Max Launch Abort System
{{Short description|Proposed pusher alternative to the Orion escape rockets}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{update|date=December 2011}}
{{more footnotes|date=July 2009}}
{{original research|date=July 2009}}
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File:Fabrication and launch of the Max Launch Abort System - July 8 - 2009.ogg
File:MLAS concept of operations.jpg
The Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) was a proposed alternative to the Maxime Faget-invented "tractor" launch escape system (LES) that was planned for use by NASA for its Orion spacecraft in the event an Ares I malfunction during launch required an immediate abort.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/features/MLAS_overview.html|title=NASA's Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) Overview|publisher=NASA|access-date=August 15, 2024}}
Designed by NASA engineers and reported on the website NASASpaceFlight.com on December 6, 2007, the proposed MLAS used four existing Huntsville-built Thiokol solid-rocket motors (built in 1988) placed at 90° intervals within the Orion's bullet-shaped fairing.{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/12/nasa-considering-alternate-launch-abort-system-for-orion/|title=NASA Considering Alternate Launch Abort System for Orion|work=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=December 6, 2007|access-date=August 15, 2024}} The fairing was originally designed to protect the Orion spacecraft from aerodynamic stresses during launch and to provide an interface between the spacecraft's crew module with the LES.
The MLAS was designed with the aim of reducing the height of the Orion/Ares I stack while also reducing weight and center-of-gravity issues of a traditional LES.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/index.html|title=NASA's Constellation Program: Max Launch Abort System|publisher=NASA|access-date=August 15, 2024}} The bullet-shaped MLAS was also expected to provide better aerodynamic qualities during the first two minutes of flight, reducing stresses when the vehicle encounters the "max Q" region of hypersonic flight.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/max-q-the-ultimate-challenge-of-space-flight|title=Max Q: The Ultimate Challenge of Space Flight|publisher=NASA|date=October 29, 2019|access-date=August 15, 2024}} The MLAS was also expected to simplify production, as existing hardware would be employed.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/feature10.html|title=NASA's Wallops Flight Facility and the MLAS|publisher=NASA/Wallops Flight Facility|date=July 1, 2009|access-date=August 15, 2024}}
There are several drawbacks to MLAS. First, the bullet-shaped protective cover would have to be modified and reinforced to allow for the use of the solid-rocket motors, something not needed with the LES, which bolts on top of the LIDS docking ring assembly.{{cite book|last=Isakowitz|first=Steven J.|title=International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems|publisher=AIAA|year=2010|isbn=978-1-60086-784-2|pages=357–359}} Second, the necessity to fire multiple motors (LES uses one motor and multiple nozzles) simultaneously for an abort decreases the theoretical reliability of the launch abort system by introducing more failure modes.{{cite journal|last1=Wood|first1=Eric M.|title=Reliability Considerations of Multiple Solid Rocket Motors in Launch Abort Systems|journal=Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets|volume=47|issue=2|year=2010|pages=317–321|doi=10.2514/1.47414|doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 }}
Like the existing LES, the MLAS would provide protection to the Orion spacecraft crew during the first {{frac|2|1|2}} minutes of flight, with the MLAS being jettisoned, along with the service module's fairing panels, after the solid-rocket first stage was jettisoned.{{cite book|last=Connors|first=Mary M.|title=Launch Escape Systems and Emergency Recovery: Historical Overview and Future Prospects|publisher=NASA|year=2008 |pages=112–115}} If implemented, the Orion/Ares I stack would have resembled the towerless Gemini-Titan stack used between 1965 and 1966, in which ejection seats were used as the primary form of escape for the astronauts who flew on the ten Gemini missions.{{cite book|last=Shayler|first=David|title=Gemini: Steps to the Moon|publisher=Springer-Praxis|year=2001|isbn=978-1-85233-405-5|pages=192–194}}
The MLAS concept was dropped with the transformation of the Crew Exploration Vehicle into the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, and the switch of the launch vehicle from Ares I (with its perennial underperformance) to the Delta IV Heavy or Space Launch System.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/index.html|title=NASA's Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV)|work=NASA |date=15 January 2015 |access-date=August 15, 2024 |last1=Garcia |first1=Mark }}
July 2009 test launch
A "pad abort" flight test of the Max Launch Abort System was performed at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on July 8, 2009, at 10:26 UTC.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ09_156_MLAS_launch_successful.html |title=NASA Tests Alternate Launch Abort System For Astronaut Escape |publisher=NASA |first1=Grey |last1=Hautaluoma |first2=Ashley |last2=Edwards |first3=Keith |last3=Henry |first4=Rebecca |last4=Powell |date=July 8, 2009 |id=NASA Release 09-156}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/multimedia/galleries/mlas-13.html |title=Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) |publisher=NASA |date=July 8, 2009}} A primary test goal was the successful separation of a mock crew capsule from the abort system. The test vehicle weighed over {{convert|45000|lb}} and was over {{convert|33|ft|m}} tall.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/mlas.html |title=MLAS |publisher=NASA/Wallops Flight Facility |accessdate=July 11, 2009}}
The test vehicle had several differences from the actual proposed system. The main difference was that the four propulsion rockets were not located in the forward fairing, but in a boost skirt located at the bottom of the test vehicle.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ09_156_MLAS_launch_successful.html |title=NASA Tests Alternate Launch Abort System For Astronaut Escape |publisher=NASA |first1=Grey |last1=Hautaluoma |first2=Ashley |last2=Edwards |first3=Keith |last3=Henry |first4=Rebecca |last4=Powell |date=July 8, 2009 |id=NASA Release 09-156}} The rockets in the fairing were represented by geometric dummies. The propulsion thrust was not balanced between the rockets by a manifold system, contrary to what was foreseen with the actual system.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/mlas.html |title=MLAS |publisher=NASA/Wallops Flight Facility |accessdate=July 11, 2009}}
References
{{Include-NASA}}
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/12/mlas-the-alternative-orion-launch-abort-system-gains-momentum/ |title=MLAS – the alternative Orion Launch Abort System gains momentum |work=NASA Spaceflight |first=Chris |last=Bergin |date=December 6, 2007}}
- {{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jun/HQ_M09-110_MLAS_June_22.html |title=NASA Reschedules Test of Max Launch Abort System to June 22 |publisher=NASA |first1=Grey |last1=Hautaluoma |first2=Ashley |last2=Edwards |first3=Keith |last3=Henry |first4=Rebecca |last4=Powell |date=June 18, 2009 |id=NASA Release M09-110}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Max Launch Abort System}}
{{Project Constellation}}