NASA's Artemis Moon Rocket: Safeguarding Astronauts with the Launch Abort System

NASA's colossal new moon rocket, part of the Artemis program, includes a Launch Abort System (LAS) designed to ensure astronaut safety. In the event of an explosion or breakup during launch, a powerful motor on the crew capsule would propel it away from the rocket, reorient it, and deploy parachutes for a safe return. The development and testing of this system involved years of work by engineers and scientists, including many at the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Southern California.

The Launch Abort System is engineered to swiftly propel the crew capsule to safety, reorient it, and deploy parachutes for a secure return during a launch emergency.

Development and Testing Milestones

The Armstrong Flight Research Center was instrumental in two critical tests of the abort system in the 2010s. These tests simulated emergency conditions during different phases of a rocket launch.

• Pad Abort-1 (2010): Engineers attached the system to a dummy test capsule equipped with sensors, launching it from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to simulate an abort from the launch pad. The Armstrong team prepared the capsule, installed sensors, and managed launch operations for this crucial ground test.

• Ascent Abort-2 (2019): Crews in Florida placed the abort system and test capsule on a modified missile. After the missile broke the sound barrier, the abort system was triggered to mimic abort conditions during rocket ascent. For this high-speed test, the Armstrong team primarily designed and tested the extensive sensor network.

Armstrong Flight Research Center: A Legacy of Extreme Flight

The Armstrong Flight Research Center, located at Edwards Air Force Base, specializes in extreme flight conditions and boasts a rich history of pushing flight boundaries.

Pioneering Early Aviation

Even before NASA was established, the center began the X-plane program. In 1947, its X-1 plane was the first to break the sound barrier, marking a monumental achievement in aviation history.

Apollo Era Contributions

During the early 1960s, Armstrong became a hub for aviation research critical to the space program. Neil Armstrong conducted test flights with the rocket-powered X-15 and practiced moon landings using lunar lander mock-ups designed and tested at the center.

Informing Space Shuttle Design

Experiments with an aircraft dubbed the "flying bathtub," designed to test wingless flight, informed the Space Shuttle's design. This research allowed the Space Shuttle to generate lift from its body and use lighter wings, a significant engineering advancement.

Rigorous Testing Procedures

For both abort system tests, the Armstrong team undertook meticulous procedures to ensure system integrity and gather vital data.

Pad Abort-1: Ground Test Preparation

For the Pad Abort-1 test, the Armstrong team performed several key tasks:

• Painted the test capsule and installed sensors, flight computers, wires, and parachutes.
• Conducted tests to ensure proper weight distribution and balance, which is critical for capsule performance during an abort.
• Subjected the capsule to laboratory vibrations to simulate the aggressive shaking it would experience from the abort motors, which accelerate from 0 to 500 mph in two seconds.

Ascent Abort-2: Sensor Network Expertise

For the Ascent Abort-2 test, the team's focused role included designing and testing the sensor network. This involved strapping sensors to a vibration table to ensure they could withstand the high G-forces encountered during a high-speed abort.

Laurie Grindle, Armstrong deputy center director, emphasized the importance of instrumentation to gather crucial performance data.

Mission Readiness: Artemis II Awaits

In 2022, NASA's uncrewed Artemis I mission successfully reached the moon without requiring the abort system. The upcoming crewed Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch, will be the first time the abort system is actively responsible for astronaut safety, carrying humans towards lunar orbit.