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So, remember when I mentioned getting to go see a rocket test last week? Here’s the video I took of it! The 1 minute countdown starts around 5:40.
If you guys have any questions about this, send them my way! I’ll try to answer them here and on our podcast as well!
A different perspective on Wednesday’s firing of Qualification Motor-1. The test of the first full-duration, 5-segment Solid Rocket Motor for the Space Launch System was heard for miles around Orbital ATK’s Promontory, Utah test site.
The nearest spectators were two miles away from the test stand, but these spectators in a passing airplane probably got the best view! Fore more on the QM-1 test, check out the archives here.
T+10 minutes.
Test systems are now being shut down. Booster quenching commenced shortly before booster burnout. The forward segments of the booster will have water cool the casings down for up to 20 minutes, while the aft segments will cool down of over three hours. The residue of the fuel inside is at 5000 degrees, and needs to be lowered for the eventual up-close analysis of the motor. Preliminary data will be available in about an hour, with remaining data trickling in over the course of the next few months. Data from the QM-1 test will be analysed and included in the QM-2 test, which will occur in early 2016.
The 2 minute QM-1 test has been completed.
31 Tons of Carbon Dioxide gas are being pumped into the booster casing to preserve the interior of the motor for further analysis of in-flight characteristics.
We have ignition of QM-1!
T-3 minutes. Test control has reported a unanimous 'GO' for the QM-1 SLS booster test.
Watch live here.
T-10 minutes and holding.
This is a scheduled hold in the countdown to ensure that test teams are fully prepared for booster ignition as well as to ensure any issues are properly resolved. Watch the test here.
Tomorrow's QM-1 test firing is the first static fire, full duration test of a five-segment Solid Rocket Booster for the SLS program. However, the casings of the SRB have been used on a number of spaceflights before this test. The Space Shuttle used nearly-identical 4-segment SRB's throughout it's 30-year history. About 90% of them could be reused for other missions, so when the program ended, surplus SRB hardware was left in good enough condition for future use on the Space Launch System.
The test motor for QM-1 is comprised of hardware used on 23 different space shuttle missions as well as previous SRB flight and static tests. 75% of the booster used reused hardware, where only 25% needed to be fabricated new. The diagram below, from CollectSpace, outlines the components of QM-1 and their heritage.
Due to the flight rate of SLS and the significant number of SRB hardware Orbital ATK has surplus from the Shuttle program, the boosters will not be recovered after flight. This decreases both cost and weight, and omits the lengthy cleaning and refurbishment process.
The Solid Rocket Boosters for SLS will use the same hardware but with improved avionics and an extra fuel segment.
Watch the QM-1 test live on NASA TV. Coverage starts at 11 AM EST, with the test fire occuring at 11:30.
