Author Topic: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES  (Read 48797 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

LIVE thread for the QM-1 test firing.
Article for the test:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/qm-1-shake-utah-two-minutes-thunder/

---

This has been a huge process. Now we have a confirmed solution and schedule.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/12/qm-1-date-sls-joy-solid-solution/ - many thanks to Philip Sloss for getting the quotes from Todd May.

I really recommend reading this one for background too:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/09/atk-making-progress-srb-propellant-void-issue/
« Last Edit: 03/11/2015 01:45 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Offline GaryS

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Re: QM-1 Test Date Set: SLS Program Joy with Solid Solution
« Reply #1 on: 12/23/2014 08:38 pm »
Great news. Really looking forward to a return to testing and I'm glad they have all that schedule flexibility.

Offline sdsds

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Re: QM-1 Test Date Set: SLS Program Joy with Solid Solution
« Reply #2 on: 12/23/2014 08:52 pm »
“So we finally were able to pour a new segment with this new process – it’s the cleanest we’ve ever seen''

Good news indeed!
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Offline BrightLight

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Re: QM-1 Test Date Set: SLS Program Joy with Solid Solution
« Reply #3 on: 12/23/2014 09:49 pm »
Excellent new and
 this site has the clearest, most complete coverage of space developments on the web!

Offline rayleighscatter

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Re: QM-1 Test Date Set: SLS Program Joy with Solid Solution
« Reply #4 on: 12/24/2014 01:06 am »
It's good to see the way the void issue is being dealt with. "We can do this better" isn't the booster program of the 1980's.

Offline Bubbinski

Many thanks to Philip Sloss.

I know where I'll be on March 11th.  Promontory here I come!
« Last Edit: 12/24/2014 01:41 pm by Chris Bergin »
I'll even excitedly look forward to "flags and footprints" and suborbital missions. Just fly...somewhere.

Offline newpylong

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Re: QM-1 Test Date Set: SLS Program Joy with Solid Solution
« Reply #6 on: 01/15/2015 05:05 pm »
The final segment of the full-scale version of a five-segment solid rocket motor for SLS completed preparations Dec. 15 at ATK's facility in Promontory, Utah. After technicians installed instrumentation, the segment was transported to ATK's test area.

There, it is being integrated with the other segments for the first booster qualification test firing, scheduled for March.

(Image credit: ATK)


Offline Ben the Space Brit

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Re: QM-1 Test Date Set: SLS Program Joy with Solid Solution
« Reply #7 on: 01/16/2015 09:09 am »
So, what is the difference between these units and the 5-segs tested as part of the Ares-I program a few years back?
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Offline newpylong

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Re: QM-1 Test Date Set: SLS Program Joy with Solid Solution
« Reply #8 on: 01/16/2015 05:43 pm »
So, what is the difference between these units and the 5-segs tested as part of the Ares-I program a few years back?

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/12/qm-1-date-sls-joy-solid-solution/

Offline rayleighscatter

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Re: QM-1 Test Date Set: SLS Program Joy with Solid Solution
« Reply #9 on: 02/17/2015 02:01 pm »
Marshall recently released a video of the booster production.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0BgLPq6PkE[/youtube]

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #10 on: 03/04/2015 10:42 pm »
Making this the update thread for this test.

The largest, most powerful booster ever built for NASA's new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), will fire up for a ground test at 11:30 a.m. EDT (9:30 a.m. MDT) Wednesday, March 11, at Orbital ATK Propulsion Systems’ test facilities in Promontory, Utah.

NASA Television will air a NASA Social on Tuesday, March 10 and the test on Wednesday.

The two-minute static test is a significant milestone for the SLS as part of NASA’s journey to Mars, and follows years of development. It is one of two ground tests to qualify the booster for flight. A second test is planned for early 2016. Once qualification is complete, the hardware will be ready to help send the rocket, along with NASA’s Orion spacecraft, on its first flight test.

