{"id":39061,"date":"2016-05-17T17:11:10","date_gmt":"2016-05-17T09:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/sls-tail-service-masts-undergoing-construction-ahead-of-letf-testing-2\/"},"modified":"2016-05-17T17:11:10","modified_gmt":"2016-05-17T09:11:10","slug":"sls-tail-service-masts-undergoing-construction-ahead-of-letf-testing-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/sls-tail-service-masts-undergoing-construction-ahead-of-letf-testing-2\/","title":{"rendered":"SLS Tail Service Masts undergoing construction ahead of LETF testing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Engineers have begun the construction of two huge Tail Service Masts that will play a crucial role with the Space Launch System (SLS) on launch day. The TSMUs (Tail Service Mast Umbilicals) will be tested on the Vehicle Motion Simulator (VMS) at the Kennedy Space Center, before being installed on the deck of the Mobile Launcher (ML).<\/p>\n

TSM:<\/p>\n

As preparations continue for the maiden flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) in late 2018, work is progressing on the array of umbilicals that will provide the lifeline between the rocket and the Mobile Launcher (ML).<\/p>\n

Numerous devices are already deep into their test phase, which is being conducted at the Launch Equipment Test Facility (LETF) inside the Kennedy Space Center grounds.<\/p>\n

\"2016-05-17-175629\"April marked the first views of the new TSMUs (Tail Service Mast Umbilicals), two of which will be installed on the zero deck of the Mobile Launcher.<\/p>\n

The photos (L2 SLS) provided an insight into their size, although it\u2019s their deep history with NASA rockets that have provided the guidance towards their design role with SLS.<\/p>\n

Three TSMs were involved with Saturn V rockets, while two TSMs were installed on the Mobile Launch Platforms (MLP) during the Space Shuttle era.<\/p>\n

\"\"For Shuttle, the TSM hosted a carrier plate that was mated to either side of the orbiter during stacking operations inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The plate was the conduit for a large number of umbilicals carrying cryogenic propellant, along with gases lines and an array of electrical connections.<\/p>\n

They performed well during the history of Shuttle, although historical documentation references a high level Tiger Team investigation into a close call incident during STS-112, where a faulty connection between Atlantis and the T-0 umbilical panel inside the TSM almost resulted in a launch where the explosive holddown bolts on the Solid Rocket Boosters didn\u2019t fire.<\/p>\n

Spaceflight history books<\/path>Space tourism guides<\/path>SpaceX launch tickets<\/path>\n

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n

Former Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale explained the event in 2012 blog post.<\/p>\n

Subsiquent improvements in the system will feed into the design of the SLS TSMU, which will first undergo a large amount of testing at the LEFT.<\/p>\n

\"2015-07-07-141058\"The facility is equipped with a control room \u2013 allowing engineers to collate data and detect any hazardous conditions with the hardware undergoing testing. It also includes workshops and even its own High Bay \u2013 large enough to host the assembly of the large ground support structures.<\/p>\n

At the heart of the LETF is the Vehicle Motion Simulator (VMS), utilized to emulate all the movements a rocket makes as it is rolled to the launch pad, and more importantly through the first 30 milliseconds of flight.<\/p>\n

This allows exact simulations of the force and conditions umbilicals and other launch equipment must work in to become qualified for use. Procedures and clearances can also be evaluated using the VMS.<\/p>\n

See Also<\/h4>\n