The original test style had two sections, each 9 feet long. To get a more characteristic thrust profile, a 4.5-foot-long sector was included to the test post, totaling almost 28 feet and making this the longest subscale motor evaluated to date. In addition to the included half sector, a brand-new propellant, aft dome design, and nozzle design are consisted of in the BOLE motor advancement program that will become part of the Block 2 evolved rocket.
Throughout the test, three different internal case insulation formulations were examined in the aft dome. The performance outcomes of these materials will aid in selecting a last formula for the very first full-blown test fire of the BOLE booster. As the group completes the final style for the full-blown motor, this test is an essential action in finding out how materials will carry out at the higher pressure and efficiency anticipated for the BOLE motor as compared to present motors.
The 3rd test of the subscale motor is presently scheduled for spring 2022 at Marshall, followed by the very first full-blown BOLE motor test, tentatively arranged for spring 2024 at Northrop Grummans test center in Utah. Northrop Grumman, lead specialist for the booster, assisted carry out the Marshall test and will be helping with information examination.
NASA engineers successfully completed a 24-inch diameter subscale strong rocket test on December 2, 2021, at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in the East Test Area. Unlike previous subscale motor tests, this marked the first time the team might examine insulation and nozzle on one motor rather than two setups, one for the nozzle and one for the insulation. To get a more characteristic thrust profile, a 4.5-foot-long segment was added to the test short article, totaling nearly 28 feet and making this the longest subscale motor tested to date. As the team completes the final style for the full-blown motor, this test is an important step in finding out how materials will carry out at the higher pressure and efficiency expected for the BOLE motor as compared to current motors.
NASA engineers effectively completed a 24-inch size subscale strong rocket test on December 2, 2021, at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in the East Test Area. The sub-scale motor produced 76,400 pounds of thrust throughout the hot fire test. This test was the first of two tests supporting the Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) development effort that includes a new motor design for upcoming Artemis missions after Artemis VIII. This 334-inch motor was the longest subscale motor evaluated to date. Credit: NASA
A team of NASA and Northrop Grumman engineers fired a 2-foot-diameter, subscale solid rocket booster on December 2, 2021, at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This test, performed in Marshalls East Test Area, was the second of three tests supporting the Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) program, which will have an upgraded style to power the developed configuration of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on flights after Artemis VIII.
The BOLE booster will be a larger and more powerful strong rocket motor than the existing SLS solid rocket booster. The boosters for the very first eight flights of the Artemis program repurpose the steel booster cases and parts from the Space Shuttle Program with an upgraded design. The BOLE booster will execute a composite case style, change outdated parts with newer components, and improve the boosters design and efficiency.
This test concentrated on the booster motors, which supply most of the power to launch SLS. Unlike previous subscale motor tests, this marked the very first time the group could examine insulation and nozzle on one motor instead of two setups, one for the nozzle and one for the insulation. Throughout this subscale test, the motor produced 76,400 pounds of thrust.