5 Segment SRB Test at Thiokol

[geomodelrailroader]

Thiokol knows how to build rockets every rocket they built has been tested of stand 1 by Lampo junction.

[Frapazoid]

This was not for the Constellation program, but for the Space Shuttle. They were considering a move to a 5-segment SRB that would increase the Shuttle's payload and capabilities. This was cut due to cost however, so while they did test fire one, it was not flight ready.

Hence the Ares-1X, if it happens, will fly on a 4-seg first stage with boilerplate 5th segment; the 5-segment SRB is not considered ready to fly. A successful static test fire is far from the end.

[000darkstar000]

that was cool!

[blargggggggggggg]

The largest solid motor ever build was the prototype solid bottom stage for the Saturn v. It was built by Aerojet because the government was considering using the Saturn V as a HUUGE ICBM.

[Emophiliac2]

This booster test produced 3.6 million pounds of thrust. It does look like Aerojet's 260" motor would have produced 7.9 million pounds thrust. However, the info I've found so far on the web doesn't give a clear indication that this motor was tested. Three shorter versions of the 260" motor were definitely tested, the largest producing 2,670,000 kgf. There is mention of the larger motor being tested, but no information about how or when.

[Emophiliac2]

After finding a converter, it looks like the 2.67 million kgf is the equivalent of 5.9 million pounds (if I got that right). So, that third motor still beat out this test.

Regardless, it was a nice test.

[Membrane556]

They did consider the 260" motor as a replacement for the S-IB the Saturn IB but there was so much trouble with the design including TO that was so bad the motor broke the test stand they quickly ended to project.

The work on the 260" did eventually lead to the RSRM.

[fuckfacefucked]

saturn v was liquid fueld in all 3 stages

[Maxables]

@blargggggggggggg I loled at your name

[jasonhowell73]

@blargggggggggggg get your facts straight, the saturn V was NEVER EVER considered for use as an icbm, it had one purpose, and that was to send man to the moon. They only constructed so many of them for space purposes and the leftovers are now museum pieces sadly. Had NASA been allowed to continue with saturn, man wouls had probably been to mars by 1980, and we would have a permanent moon base by now. Unfortunately this did not happen, but that was the schedule for nasa

[Membrane556]

Ok so they tested this configuration of the shuttle srb so why is nasa wasting time using a dummy srb segment on the ares Ix test?

[czmxrider]

I used to work in the recycle tooling department ( Inspection )Air Force Plant 78

for morton thoikol back in the early 80s do any of you guys work there or ever did work there

[miklops]

Maybe you're right. I'm no rocket scientist :)

You don't happen to have vids from the original SRB test firings 20 years ago? I'd love to put one of those on my blog.

[miklops]

I don't think they're more powerful, I think the purpose of having 5 segments is to make them last a few more seconds, and thus propel the CEV/Orion higher than a 4 segment design could.

[peterhent]

You would have have more exhaust gases coming out, hence more powerful.

[MightySaturn5]

yeah...I think thats true although perhaps the solid fuel is consumed in a more volatile way perhaps giving it more thrust

[LaMoRa456]

wow.

[doverdx]

yay for orion launch vehicle.

that's a lot of AP.