Media events before and after the test include:

Tuesday, March 10 (all times are listed as EDT):

    10 a.m. – Media tour of Orbital ATK facilities to see how the world’s most powerful booster is made
    3 p.m. – NASA TV airs NASA Social with agency and Orbital ATK representatives
    4:30 p.m. – Media interviews with NASA and Orbital ATK representatives

Wednesday, March 11

    7 a.m. – Media availability in front of the booster before test with NASA and Orbital ATK representatives
    9 a.m. – All media must be present at the Orbital ATK lobby for transportation to the press site
    11 a.m. – NASA TV begins coverage of SLS booster test
    12:45 p.m. – Post-test media availability for on-site media (not on NASA TV)
    Approximately 1:30 p.m. – post-test motor viewing approximately two hours after the test
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Offline Generic Username

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Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #11 on: 03/06/2015 03:07 pm »
This past evening (March 5) ATK held an open house for the local community to come and take a close up look at the motor, and to get information about environmental concerns about the test (there are none, but there was someone who went bonkers a few years back…). I attended and took a number of photos http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=28281 of the motor and other stuff. This was one of those cases where it would have been better to get *more distance* from the subject; but you make do with what ya got.



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Offline Oli

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Re: QM-1 Test Date Set: SLS Program Joy with Solid Solution
« Reply #12 on: 03/08/2015 07:42 am »
Marshall recently released a video of the booster production.

Starting at "Motor Segment Castable Inhibitor Preperation" (0:45) they put a lot of tubes on the cast propellant and then apply an inhibitor. What is the purpose of this?
« Last Edit: 03/08/2015 07:42 am by Oli »

Offline AnalogMan

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Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #13 on: 03/08/2015 01:00 pm »
Marshall recently released a video of the booster production.

Starting at "Motor Segment Castable Inhibitor Preperation" (0:45) they put a lot of tubes on the cast propellant and then apply an inhibitor. What is the purpose of this?

After the propellant is cast, the top surface needs to be prepared and levelled before the inhibitor layer is poured.  This is done by placing "inhibitor depression mold plates" on top of the cast propellant - these are the multiple segments you see in the video.  As the plates are depressed to form a smooth propellant surface at the correct height, excess propellant oozes up into the white tubes built into the plates.

The propellant is partially cured (44 hrs at 135°F), at which point the tubes with excess propellant are removed along with the plates.  The remaining "stubs" of propellant from the tubes are shaved flush with the rest of the surface formed by the mold plates.  The inhibitor layer is applied and final curing of the the whole assembly takes place (52 hrs at 135°F, followed by a minimum 24 hr cool to 60°F or less).

Inhibitor layers are only applied to the aft faces of the forward and center segments.  It stops the propellant prematurely burning down these surfaces (the joints between segments) during booster operation - you want the burn to take place only on the inner core surfaces.
« Last Edit: 03/08/2015 02:39 pm by AnalogMan »

Offline guru

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Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #14 on: 03/08/2015 09:51 pm »
Is there a good (or even barely acceptable) location to view this test firing for the general public - just in case you aren't a member of the media or an ATK employee?

Offline rayleighscatter

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Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #15 on: 03/08/2015 10:29 pm »
Is there a good (or even barely acceptable) location to view this test firing for the general public - just in case you aren't a member of the media or an ATK employee?
Quote
A public viewing area is available along State Road 83 North approximately 20 miles west of Corinne, Utah (see map – follow directions to Promontory). The gate to the public viewing area opens at 7 a.m. Mar. 11. Overflow parking is available if needed.
http://www.orbitalatk.com/rocket-test

Offline guru

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Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #16 on: 03/09/2015 02:59 am »
Is there a good (or even barely acceptable) location to view this test firing for the general public - just in case you aren't a member of the media or an ATK employee?
Quote
A public viewing area is available along State Road 83 North approximately 20 miles west of Corinne, Utah (see map – follow directions to Promontory). The gate to the public viewing area opens at 7 a.m. Mar. 11. Overflow parking is available if needed.
http://www.orbitalatk.com/rocket-test

Oh, thank you Rayleighscatter.  I thought I had read that there was a viewing site somewhere, but I couldn't find it using a web search.

