath. It's also not a one piece like the Orion heat shield appears to be. It's a collection of large shaped tiles instead.

Edited by Beati Dogu on Wednesday 8th November 23:21

[MartG]

Orion & service module mockups in the VAB for SLS Pathfinder tests

[RobDickinson]

thats pretty big!

[Eric Mc]

Beati Dogu said:

Looks like they're still going with AVCOAT, which as you say is the modern version of what was used on Apollo. So probably no asbestos.

This is epoxy phenol formaldehyde resin with special additives (like silica fibres) in a fibreglass honeycomb matrix.


SpaceX use PICA-X (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator) heat shields on Dragon, which they co-developed with NASA Ames. It has been proven several times now and it good for up to 10 flights apparently, despite getting a seawater bath. It's also not a one piece like the Orion heat shield appears to be. It's a collection of large shaped tiles instead.

Edited by Beati Dogu on Wednesday 8th November 23:21

Orion enters the atmosphere at 25,000 mph rather than 17,500, so shuttle type tiles and RCC material isn't up to the job.

[Flooble]

MartG said:

Eric Mc said:

Should I dare start planning a trip to Florida around that time?

I wouldn't bother - I'd guess less than 5% chance of it actually launching then ( though I'd be happy to be wrong )

Although that may be when the first successful Falcon Heavy is launched, so if you planned a four week trip you might get lucky with one or the other ...

[AshVX220]

Eric Mc said:

Should I dare start planning a trip to Florida around that time?

You can always start planning around a launch date, but don't book anything until it's confirmed, you'll easily be able to get flights and hotels booked last minute (within a week I guess) around the plan you create, centered on the launch.

[Eric Mc]

Too complex for my poor brain.

[MartG]

ESA article about building the service module

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spacefligh...

[MartG]

NASA article on the planned Orion launch abort test - oddly it appears there is no plan to fit the capsule with parachutes for this test.

I wonder if they'll call it Little Joe III

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-moves-up-critica...

Link to video of the earlier pad abort test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w5p4X6rdjE

Edited by MartG on Friday 10th November 19:44

[MartG]

New work platforms undergoing installation in the VAB for SLS.

[MartG]

SLS article - nothing really new but a couple of nice pics

http://gearsofbiz.com/first-sls-hardware-turned-ov...

[Eric Mc]

Link not working.

[MartG]

Eric Mc said:

Link not working.

Look like the server undergoing maintenance - try again tomorrow

[MartG]

Link to image showing the upgrade plan for the mobile launcher

http://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/ch...

[MartG]

Thales Alenia technicians building the second Orion service module



http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/12/Sp...

[Eric Mc]

Is that the loo?

[MartG]

Space Launch System (SLS) solid rocket booster prime contractor Orbital ATK recently completed work at its Utah facilities on the booster nozzles for Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), the first flight of SLS and the Orion spacecraft. SLS, the world's most powerful rocket, and Orion will take humans on deep space missions, and the boosters provide most of the power to get the spacecraft off the ground. The powerhouse SLS five-segment solid rocket boosters are the largest ever built for flight and will provide more than 75 percent of the thrust during the first two minutes of spaceflight. Here, technicians are putting the finishing touches on the exit cones' paint, including photogrammetric markings that will help engineers assess clearances between the boosters and ground structures during the initial moments after liftoff. At Kennedy Space Center in Florida during the integration phase of the program, the exit cones will be mated with the rest of the nozzle assemblies, which are also complete. During spaceflight, the booster nozzles direct the expanding gases from the burning solid propellant downward, helping the heavy-lift vehicle escape Earth's gravity and send Orion to lunar orbit.

Image credit: Orbital ATK

[Eric Mc]

I've seen those chequer patterns before - on the Saturn V.

[Beati Dogu]

Photogrammetry markings - to help the myriad of digital cameras track distances & movement.

They'll be able to model launches accurately in computer renderings. Useful if it goes bang.

[Beati Dogu]

They're doing a RS-25 rocket motor test this evening (8.45 pm UK time) at Stennis Space Center.

It'll be live streamed on Faceache.



https://twitter.com/NASAStennis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etf...

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/home/index.ht...



Let's hope it goes better than their Orion capsule parachute test earlier. They couldn't get the back door on the C-17 cargo aircraft to open in flight.