Watch: NASA’s Orion Spacecraft Completes Fiery Propulsion Test
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August 7, 2019Watch: NASA’s Orion Spacecraft Completes Fiery Propulsion Test
NASA is developing a system to send astronauts to the moon, which includes tests to make sure the Orion spacecraft is ready to safely transport crew members on an alternate mission profile if unexpected issues arise. In order to simulate this scenario, NASA recently fired up Orion’s propulsion system during a brief test and it was an extremely hot process.
On Aug. 5, the test was conducted using a qualification version of the propulsion system at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, said a NASA press release. Continuous 12-minute firing of Orion’s propulsion system took place during the test, and even though the system didn’t leave the ground, it replicated one of the most challenging situations the spacecraft’s engines could face after a launch.
“This was our most demanding test for the pressurization system, including our propellant tanks, valves and other components,” said Josh Freeh, deputy manager, Orion’s Service Module, at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. “The combined international team has been working towards this test for many months.”
The test imitated what scientists call an abort-to-orbit scenario: If the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) was not able to set the spacecraft on its path to the moon, Orion would intentionally separate early from the ICPS and the European Space Agency (ESA)-provided service module’s engines would fire to uplift Orion into a safe, temporary orbit. This “Plan B” strategy would enable time to evaluate the crew and spacecraft before a decision is made to continue with an alternate mission scenario or return to our planet. If an alternate mission profile is selected, Orion and its crew still would have a chance to complete some of the mission objectives, even if there are trajectory changes.
Final preparations underway at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico for Orion’s propulsion test. We will fire 15 engines to simulate an abort-to-orbit scenario. pic.twitter.com/ltpYMnM0TA
— Orion Spacecraft (@NASA_Orion) August 5, 2019
Engineers mimicked the abort-to-orbit scenario by firing the Orion main engine on the service module and all eight of its auxiliary engines at the same time. Each reaction control thruster was also periodically fired throughout the test, in order to replicate attitude control and overall propulsion system capacity, according to NASA.
Propulsion test complete! During the 12 minute test NASA and @AirbusSpace team fired Orion’s main engine, 8 auxiliary thrusters, and 6 reaction control thrusters. pic.twitter.com/HZDwuBooHy
— Orion Spacecraft (@NASA_Orion) August 5, 2019
“The tests at White Sands have been very helpful to better understand and operate our service module propulsion system,” said Jim Withrow, project manager for the test article. “This firing was one of a series of tests performed to date and in the coming months to simulate contingency modes and other stressful flight conditions.”
The service module, which is the powerhouse of the Orion spacecraft, provides in-space maneuvering and other core astronaut life support systems, such as consumables (water, nitrogen, and oxygen). Kennedy Space Center engineers are joining the completed Artemis 1 crew module and service module together before sending Orion to NASA’s Plum Brook Station in Ohio for simulated in-space environmental testing this fall. Once this step is done, Orion will return to Kennedy Space Center for final processing and integration with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
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