Offline collectSPACE

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Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #17 on: 03/09/2015 02:49 pm »
History behind the hardware: the QM-1 SLS booster is comprised of case parts that flew on 23 space shuttle missions dating back 30 years:

http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-030915a-sls-qm1-booster-test.html

The oldest QM-1 component helped to launch the space shuttle Challenger nearly 30 years ago.

Offline Panner

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Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #18 on: 03/10/2015 12:19 pm »
Quote
A public viewing area is available along State Road 83 North approximately 20 miles west of Corinne, Utah (see map – follow directions to Promontory). The gate to the public viewing area opens at 7 a.m. Mar. 11. Overflow parking is available if needed.
http://www.orbitalatk.com/rocket-test
[/quote]

Is this the location for the public viewing area? The map isn't very clear. 
41.638944, -112.424622
I've got a 4 hour drive from Idaho tomorrow morning.  Just want to be sure I know where I'm going.  Thanks!

Offline mtakala24

Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #19 on: 03/10/2015 05:10 pm »
Can someone give a UTC time for the test?

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Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #20 on: 03/10/2015 05:45 pm »
Can someone give a UTC time for the test?

15:30 UTC.

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Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #21 on: 03/10/2015 05:55 pm »
Preparing to Test the Booster for NASA's New Rocket

http://www.nasa.gov/content/preparing-to-test-the-booster-for-nasas-new-rocket/#.VP895fnF-kE

Image Credit: Orbital ATK
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Offline Chris Bergin

Re: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #23 on: 03/11/2015 12:33 am »
Baseline article for the test, that I'll update after the firing:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/qm-1-shake-utah-two-minutes-thunder/
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Offline Chris Bergin

Three hours to the firing. NASA TV coverage at T-30 mins.

Various NASA Twitter accounts with the photos.
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Offline Chris Bergin

Great to see the debut of the twin spans too:

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #26 on: 03/11/2015 01:10 pm »

Given the image catdlr attached above, I thought the nozzle was attached well before an engine is used, yet the photo implies they attached it very recently.  At what point in processing was (will) the nozzle be attached for SLS processing?  As well, are those components seen inside the aft skirt the HPU/TVC packages?
Thanks,  and good luck today!

Offline Bubbinski

I'm out there at ATK, here's a couple of shots of QM-1 ready to rock n' roll.  (when I can get them uploaded).

T-60 min and counting.  T-0 is 9:30 am MDT
« Last Edit: 03/11/2015 01:49 pm by Bubbinski »
I'll even excitedly look forward to "flags and footprints" and suborbital missions. Just fly...somewhere.

Offline Chris Bergin

T-60 mins.
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Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline Chris Bergin

Orbital ATK ‏@OrbitalATK  1m1 minute ago
Personnel have cleared the test bay. We T-34 min and counting
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Offline Prober

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #31 on: 03/11/2015 01:58 pm »
start
« Last Edit: 03/11/2015 02:01 pm by Prober »
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Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline Chris Bergin

Out come the Mars hashtags....
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Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline Chris Bergin

"Aft skirt was on STS-1".
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Offline Chris Bergin

Avionics.
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Offline Prober

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #39 on: 03/11/2015 02:08 pm »
new changes
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Offline Chris Bergin

Cool shots of booster ignition.
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Offline Prober

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #41 on: 03/11/2015 02:15 pm »
Igniter info
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Offline Chris Bergin

Already building QM-2....the final test motor. "Less than a year away".
« Last Edit: 03/11/2015 02:21 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Offline Chris Bergin

Eight mins to go!
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Offline Chris Bergin

T-7 mins. And we have an internal loop. Very good!
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Offline Chris Bergin

Water deluge pumps on.
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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #47 on: 03/11/2015 02:25 pm »
nice long shot
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Offline Bargemanos

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #48 on: 03/11/2015 02:26 pm »
T-4 mins

Offline Chris Bergin

There's the key!
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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #50 on: 03/11/2015 02:26 pm »
Go for static test

Offline Chris Bergin

Polling. GO For Test.
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Offline Chris Bergin

High Speed recording.
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Offline Chris Bergin

T-120 seconds.
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Offline Chris Bergin

T-60 seconds.

