Ares I Booster Ground Test (Sept 10,2009)

Sept 10, 2009 ground test of the Ares I booster.

From ATK Press Release:

Successful Ground Test Paves the Way for the First Flight Test of Ares I-X This Fall

Sep 10, 2009

PROMONTORY, Utah, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NASA and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) made history today as they conducted the first test of the Ares I first stage five-segment development solid rocket motor, marking the first steps into a new era of space exploration. It is the most powerful and reliable solid rocket booster in the world, and is planned for NASA's Ares I and Ares V rockets.

The initial data showed the motor performed as designed, producing 3.6 million pounds of thrust and burning for over two minutes. The first stage motor for Ares I measures 12 feet in diameter and 154 feet in length. During the test sensors and gauges collected 650 channels of data to accomplish 46 test objectives. The data from this test will help validate how Ares I will perform in flight.

"This test not only validates the design upgrades from the space shuttle program, it is a testament to how NASA and its contractor teams work together to ensure success," said Mike Kahn, executive vice president, ATK Space Systems. "This dedicated and experienced team has sustained a rigorous and disciplined schedule to develop our next-generation crew launch vehicle - which remains within budget and on schedule - culminating four years of progress."

The Ares I first stage has been under development since 2005. Based on the design of the Space Shuttle's four-segment booster, the first stage differs from its predecessor in the addition of a fifth segment, changes to the propellant grain, a larger nozzle opening and upgraded insulation and liner. All of these combined modifications provide higher performance.

"This ground test provides us with valuable operational data to verify our computer models and other design points," said Kahn. "Along with data collected from the Ares I-X flight test this fall, we will further mature the first stage design."

The Ares I first stage cases remain the same as those used for more than three decades on the Space Shuttle Program. The cases used in this ground test have collectively flown on 48 previous shuttle missions, including STS-1, the very first flight.

"Ares I is the safest launch vehicle ever developed. By using shuttle boosters to derive the design of the Ares I first stage we were able to leverage decades of ground tests and shuttle flight processes," said Kahn. "The infrastructure, knowledge and lessons learned that we have transferred to the Ares I first stage program will continue to ensure the success of the human spaceflight program for decades to come."

NASA's Ares I will launch the Orion crew exploration vehicle for missions to the International Space Station and to other destinations beyond low earth orbit (LEO). With a launch abort system, in-line configuration and simple design of one solid rocket motor and one liquid engine, Ares I will be 10 times safer for the crew than any other system.

The successful test followed postponement of a test on August 27 relating to faulty ground testing equipment.

ATK is the prime contractor for the first stage five-segment solid rocket motor and provides the main abort motor and attitude control motor for Orion's Launch Abort system.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Ares
• I-X
• Ground
• test
• solid-fuel
• NASA

[Hoodmonsa]

Was it just me or was the guy standing there with his hands behind his back rocking back and forth a bit distracting or what? LOL

[foxdmulder]

Where can I get one to mount on the back of my car?

[Hoodmonsa]

@QuantumChance LOL...Probably so ~~!!

[QuantumChance]

@Hoodmonsa big boy's feet are probably tired

[MichaelCox]

Chuck norris watched this from his lawn chair directly behind the nozzle.

[nmoeller104]

@PnoyPryD What's abusive about this? The resulting chemicals from the fuel combustion are chlorine and potassium, neither of which is a greenhouse gas, so it's not a pollutant at all.

[sierra043]

@CmdShepard i was lazy and didn't do the math. 300 meters is close enough for me. thanks for clearing it up for all the rest of us though

[CmdShepard]

@sierra043 350 m/s * 8 s = 2,800 m ~ 2.8 Km; COMMENT FAIL lol

[sierra043]

hmmm.... i'm gonna say it was about two and a half kilometers away from the camera

[MegaRocketLaunch]

yea that might just get u into space... but not alive!!!

[MegaRocketLaunch]

skip to 1;48 to save 1 min and 48 secs of ur life