Posted on 06/06/2006 1:26:58 PM PDT by BenLurkin
EDWARDS AFB - Drawing on 60 years of flight test history, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center has been tasked with testing the launch abort system for the space agency's new manned spacecraft designed to return the nation's astronauts to the surface of the moon and beyond.
The system, similar in concept to an airplane's ejection system, will be used to remove the manned spacecraft module from the launch vehicle in case of an emergency during launch, either on the pad or once the vehicle is airborne.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials Monday announced the assignments to each NASA center of the various pieces of the new exploration program, which includes the spacecraft and launch vehicles that will replace the space shuttle.
The distribution of effort for this program, known collectively as Constellation, is designed to most effectively and efficiently develop and test the new space exploration system by playing to the expertise of each of the 10 centers.
"We are going to get there only by leveraging the very best we have to offer," Constellation program manager Jeff Hanley said.
For testing the important emergency launch abort system, Dryden's lengthy flight test experience was deemed instrumental.
"Dryden is home to some of the best expertise in the agency on how to conduct flight test," Hanley said, calling it the "obvious choice" for flight testing the launch abort system.
The launch abort system consists of a rocket mounted atop the Apollo capsule-like crew exploration vehicle, which in turn sits atop the rocket launch vehicle. In an emergency, the launch abort rocket will ignite, pulling the crew capsule away from the launch vehicle and service module.
Once safely clear, the launch abort rocket will be discarded and landing parachutes will deploy to safely land the capsule.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
ping
> wonder if the Russkis still put ejection seats on their birds?
Nope. No room in a Soyuz for ejector seats. However, there was at least one on-pad abort where the escape rocket successfully pulled a manned Soyuz to safety (the rocket was on fire).
I had a Estes S1B and S5, many moons ago, can't touch one for over $100.00 now
Thanks!
"...wonder if the Russkis still put ejection seats on their birds?..."
Nope. They haven't used ejections seats since Vostok 6. Since then, they've used a launch escape system similar to the one used by Apollo. The difference between Apollo and Soyuz is that the Soyuz system has to pull both the Orbital Module AND the crew module away from the failing launch vehicle. All Apollo had to do is pull the command module away from the lv. Ours was never used for that purpose. Russia had to resort to theirs at least twice.
Looks like the still sell them? http://www.dars.org/jimz/est0892.htm
sometimes you can find them on ebay, these are the scanned plans, so you can bash your own together
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