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For SLS, the External Tank will be translated into the core stage, becoming part of the in-line HLV. The second stage will ride on top of the core, with the Orion (Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle) riding on top of the second stage on the crewed version of SLS, replaced by a payload on the cargo version.<\/p>\n
Two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) will be attached to either side of the core stage, not unlike the Shuttle stack, as much as these boosters will be larger five segment motors, potentially changing to a liquid version later in SLS\u2019 lifetime.<\/p>\n
For SLS\/HLV Articles, click here: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/tag\/hlv\/<\/p>\n
As has been noted previously, SLS will utilize SSMEs \u2013 otherwise known as RS-25s. The stock of SSME (RS-25D) engines are currently being preserved at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), after being donated by the Space Shuttle Program (SSP). There are at least three sets of three engines, removed from each orbiter, along with a spare set of three engines (12 engines in total).<\/p>\n
Space Shuttle
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A5101.jpg\" "\\"A510\\"")
Prior to the orbiters going on display at their respective exhibition sites, each vehicle will be fitted with three Replica Shuttle Main Engines (RSMEs) \u2013 made from previously scrapped nozzles and installed via an adaptor \u2013 which are being fabricated by SSME contractor Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR).<\/p>\nGiven the adaptor will be installed inside the SSME domes shields, visitors to the orbiters at their exhibitions won\u2019t notice the difference, especially as the nozzles will be real hardware, repaired from their previous scrap designation.<\/p>\n
The recommendation to preserve the flown SSMEs for future use was called for by NASA\u2019s MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center), KSC and JSC (Johnson Space Center), providing free engines for SLS to utilize on its opening flights.<\/p>\n
All of the reusable engines will be destroyed when the unrecoverable core stage burns up in the designated disposal corridor, not unlike the shuttle ET.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A144.jpg\" "\\"A14\\"")
As seen in the latest SLS documentation, the plan is to move to a cheaper, non-reusable version of the SSME \u2013 known as the RS-25E \u2013 once the RS-25D stock is exhausted by the SLS flights.<\/p>\nNow SLS managers have requested the use of the major plumbing inside the orbiter\u2019s own MPS system, which is a natural match for the RS-25s.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been a request to removed the entire MPS (Main Propulsion System) from the orbiters for SLS (Space Launch System),\u201d noted KSC processing information (L2), adding such an operation would delay the shipping dates of the orbiters by over half a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis would be six to nine month impact to the T&R (Transition and Retirement) schedule (for the orbiters).\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A108.jpg\" "\\"A10\\"")
This effectively relates to the guts of the orbiters, specifically known as the Orbiter MPS.<\/p>\nThe Orbiter MPS includes major hardware items such as the Propellant Management System (PMS).<\/p>\n
The MPS PMS consists of manifolds, distribution lines, and valves that transport propellants from the tanks to the three main engines for combustion, and gases from the engines to the tank for pressurization.<\/p>\n
The PMS is the lifeline of the integrated MPS. In addition to its primary function of feeding propellants from the External Tank to the engines during powered flight, the PMS also controls the loading of propellants before launch, the post-MECO propellant dump and vacuum inerting.<\/p>\n
The removal of this hardware inside the aft compartments of the orbiters would involve disconnecting major hardware \u2013 such as the Propellant Feedline Manifolds, which consists of 17-inch and 12-inch piping \u2013 through the three spaces left vacant by the removed SSMEs.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/a228.jpg\" "\\"a228\\"")
Items which would be removed includes the feedlines \u2013 vacuum jacketed for H2, insulated for O2 \u2013 Fill and Drain (F&D) lines, recirculation lines (H2), and gaseous H2 and O2 lines \u2013 which are used to maintain pressure in the ET \u2013 via more well known items of hardware such as the Flow Control Valves (FCVs).<\/p>\nThe FCVs were highlighted during an investigation into a small liberation from one of the valve\u2019s poppet\u2019s during STS-126.<\/p>\n
Mitigation procedures \u2013 which included screening of flown valves post-flight at the frabricator Vacco \u2013 resulted in no further issues.<\/p>\n
Click here for NASASpaceflight.com articles on the FCV issue since STS-126<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A1210.jpg\" "\\"A12\\"")
These are all natural elements of hardware which would provide both the SLS core and the SLS engines with the role they had previously enjoyed with the orbiter, such as the FCV-related Ullage Pressure System (UPS) \u2013 which deals with the volume in the LH2 and LO2 tanks not occupied by liquid propellant.<\/p>\nThe ullage pressure system consists of the sensors, lines, and valves that are used to collect gaseous propellants (gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen) from the three main engines; the system supplies the gaseous propellants to the External Tank to maintain propellant tank pressure during engine operation, as well as maintaining tank structural integrity.<\/p>\n
Propellants must be supplied to the SSME with adequate head pressure for proper engine operation.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/A1111.jpg\" "\\"A11\\"")
Also to be removed would be the MPS helium system, which consists of storage tanks, distribution lines, regulators, and valves that supply helium to the main engines and the MPS PMS.<\/p>\nThe helium supply tanks consist of three large (17.3-cubic-foot) and seven small (4.7-cubic-foot) helium tanks known as Composite Overwrap Pressure Vessels (COPV). Each large tank is plumbed to two of the small tanks to form three clusters. Each cluster provides helium to one of the main engines. The remaining small tank is the pneumatic helium supply.<\/p>\n
Although this would all result in a large amount of hardware being removed from the aft of the orbiters, visitors to the exhibitions would not have been able to see \u2013 or likely have any access \u2013 to the aft compartment, meaning their visual appearance will not be altered.<\/p>\n
A final decision on proceeding with this work is expected later this year.<\/p>\n
(Images: Via Larry Sullivan, Chris Gebhardt (MaxQ Entertainment\/NASASpaceflight.com) orbiter engineering tour video (1000mb) available on L2, plus L2 content \u2013 driven by L2\u2032s new SLS specific L2 section, which includes, presentations, videos, graphics and internal updates on the SLS and HLV available no where else on the internet).<\/p>\n
(L2 is \u2013 as it has been for the past several years \u2013 providing full exclusive future vehicle coverage, available no where else on the internet. To join L2, click here: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/l2\/)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NASA\u2019s three retired Space Shuttle orbiters are set to donate their entire Main Propulsion Systems (MPS) to the opening salvo of Space Launch System (SLS) Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles (HLV). The work to remove the MPS\u2019 array of plumbing, tanks and valves from the aft of the orbiters would result in a delay of six […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29645,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[9034,8959,7779,624,8116,9022],"class_list":["post-40338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-hlv","tag-mps","tag-shuttle","tag-sls","tag-ssme","tag-tr"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40338"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40338"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40338\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}