Nasa test fires new rocket motor

[formercia]

Source: BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8250408.stm

The test firing of a new rocket motor that could help take US astronauts back to the Moon has been carried out.

The static test lasted just over two minutes at the manufacturer, ATK, in Utah.

The five-segment booster is intended to power the early flight phase of Nasa's proposed Ares 1 launch vehicle - its replacement for the space shuttle.


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Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8250408.stm

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For all lovers of rocketry....Watch the video.

[oligarhy]

1. very cool

Thank you.

[Phoonzang]

2. Nice, but the Ares-1 is toast.

Maybe these engines will be used for the Ares-V, but that's up in the air (no pun intended) as well.

[Ex Lurker]

3. where would we be if we hadn't pursued the dead end of the space shuttle

for the last 25 years?

[truthisfreedom]

4. I wonder exactly what mechanism they use to measure thrust. Some sort of hydraulic

sensor?

[Dogmudgeon]

12. There are many ways to measure thrust

In fact, they can be classed into types. You can measure pressure on a piece of plastic or rubber by running a small electrical charge through it and reading the output on a metered balanced bridge amplifier. That's how I used to record breathing in sleep study patients when I worked as a sleep tech.

Metrology, as it is called, is an entire engineering discipline unto itself. Fascinating stuff, it is.

--d!

[Xenotime]

5. Great. More carbon polution. Thanks, mr. president.

[TommyO]

6. My goodness, some people will find any reason to trash the President

Though normally I expect it from Republicans, not fellow DUers

[liberal N proud]

7. He is a Democrat and President so EVERYTHING is his fault

Can you imagine the relief Bill Clinton must feel? They all blame Obama now.



:sarcasm:



:rofl:

[Lagomorph]

13. Yup...

It's 9/11. That's all the time Bush had. Obama owns it all now. Bush and Clinton are making big bucks on the speakers circuit because it all Obama's fault now.

WWII, the Great Depression, the Atomic Bombings, Somalia, the Iranian Revolution, Leader of the most Evil Nation on Earth. Everything America ever did.

It's all his now....

[Psephos]

9. Great. More information pollution. Thanks, Xenotime - the rocket uses ammonium perchlorate.

No carbon in it. Oops.

Here you go, Xenotime:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ares+first+stage+motor+propellant

[joshcryer]

11. Only CO2 used here was in the fire extinguisher. Likely came from liquefied air.

[timo]

8. huge waste

huge waste of $$$ and effort regardless of who is in charge

[Occulus]

14. After all, it's not like anyone ever actually benefited from our efforts in space.

Right?

[joshcryer]

10. Link to YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsPnkJ5vLfc

Wow. 22 million HP.