Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Northrop Grumman to conduct FSB-2 SLS solid rocket booster test
nasaspaceflight.com/ ^ | July 20, 2022 | Justin Davenport

Posted on 07/21/2022 9:53:36 AM PDT by BenLurkin

Before the SLS program was officially started, the five-segment SRB concept was proven out with three development motor (DM) firings in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Those previous firings flight-qualified the five-segment SRB. Now, the Flight Support Booster (FDB) tests examine overall process quality, changes, and modifications...

FSB-2 will test a newly qualified motor ignition system along with qualifying a new ablative nozzle lining. A new thrust vector control (TVC) system will also be tested, as part of early testing related to the Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) boosters...planned to fly from Artemis IX onwards.

There are enough Shuttle-era SRB steel casings and other equipment for eight SLS flights; since the SLS SRBs will not be reused, new composite casings will be needed once the flight-heritage segments are used. The BOLE boosters will use the filament-wound casings to save mass.

The new boosters will also have an electric TVC system that will replace the current one that uses toxic hydrazine. This system was originally developed and tested for the now-canceled OmegA launch vehicle project.

The BOLE booster will also have a denser solid propellant mix, for additional fuel and increased chamber pressure within the same volume. This is enabled by the lighter composite cases. In addition, the BOLE booster’s “thrust trace” (how the propellant grain is shaped) will be optimized for the SLS as opposed to the current booster which was originally designed for the canceled Ares I launch vehicle.

For Thursday’s test, the FSB-2 booster was cast and produced on the same production line as the Artemis boosters, using the same methods and personnel. The booster’s propellant, a mixture of fuel and oxidizer particles combined into a substance with a rubber-like consistency, was cast.... at the Promontory site.

The propellant is called polybutadiene acrylonitrile, or PBAN for short.

(Excerpt) Read more at nasaspaceflight.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: northropgrumman; sls

1 posted on 07/21/2022 9:53:36 AM PDT by BenLurkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Too many acronyms. My feeble brain is getting a headache.


2 posted on 07/21/2022 10:00:17 AM PDT by Carthego delenda est
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Carthego delenda est
I left Northrop Grumman for free market work and drove everyone crazy with acronyms.

Seemed normal at NG.

3 posted on 07/21/2022 10:04:34 AM PDT by caltaxed (ake)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

By the time NASA puts this thing to work, Musk will be launching Falcons from Mars.


4 posted on 07/21/2022 10:04:50 AM PDT by GOP_Party_Animal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GOP_Party_Animal

5 posted on 07/21/2022 10:38:49 AM PDT by Pollard (If there's a question mark in the headline, the answer should always be No.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Carthego delenda est

😂🤔😲. We actually had a paperback sized book of acronyms when I worked at KSC . Wish I had saved my copy.


6 posted on 07/21/2022 10:39:54 AM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this? 😕)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Pollard
Stop showing that! Just stop it!

NASA

7 posted on 07/21/2022 10:52:04 AM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom

“Stop showing that! Just stop it!
— NASA”

ROFL!


8 posted on 07/21/2022 10:53:55 AM PDT by CodeToad (Arm up! They Have!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom

I’m still in awe over it and can sit here and watch it loop quite a few times. I can only imagine old NASA/Boeing/Northrop people watching that for the first time. Musk has another launch coming up to put 40+ Starlink sats up at which time it will be global coverage(where allowed).


9 posted on 07/21/2022 10:58:36 AM PDT by Pollard (If there's a question mark in the headline, the answer should always be No.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: GOP_Party_Animal

By the time NASA puts this thing to work, Musk’s grandchildren will be launching Falcons from Mars.

Fixed.


10 posted on 07/21/2022 11:05:54 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Look at the video. That huge burn goes on for a long time.

Can’t figure out why the tube, at least the part toward the rear, doesn’t get red hot.

Maybe the solid fuel is pushed to the rear as it burns so the burning part is always near the nozzle.


11 posted on 07/21/2022 11:11:46 AM PDT by cymbeline
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GOP_Party_Animal

LOL! How true!!


12 posted on 07/21/2022 11:26:01 AM PDT by SgtHooper (If you remember the 60's, YOU WEREN'T THERE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: caltaxed

Nobody but nobody can acronym like two lifer military guys talking. If they didn’t acronym the conversation would go on for two weeks.


13 posted on 07/21/2022 1:21:34 PM PDT by TalBlack (We have a Christian duty and a patriotic duty. God help us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: cymbeline

Ummm... you do know those are *liquid fueled*, right?


14 posted on 07/21/2022 4:14:36 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr

“Ummm... you do know those are *liquid fueled*, right?”

Reconcile that with the article’s title:

“The BOLE booster will also have a denser solid propellant mix”

And in the article:

“Northrop Grumman to conduct FSB-2 SLS solid rocket booster test”


15 posted on 07/21/2022 4:47:17 PM PDT by cymbeline
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: cymbeline

Yes, but the Falcon rockets you referred to in that post and in the pic above are liquid fueled. Also not a NASA project.


16 posted on 07/21/2022 5:15:42 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson