Monumental journey Space Launch System employees move closer to completing core stage of world’s most powerful rocket BY DAN RALEY he massive silver cylinder hovers above the factory floor, held in place by a welding tool that’s even larger. At NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, in New Orleans, the vertical structure offers a mesmerizing sight. No matter how many times they pass by, most employees say they have to stop and take another look at the Boeing-built liquid hydrogen tank. At more than 130 feet (40 meters) tall and 27 feet (8 meters) in diameter, the tank represents the biggest piece 16 | BOEING FRONTIERS of NASA’s Space Launch System— which, when fully stacked, will be the largest and most powerful rocket ever made. The added fuel and propulsion capacity will enable the spacecraft to transport humans and heavy payloads to the moon, asteroids, Mars and possibly Jupiter and Saturn, Boeing leaders said. Just the sheer magnitude of the rocket on launch day will captivate the general public. “It’ll be like the Empire State Building taking off,” said Tom LeBoeuf, Boeing quality engineering manager. At peak configuration, the Space Launch System will stand 384 feet (117 meters) tall and generate more than 9 million pounds (40 million newtons) of thrust—more than 34 times the power of a 747 jetliner, according to NASA—as it embarks on a most ambitious mission: the journey to Mars. The Space Launch System is scheduled for an unmanned test flight, known as Exploration Mission I, in 2018 that will boost a payload of 13 CubeSats, or miniature satellites, and the Orion spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin. The satellites will be used to conduct experiments T
Frontiers December 2016 Issue
To see the actual publication please follow the link above