Progress on NASA's Constellation (pics)

[n2doc]

February 16, 2009

Progress on NASA's Constellation

NASA's Constellation program, established in 2005, continues its work toward the building the future of manned space exploration in the U.S. The first test flight of the Ares I-X rocket - a functional mockup of the actual Ares I rocket, similar in shape and mass - is scheduled for July, 2009. The stimulus bill just passed by the U.S. Congress will be sending an additional $1 billion to NASA, $400 million of which is for its manned space program. Engineers are now busy refitting old facilities, running tests, building the infrastructure and working towards a planned first launch of a crew to the International Space Station in 2014. Collected here are photographs of various parts of the Constellation program coming together, including parts of the Orion crew vehicle, the Ares I and Ares V rockets, and supporting systems. (31 photos total)


The Ares I launch vehicle's first stage is a single, five-segment reusable solid rocket booster derived from the Space Shuttle Program's reusable solid rocket motor that burns a specially formulated and shaped solid propellant called polybutadiene acrylonitrile (PBAN). The second or upper stage will be propelled by a J-2X main engine fueled with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. This HD video image depicts a test firing of a 40k subscale J2X injector at MSFC's test stand 115 on September 9th, 2007.


Boeing Advanced Network and Space Systems material and process engineer Elizabeth Chu inspects the Thermal Protection System Manufacturing Demonstration Unit developed for NASA's Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle project on November 13th, 2007. Boeing Advanced Systems was awarded a contract to develop a prototype heat shield to protect NASA astronauts from extreme heat during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere upon returning from lunar and low-Earth orbit missions. (Boeing Photo - Joe Olmos)

more at link

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/02/progress_on_nasas_constellatio.html

[AyanEva]

1. Thanks for these!

I was wondering how things were coming along. I can't wait for the test launch!

When I saw the scale model Ares-I, I was like, "Wow. I thought it would be bigger," before realizing that it was a scale model. *facepalm* Stupidly enough, I didn't notice the giant people standing next to it. LOL

[Johonny]

2. Probably in the minority

But I sure hope they never fly this thing. NASA's love of solid rocket motors makes me very sad.

[Cobalt-60]

3. I agree

They're particularly dirty and dangerous.
But they're good for military applications.
The increased impulse and control not to mention
easier handling of the empty vehicle makes liquid
propellants ideal for commerce and exploration.