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NASA announced on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 that it has worked out a solution to the excessive-vibration problem in its yet-to-be developed Ares 1 launch vehicle. The Ares 1 rocket will take astronauts into space inside their Orion crew capsule as part of the new Project Constellation for the United States. The first manned flight is due around 2015. However, early in the design phase of the Ares 1, NASA engineers found that combustion in the solid-fuel motor would spread excessive vibration throughout the multi-stage Ares 1 rocket and the Orion crew capsule. Although the larger-than-desired vibrations would only appear...

Marshall developing a reusable light rocket Engine could save NASA millions, make travel safer 08/08/03 By SHELBY G. SPIRES Times Aerospace Writer shelbys@htimes.com A reusable rocket engine program managed at Marshall Space Flight Center may hold the key to lowering the cost and improving the safety of space travel, Marshall engineers hope. The RS-84 engine, built by Boeing Rocketdyne in Canoga Park, Calif., is being developed for use in reusable and expendable rockets. If it goes into production, it would be America's second reusable engine use after the space shuttle main engine, also developed by Marshall. The Marshall-led program has...