Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com – @BednarChuck
Earlier this week, NASA successfully tested the largest and most powerful booster ever created, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will ultimately help the US space agency travel into deep space, reach and capture an asteroid, and eventually send astronauts to Mars.
In case you missed it, here’s video of the test-firing:
NASA travelled to the Promontory, Utah home of Orbital ATK on Wednesday to fire-up their shiny new booster for a period of two minutes, roughly the same amount of time it will take the rocket to lift the SLS off the launch pad and into space. It produced 3.6 million pounds of thrust during the ground test, one of two planned to verify its performance.
Pioneering far into the solar system
In a statement, the agency explained that it took months to heat the 1.6 million pound booster to the 90 degree Fahrenheit temperature required to confirm its ability to function at the high end of its accepted propellant temperature range. A second test fire, at the lower end of the temperature range (40 degrees Fahrenheit), is currently scheduled to take place early next year.
During the test, temperatures inside the rocket reached temperatures of over 5,600 degrees, and more than 531 instrumentation channels on the booster were measured to assess over 100 design objectives, NASA officials explained. They added that the test demonstrated that the SLS rocket meets applicable ballistic performance requirements, including thrust and pressure.
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“The work being done around the country today to build SLS is laying a solid foundation for future exploration missions, and these missions will enable us to pioneer far into the solar system,” said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for human exploration and operations at NASA. “The teams are doing tremendous work to develop what will be a national asset for human exploration and potential science missions.”
“This test is a significant milestone for SLS and follows years of development,” added SLS program manager Todd May. “Our partnership with Orbital ATK and more than 500 suppliers across the country is keeping us on the path to building the most powerful rocket in the world.”
The largest feat since the Apollo era
According to CNET, the first flight of the SLS will be a test mission carrying an unmanned Orion spacecraft beyond low-Earth orbit. When completed, SLS configuration will include a pair of five-segment boosters and four RS-25 main engines, which the website added will be capable of generating a combined 143 tons of thrust for use on deep-space missions.
“The development of NASA’s Space Launch System is the largest engineering feat since the Apollo era. Data collected from today’s test will ensure the program is capable of launching humans to Mars and beyond,” noted The Verge. “Mixed with elements from the space shuttle and Apollo eras… [it] will be the most powerful launcher ever built.”
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In comments made on NASA TV and reprinted by the Washington Post, Alex Priskos, manager of NASA’s SLS Boosters Office said that he was “very happy” with the outcome of the test-fire, which is officially known as Qualification Motor–1 (QM–1). “Great test,” Priskos added. “Just a fantastic result… This thing was about as perfect… as it could be.”
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