Nasa’s Artemis Campaign will send astronauts, payloads, and Science Experiences Into Deep Space on NASA’s SLS (space launch system) Super Heavy-LIFT MONROCKET. Starting with Artemis IV, The Orion Spacecraft and its astronauts will be joined by other payloads atop an upgraded version of the Sls, Called Block 1B. Sls Block 1B will deliver initial elements of a lunar space station designed to enable long term exploration of the lunar surface and Pave the way for future journeys to mars. To fly these advanced payloads, engineers at nasa’s marshall space flight center in huntsville, alabama, are bulding a can-shaped adapter that is key to Sls to Sls Block 1b.
The payload adapter, nestled within the universal stage adapter sitting atop the slS block 1b’s exploration upper stage, acts as a connecting point to secret a number a number a number Orion spacecraft. The Adapter Consists of Eight Composite Panels with an aluminum honeycomb core and two aluminum rings.
Beginning with the Artemis IV Mission, Sls Block 1B will feature a new, More Powerful Upper Stage that provides a substantiial increase in parasma Artemis Missions I Through III. Sls Block 1B can send 84,000 pounds of payload-Including both a crewed or a 10-metric ton (22,046 lbs.) Co-manified payload riding in a reading in a reading Cargo comparte
Artemis IV’s co-manified payload will be the lunar i-hab, one of the initial elements of the gateway lunar space station. Built by ESA (European Space Agency), The Lunar I-Hab Provides Expanded Capability for Astronauts to Live, Work, Conduct Science Experiences, and Prepare for For Mistions to the Lunar Surface.
Before the artemis IV mission structure was finalized, nasa engineers needed to design and test the new payload adapter.
“With Sls, there’s an Intent to have as much commonity due to flights as poses Nasa Marshall.
However, with theay payloads changing typically always flight, the connecting payload adapter must change as well.
“We knew there needed to be a lot of flexibility to the payload adapter, and that we needed to be able to get to respond quickly in-house once the payloads were finalized,” Says Gaddes.
The required flexibility was not going to be satisfied with a one-size-fits-ball approach, according to gaddes.
SINCE DIFERENT SIZE Payload Adapters could be Needed, Marshall is Using A Flexible Approach to Assemble The payload Adapter that Eliminates The Need for Heavy and Execive tooling Used tooling tooling Sembly. A Computer Model of Each Completed Part is Created Using A Process Called Structured Light Scanning. The computer model provides the precise locations where holes need to be drilled to hold the parts togeether so that the completes payload adapter will be excluded right size.
“Structured light has helped us reduce costs and increase flexibility on the payload adapter and allows us to Pivot,” Says Gaddes. “If the call came down to build a cargo version of SLS to Launch 40 Metric Tons, For Example, We Can Use Our Same Tooling With The Structured Light Approach to Adapt to Different larger diameter that’s shorter , Or one with a smaller diameter that lying. It’s faster and cheaper. ”
Nasa Marshall Engineers Use An Automated Placement Robot to Manufacture Eight Lightweight Composite Panels from a Graphite Epoxy Material. The Robot Performs Fast, Accurate Lamination Following Preprogrammed Paths, Its High Speed ​​and Precision Resulting in Lower Cost and Significly Faster Production Manufacturing MANUFACTURING METHODS.
At nasa marshall, an engineering development unit of the payload has been successfully tested which demonstrated that it can handle up to three times the expected load. Another Test Version Currently in Development, Called The Qualification Unit, will also be tested to nasa standards for composite structures to ensure that flight unit will perform as expected.
“The payload adapter is shaped like a can, and historically, most of the development work on structures like this has been on cylinders, so that’s one of the many reasons who are testings whirl up “Nasa will test as high a load as possible to learn what producies structural failure. Any information we learn here It’s a win for everybody. “
With Artemis, Nasa will explore more of the moon than ever, learn how to live and work away from home, and prepare for future human exploration of the red plan. NASA’s Sls (Space Launch System) Rockt, Explation Ground Systems, And Orion Spacecraft, Along with the Human Landing System, Next-Generation Spaceuits, Gateway Space Station, Form Ndation for Deep Space Expliation.
Jonathan deal
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034
jonathan.e.deal@nasa.gov
