Space Launch System is Good Under Pressure for Artemis Moon Rocket
Like an empty aluminum can in a crusher, researchers are putting a panel with the same composite structure as a section of a future version of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket through series of compressions to assess its damage tolerance.
The testing at NASA’s Langley Research Center will ensure the materials and processes used to manufacture the Universal Stage Adapter for the SLS Block 1B configuration will meet or exceed its expected performance. The adapter will connect the Orion spacecraft to the rocket and will provide environmental control to payloads during ground operations, launch and ascent, and it will provide electrical and communication paths between the rocket’s upper stage and Orion.
To determine the impact of any potential damage to the adapter, test engineers put a set of 4-foot by 6-foot panels into a test stand and apply pressure. The first panel is a baseline panel. Then, in each subsequent test, the panels will have an increasing level of detail, such as joints between panels. Eventually, imperfections such as small cracks are added to simulate possible flaws.