Commit the motor.
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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #55 on: 03/11/2015 02:30 pm »

Offline Chris Bergin

IGNITION!!!
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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #57 on: 03/11/2015 02:31 pm »
+60

Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline Chris Bergin

Tail off and end.
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Offline Chris Bergin

And done.
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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #62 on: 03/11/2015 02:33 pm »

Offline Chris Bergin

Quenching.
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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #65 on: 03/11/2015 02:34 pm »
nice pic & the end
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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #66 on: 03/11/2015 02:37 pm »
And back to work  ;D

Offline phred

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #67 on: 03/11/2015 02:40 pm »
It looked like the plants up on the hillside to the boosters left were set on fire from radiant heat.

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #68 on: 03/11/2015 02:40 pm »
That arm that moved into the nozzle is there to pump 31 tons of CO2 into the engine to preserve it's state at the end of the test.  Think of it as an enormous CO2 fire extinguisher!

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #69 on: 03/11/2015 02:45 pm »
wow! :)

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #70 on: 03/11/2015 02:46 pm »

I heard mention of the TVC actuation (and actually saw it during the test).  As this is QM, do they actually move the nozzle through the identical motions that would be used to launch to 28.5 degrees/pitch maneuver for a port booster and/or a starboard booster?  Along those lines, is any roll needed considering there is no sidemount?

Offline Chris Bergin

Funny to see how there was minor interest in this on Twitter and such, with no one falling for the Mars hashtags and such. Then the firing and everyone's "Cool. I want to go to one! Epic!"

People like big booms!
« Last Edit: 03/11/2015 03:02 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Offline Bubbinski

High res pics I got of QM-1:
« Last Edit: 03/11/2015 03:19 pm by Bubbinski »
I'll even excitedly look forward to "flags and footprints" and suborbital missions. Just fly...somewhere.

Offline Bubbinski

More pics I got of the firing:
« Last Edit: 03/11/2015 03:22 pm by Bubbinski »
I'll even excitedly look forward to "flags and footprints" and suborbital missions. Just fly...somewhere.

Offline SkipMorrow

It looked like the plants up on the hillside to the boosters left were set on fire from radiant heat.
Yes, I saw that too and came to the same conclusion.

Offline Chris Bergin

Orbital ATK ‏@OrbitalATK  5m5 minutes ago
.@Astro_Precourt says the data so far indicate test success.
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Offline newpylong

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #76 on: 03/11/2015 04:39 pm »

I heard mention of the TVC actuation (and actually saw it during the test).  As this is QM, do they actually move the nozzle through the identical motions that would be used to launch to 28.5 degrees/pitch maneuver for a port booster and/or a starboard booster?  Along those lines, is any roll needed considering there is no sidemount?

Yes there will be a roll program to change SLS's attitude (for a number of reasons) like Saturn V.

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #77 on: 03/11/2015 07:13 pm »
Full Coverage Replay:

SLS Qualification Booster TestPublished on Mar 11, 2015
Orbital ATK Promontory, Utah - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc


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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #78 on: 03/11/2015 07:29 pm »
March 11, 2015

NASA's Space Launch System Booster Passes Major Ground Test

The largest, most powerful rocket booster ever built successfully fired up Wednesday for a major-milestone ground test in preparation for future missions to help propel NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to deep space destinations, including an asteroid and Mars.

The booster fired for two minutes, the same amount of time it will fire when it lifts the SLS off the launch pad, and produced about 3.6 million pounds of thrust. The test was conducted at the Promontory, Utah test facility of commercial partner Orbital ATK, and is one of two tests planned to qualify the booster for flight. Once qualified, the flight booster hardware will be ready for shipment to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the first SLS flight.

"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, NASA’s associate administrator for human exploration and operations. "The teams are doing tremendous work to develop what will be a national asset for human exploration and potential science missions."

