Progress
Minneapolis, April 2, 2007 — Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) has made significant progress in developing hardware and materials in support of NASA's new Ares I crew launch vehicle.
The Ares I is designed to carry crews to the International Space Station, back to the moon, and on to Mars.
In December 2005, NASA selected ATK to be the prime contractor for design and development of the first-stage propulsion system for the Ares I. The first stage is a five-segment solid rocket
booster derived from the four-segment Space Shuttle reusable solid rocket motors (RSRM) developed and produced by ATK.
"We have made tremendous progress over the past year, and the project is on track to conduct ground and flight tests scheduled to begin in 2009," said Ron Dittemore, President, ATK Launch Systems.
The company is primarily using existing RSRM hardware for the new stage, but has added some newly designed components to increase performance and meet a different flight profile. A number of these
components are undergoing dimensional checks and verification at ATK's facilities in Utah. The parts currently being processed are destined for two full-scale engineering process simulation articles
which will be shipped to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. in March 2008 to undergo loads testing and analysis of the motor.
Changes to increase performance and meet the new flight profile include an enhanced shape of the propellant grain in the forward section, and a larger nozzle throat diameter. The core tooling to be
used to achieve the new propellant shape is in manufacturing, as are components for the new nozzle.
In addition, two mockups of the forward skirt, a section located at the top of the motor between the first and second stages, have also been constructed. The forward skirt is a structural housing
for all the first stage electronics. The mockups will simulate the physical space available for the avionics and will be used to determine the optimal required space and placement of the electronics.
ATK is a $3.5 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 15,500 people in 21 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.
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Another Milestone Accomplished in Ares I Development
http://atk.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=752
YUMA, Ariz., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK), and United Space Alliance (USA) successfully conducted the first in a series of six main parachute drop tests in the development of the deceleration system
for the first stage of NASA's Ares I crew launch vehicle on Sept. 25 at the Army Yuma Proving Grounds.
The parachute test was conducted by extracting a 42,000 pound weighted test unit at an altitude of 17,500 feet from a C-17 aircraft. The test unit was allowed to accelerate to a pre-determined velocity at which time the 150 ft. diameter main
parachute was deployed. Initial data indicates all of the test objectives were met.
"The test went flawlessly and met our initial expectations," said Mike Kahn, ATK vice president of Space Launch Systems. "We have a great team of individuals and subcontractors who helped ensure the success of this important test and bring
us closer to full development of this new five-segment booster."
The one-ton, 150-foot-diameter Ares main parachute is the largest parachute of this type in use today. The parachute was designed and manufactured by USA at the Kennedy Space Center, under a subcontract to Alliant Techsystems, the Ares I
First Stage prime contractor. The chute is derived from the 136-foot main parachute currently used on the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB), which splash down into the Atlantic Ocean after each shuttle launch.
"Taking the knowledge and experience we've gained from our work on the Space Shuttle Program and applying it to the next generation of rockets for the Constellation Program is very exciting," said Dan Mann, USA's Ares Stage I Program Manager.
The Ares I rocket is one in a family of vehicles NASA is developing to return humans to the moon in the next decade. Ares I and the Orion crew exploration vehicle will become America's primary space transportation system after the
space shuttle is retired in 2010. Ares I first stage is comprised of a five segment reusable booster developed from the twin four segment boosters used to launch the Shuttle.
Due to the added weight of the extra segment, and the higher apogee reached by the Ares booster, the current parachute system needed to be upgraded to enable booster for reuse. Similar to the Space Shuttle SRBs, the Ares first stage recovery
system will consist of a cluster of three main parachutes deployed simultaneously during re-entry to Earth atmosphere prior to splash down in the ocean.
To date three drop tests of the pilot parachute have been conducted with two more scheduled for the future. The next main parachute drop is currently scheduled for November. During first test flight, Ares 1-X, which is a full-scale launch
vehicle with inert upper stage, the new parachute system will be used operationally. Ares 1-X is schedule to launch in April 2009.
About the companies
ATK Launch Systems Group provides innovative and cost-effective launch systems solutions to a broad range of customers. The Group is the world's leading manufacturer of rocket motor systems for human-rated and unmanned space launch vehicles,
strategic missiles, and missile defense interceptors. It serves both commercial and government customers, including prime contractors, NASA, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U. S. Army and U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
ATK is a $4 billion advanced weapon and space systems company employing approximately 16,500 people in 21 states. News and information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atk.com/
United Space Alliance is a world leader in space operations with extensive experience in virtually all aspects of the field. Headquartered in Houston and employing 10,000 people in Texas, Florida and Alabama, USA is applying its broad range
of capabilities to NASA's Space Shuttle, International Space Station and Constellation programs as well as to space operations customers in the commercial and international space industry sectors.
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Oct 2, 2007—ARES parachute test "flawless"
http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=7160881&nav=0hBE
A crucial step in the return to the moon has undergone its first successful test. The parachute system for the Ares I crew launch vehicle test was Tuesday. Nasa dropped a 40,000 pound load from an altitude of more than 17,000 feet
to test the parachute. Engineers say the test went flawlessly. The space shuttle lands like a plane, but the Ares rocket system will return to earth like Apollo did, using massive parachutes.
To view video footage, visit the original article
by Staff Writers, Oct 03, 2007
http://www.space-travel.com/reports/J_2X_Powerpack_Test_Article_Installed_On_Test_Stand_999.html
Core components of the J-2X engine being designed for NASA's Constellation Program recently were installed on the A-1 Test Stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss. Tests of the components, known as Powerpack 1A,
will be conducted from November 2007 through February 2008. The Powerpack 1A test article consists of a gas generator and engine turbopumps originally developed for the Apollo Program that put Americans on the moon in the late 1960s
and early 1970s.
Engineers are testing these heritage components to obtain data that will help them modify the turbomachinery to meet the higher performance requirements of the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles.
The upcoming tests will simulate inlet and outlet conditions that would be present on the turbomachinery during a full-up engine hot-fire test.
NASA's Constellation Program is developing a new family of U.S. spacecraft and related systems and technologies for exploration of the moon and other destinations. The J-2X engine will power the upper stages of the new rockets.
For desktop images, visit the original article
