NASA wants to bring humanity together with the Moon again with Artemis missions and this time to establish a permanent order on the Moon as humanity. The ‘Space Launch System (SLS)’ rocket and the ‘Orion’ spacecraft used for this big project are of course very powerful and costly. Each of the rocket parts, some of which were developed by other space agencies, has a different feature.
Recently, NASA published the pieces of the Artemis I system, the first step of its mission to bring humanity to the Moon, in a way that resembles a jigsaw puzzle. Let’s take a look at what these parts do.
RS-25 engines: Designed to reach powerful speeds.
The RS-25 engine, known as the main engine of the space shuttle, is a liquid fueled engine. These powerful engines, which have four in NASA’s launch system, accelerate the rocket to over 27,359 km/h in the first 8 minutes of flight. These S-25 engines can withstand temperatures ranging from -253℃ to 3316℃, thanks to the super-cold propellants and hot combustion gases inside.
The main engine of the space shuttle, RS-25s, is produced by the US firm Aerojet Rocketdyne. These engines were also used on NASA’s space station.
Core stage: The backbone of the launch system.
The core stage includes two propellant tanks, flight computers and four RS-25 rocket engines. The core stage of the launch system, which can rise 65 meters, feeds the rocket’s engines with 5,678 liters of propellant per second for eight minutes.
The core stage is the world’s tallest rocket stage. This stage is designed to run for 500 seconds before reaching Earth orbit, leaving the upper stage and the Orion spacecraft.
Solid rocket boosters: Burn incredible amounts of fuel at 6 tons per second.
Solid rocket boosters are basically a propellant engine used to provide propulsion in spacecraft launch from launch to ascent. These two solid rocket boosters; It burns 6 tons of solid fuel per second to lift the massive rocket off the launch pad and help it glide into space. The boosters’ missions are completed in two minutes. Additionally, it was specifically designed to launch payloads with more mass than any rocket ever built.
Liquid hydrogen tank: It carries fuel for rockets.
The liquid hydrogen tank ‘SLS RS-25’ is a tank that stores liquid hydrogen, the fuel for rocket engines. This liquid hydrogen tank; It stores 2.032,766 liters of liquid hydrogen cooled down to -253°C. The length of the tank, on the other hand, exceeds 40 meters, at this length, it occupies almost two-thirds of the rocket’s core stage. The liquid hydrogen tank will power the massive rocket in its first integrated flight with the Orion spacecraft, and the hydrogen fuels inside will flow towards the RS-25 engine.
Liquid oxygen tank: It stores the booster power inside.
The liquid oxygen tank of the launch system, located inside the core stage, holds 741,940 liters of liquid oxygen cooled to -183°C. The protection of these tanks at high temperatures is done with thermal protection foam sprayed on them. The task of the liquid oxygen in the tank is to provide oxidation in the combustion reaction that feeds the RS-25 engines.
The RL10 Engine: undertakes one of the main missions to send the Orion spacecraft into space.
The RL10 engine is a liquid fuel cryogenic type rocket engine that works with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The RL10B-2 engine, which increased to 11,227 kg of thrust in the Artemis I uncrewed test flight, serves as the main propulsion for the cryogenic propulsion stage during the Orion spacecraft’s launch.
This rocket engine was developed by Pratt & Whitney in the late 1950s and made its maiden flight in 1963. Since then, more than 500 RL10 engines have been launched into space.
Launch vehicle stage adapter: As the name suggests, it connects stages.
The launch vehicle stage adapter, designed in the shape of a cone, acts as a cover for the RL10 engine during the rocket’s takeoff, connects the cryogenic propulsion stage to the main stage and provides connection to the Orion stage adapter. This adapter provides structural support for the ejection and separation system, as well as protecting electrical devices from problems caused by excessive vibration and noise.
Temporary cryogenic propulsion stage: Provides motion after launch.
This system, called the temporary cryogenic propulsion stage, enables motion in space after the solid rocket boosters and core stage leave the system. This system consists of a height of 13.7 meters and a diameter of 5.1 meters. Basically, it works with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. This phase puts the system into Earth orbit.
During the uncrewed test mission of Artemis I, Orion and SLS; The temporary cryogenic propulsion stage will provide the massive thrust needed to fly beyond the Moon before returning to Earth. In addition, this stage is supported by the RL10 engine.
Orion stage adapter: connects the Orion spacecraft to the rocket.
The Orion stage adapter, built by the Marshall Space Flight Center, basically acts as a link to connect the Orion spacecraft to other parts. The adapter contains a diaphragm that acts as a barrier to prevent gases such as hydrogen from the launch from leaking into the spacecraft Orion. In principle, it can contain 17 CubeSat satellites.
The adapter is in the Artemis I mission; It will carry the CubeSat satellite, which will enable scientific research in deep space. These satellites will play a major role in the Artemis missions.
European Service Module: Provides vital support to the crew.
The European Service Module of the Orion spacecraft, supplied by the European Space Agency, forms the powerhouse that makes the spacecraft habitable and propels it in space. Service module spacecraft crew; It ensures that they are safe from take-off to separation from other parts of the rocket.
The systems inside allow the crew to use electrical power and basic control functions. The module basically provides astronauts with a living environment with water, oxygen and nitrogen.
Crew module: Where the crew lives and works.
The crew module, also called the capsule of the Orion spacecraft, is the pressure-containing part where astronauts will live and continue to work on missions. The module can accommodate four crew members for up to 21 days. It includes advanced life support, avionics (spacecraft electronic systems). In addition, the module also has a thermal protection system.
Launch abort system: Its purpose is to evacuate the crew if anything goes wrong with the launch.
The launch cancellation system is located on top of the Orion crew module. In crewed Artemis missions, it works to protect the crew if any problems arise during the launch or ascent of the rocket. The system is designed to activate in milliseconds to push the spacecraft away from the rocket.
The powerful engine in the system can accelerate from zero to 804,672 km/h in two seconds to protect the crew if needed.
Here’s what Artemis’ rocket looks like when all the pieces are put together:
So what do you guys think about the Artemis project? Will humanity be able to establish order on the Moon?
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