It took months to heat the 1.6 million pound booster to 90 degrees Fahrenheit to verify its performance at the highest end of the booster’s accepted propellant temperature range. A cold-temperature test, at a target of 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the low end of the propellant temperature range, is planned for early 2016. These two tests will provide a full range of data for analytical models that inform how the booster performs. During the test, temperatures inside the booster reached more than 5,600 degrees.

"This test is a significant milestone for SLS and follows years of development," said Todd May, SLS program manager. "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."

During the test, more than 531 instrumentation channels on the booster were measured to help assess some 102 design objectives. The test also demonstrated the booster meets applicable ballistic performance requirements, such as thrust and pressure. Other objectives included data gathering on vital motor upgrades, such as the new internal motor insulation and liner and an improved nozzle design.

When completed, two five-segment boosters and four RS-25 main engines will power the SLS on deep space missions. The 177-feet-long solid rocket boosters operate in parallel with the main engines for the first two minutes of flight. They provide more than 75 percent of the thrust needed for the rocket to escape the gravitational pull of the Earth.

The first flight test of SLS will be configured for a 70-metric-ton (77-ton) lift capacity and carry an uncrewed Orion spacecraft beyond low-Earth orbit to test the performance of the integrated system. The SLS will later be configured to provide an unprecedented lift capability of 130 metric tons (143 tons) to enable missions farther into our solar system.

For more information on SLS, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/sls
Jacques :-)

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #79 on: 03/11/2015 07:30 pm »
Rocket Motor Test Moves NASA's Space Launch System Closer to Deep Space

Orbital ATK’s Five-Segment Rocket Motor Fires Up Space Exploration

(Promontory, Utah, 11 March 2015) – NASA and Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA) today conducted the first qualification ground test of the five-segment rocket motor that will be used for NASA’s heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS), which is being designed to enable exciting new exploration missions throughout the solar system.

The successful pre-flight test, known as Qualification Motor 1 (QM-1), is an important milestone in validating the rocket motor’s use for SLS and its deep space missions. Initial test data indicate the motor performed as designed and delivered the anticipated performance. The rocket motor produced approximately 3.6 million pounds of thrust (equivalent to 22 million horsepower) and fired for just over two minutes. More data will be available as post-test analysis is accomplished on the 102 design objectives that are supported by 531 instrumentation channels.

“This motor firing is the first of two qualification tests to certify the motor configuration for NASA’s Space Launch System,” said Charlie Precourt, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Propulsion Systems Division, and four-time space shuttle astronaut. “The data from today and from our three development motor tests, along with information we have collected on hundreds of predecessor motors over the past three decades, confirms this is the most capable and powerful solid rocket motor ever designed.”

Measuring 12 feet in diameter and 154 feet in length, Orbital ATK’s five-segment motor is the largest human-rated solid rocket motor built today. When it is fully assembled as a booster, it will be 177 feet tall (approximately 17 stories). It produces 20 percent more power than the previously-used four-segment motor, and it also uses new materials that provide cost and weight savings. The five-segment motor was designed to maximize safety while providing a reliable and affordable launch capability for human missions deeper in the solar system than we have ever gone before – including to the surface of Mars.

“NASA’s SLS, along with the Orion crew capsule, enables us to blaze new trails, and embark on missions to deep space that leverage more than five decades of pushing boundaries,” said Blake Larson, Orbital ATK’s Chief Operating Officer. “Deep space missions require a heavy-lift vehicle to ensure success, and SLS and Orion can accomplish a deep space mission in fewer launches than current or planned vehicles.”
 
Today’s qualification test included newly-designed avionics hardware and equipment to control the motor and provide improved test monitoring capability. Other test improvements include a new main pivot flexure design in the forward thrust block to transfer the massive forces from the test into the various load cells for thrust monitoring, as well as an added mid-span support that assisted in adjusting the motor centerline to make the test more consistent with actual flight conditions.

