Orion's New Launch Abort Motor Test Stand Ready for Action

(Washington, June 9, 2008) -- NASA and Alliant Techsystems, or ATK, unveiled Monday a new vertical test stand that will be used later this summer to support NASA's Constellation Program. The stand will be used to test fire the full-scale abort motor for the launch abort system, which will sit atop the Orion crew exploration vehicle. The abort motor is designed to pull the crew module away from the Ares I launch vehicle in an emergency situation on the launch pad or during the first 300,000 feet after launch.

A full scale inert motor, without oxidizer in the propellant, is now secured top end down in the test stand with its nozzles pointing skyward at ATK's facility in Promontory, Utah. Engineers will spend the next few months performing a final checkout.

"We're breaking new ground with the development of this critical motor, which must have sufficient thrust to leave the vehicle quickly and get the crew to safety," said Ted Kublin, who is the lead engineer for the propulsion abort motor at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. "The launch abort system is one of the most vital components of the Orion spacecraft, requiring innovative engineering to ensure success."

Source : NASA

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