{"id":39939,"date":"2013-01-05T20:18:39","date_gmt":"2013-01-05T12:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/sls-on-track-to-cdr-as-engineers-work-though-a-baffling-issue\/"},"modified":"2013-01-05T20:18:39","modified_gmt":"2013-01-05T12:18:39","slug":"sls-on-track-to-cdr-as-engineers-work-though-a-baffling-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/sls-on-track-to-cdr-as-engineers-work-though-a-baffling-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"SLS on track to CDR as engineers work though a baffling issue"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the Space Launch System (SLS) heads on to the path towards its Critical Design Review (CDR), engineers are close to mitigating an issue relating to the core stage\u2019s slosh baffles. The work on the baffle design and placement is part of the stability analysis for the HLV\u2019s ride uphill.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\nSLS PDR to CDR:<\/p>\n

In the latest milestone to end 2012 \u2013 the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) \u2013 SLS passed all 12 key criteria, according to information provided to L2, with only five \u201cyellow\u201d risks, all of which are expected to be addressed. In other words, SLS is suffering from zero critical design or schedule threats at this time.<\/p>\n

This is a refreshingly positive overview when compared to the numerous \u201cred\u201d issues suffered by Ares 1 at this same stage of development.<\/p>\n

One would hope for such an outcome, with the vehicle only just beginning its second full year of development. However, these early years are always the most critical, as teams literally draw the templates that will go to the giant machines at Marshall and Michoud for the physical cutting, bending and welding of metal that will piece together the monster rocket.<\/p>\n

\"SLSMarking the current state of progress for the end of 2012, the vehicle\u2019s core stage PDR brought together NASA, Boeing and other contractors, with the complete concurrence SLS is ready to proceed towards the next key stage \u2013 known as the Critical Design Review (CDR).<\/p>\n

\u201cPassing a preliminary design review within 12 months of bringing Boeing on contract shows we are on track toward meeting a 2017 launch date,\u201d said Tony Lavoie, manager of the SLS Stages Element at Marshall.<\/p>\n

NASA mission updates<\/path>Rocket launch schedules<\/path>Spaceflight history books<\/path>\n

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\u201cWe can now allow those time-critical areas of design to move forward with initial fabrication and proceed toward the final design phase \u2013 culminating in a critical design review in 2014 \u2013 with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Issues during development are expected, not least because SLS will be the most powerful rocket set to leave the planet. However, the highly experienced SLS team are yet to come across a problem that mirrored those that blighted the Constellation Program.<\/p>\n

\"SloshOne such example of an issue being mitigated is the slosh baffle design on the core stage \u2013 an element of hardware that helps alleviate the liquid propellants from \u201csloshing\u201d around in the tanks as they feed the engines, a condition that can lead to instability of the rocket during its launch.<\/p>\n

Boeing \u2013 the contractor for SLS\u2019 core \u2013 completed the slosh baffle design for the core stage tanks in the latter part of 2012. Based on past experience, Boeing\u2019s design featured a relatively low number of baffles to save production time and cost, and to reduce weight.<\/p>\n

See Also<\/h4>\n