“This is an exciting time for exploration, as we venture farther into space,” said Precourt. “The promise of deep space exploration will inspire the next generation to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math – preparing them to run the missions we’re designing.”

NASA’s SLS will launch on its first mission, Exploration Mission-1, in just a few years. The next major milestones for SLS include Boeing’s Vertical Assembly Center core stage welding, continued testing of Aerojet Rocketdyne’s RS-25 engine at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, avionics and controls testing at Marshall Space Flight Center, and Orbital ATK’s QM-2 static firing next year.

The SLS and Orion programs are supported by a network of hundreds of suppliers representing 47 states. Orbital ATK has 29 key SLS booster suppliers across 16 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.

Jacques :-)

Offline Bubbinski

Finally some pics I took of QM-1 after the burn was finished:
« Last Edit: 03/11/2015 08:18 pm by Bubbinski »
I'll even excitedly look forward to "flags and footprints" and suborbital missions. Just fly...somewhere.

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #81 on: 03/11/2015 08:24 pm »
A video on just the Iginter:

Igniting the Booster

Published on Mar 11, 2015
Gordie Russell, Orbital ATK program manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, talks about the process of the March 11 booster qualification test. The firing is one of two tests that will qualify the booster design for the first flight of the SLS.

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #82 on: 03/11/2015 08:28 pm »
More about the bosster:

Building a Better Booster

Published on Mar 11, 2015
NASA and Orbital ATK are making major modifications to the solid rocket boosters that will power NASA’s new rocket, the Space Launch System, to deep space destinations, like an asteroid and ultimately Mars.

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Offline John44

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #84 on: 03/11/2015 09:09 pm »
Video I shot with a little PnC camera:


"US Spacecraft Projects" and "US Launch Vehicle Projects"
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Offline Nighthawk

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #85 on: 03/12/2015 11:26 am »
Full Coverage Replay:

SLS Qualification Booster TestPublished on Mar 11, 2015
Orbital ATK Promontory, Utah - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc



Hello guys,
I watched this replay and found sth interesting: @42:33 you can see a moving object against the red tank. What could it be, a birdie or a moving cam? Seems more likely to be a bird since it is 'nodding'.
« Last Edit: 03/12/2015 11:28 am by Nighthawk »

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #86 on: 03/12/2015 06:16 pm »
some more videos from independent Videographers‎:

4K GoPro Hero 4 Capture Of Orbital ATK QM 1 SLS Booster Test Fire

Published on Mar 12, 2015
BY: Matthew Travis / Zero-G News
4K GoPro Hero 4 Capture Of Orbital ATK QM-1 SLS Booster Test Fire




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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #87 on: 03/13/2015 07:17 am »
The above video has been deleted. Here's the replacement.

Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline robertross

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #88 on: 03/14/2015 03:38 pm »
The above video has been deleted. Here's the replacement.


Very cool.

The slow action of the fireballs at tailoff is mesmerizing.

You can clearly see the oscillation waves in the exhaust near the end as well.

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #89 on: 03/16/2015 06:20 am »
Post-Test Cleanup Of Orbital ATK QM-1 SLS Booster Test Fire

Published on Mar 15, 2015
Post-Test Cleanup Of Orbital ATK QM-1 SLS Booster Test Fire

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Offline Chris Bergin

QM-1 Inspections were good!

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/05/qm-1-examinations-boost-qm-2-casting/

Will start a thread for QM-2 via this.
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Offline rayleighscatter

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #91 on: 05/21/2015 06:36 pm »
The "center forward" segment from the QM-1 test.

Offline MarkM

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #92 on: 05/22/2015 12:50 pm »
I take it that the jagged material is what is left of the insulation that covers the end of each segment.  I am amazed that so much is left, considering that this section of material would be perpendicular to the exhaust of the booster.  It must bode well to how well the walls must have held up.

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Re: LIVE: QM-1 SLS Booster Test - March 11, 2015 - UPDATES
« Reply #93 on: 05/23/2015 04:45 am »
Here's an enhanced image to give a better view.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Chris Bergin

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