Space shuttle Discovery, flanked by its two solid rocket boosters, on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre.
100th set of booster motors launches Discovery
17 Mar 2009
Alliant Techsystems' Reusable Solid Rocket Motors (RSRM) passed a major milestone as they successfully powered NASA's space shuttle Discovery and its crew during this morning's launch. The motors launched were the 100th flight set since the redesigned RSRMs were first flown more than 20 years ago.
"The launch of the 100th flight set of NASA's twin boosters for the Shuttle is another demonstration of ATK's commitment to safety and mission success," said Mike Kahn, ATK Launch Systems Executive Vice President and General Manager.
During today's flight the boosters provided the main thrust at lift-off, generating an equivalent of 15 million horsepower each and boosting the shuttle to an altitude of approximately 45 kilometres.
After two minutes of flight, ATK's 16 Booster Separation Motors (BSMs) performed flawlessly. Four BSMs on the forward end and four on the aft end of each booster fired to jettison the boosters safely away from the shuttle orbiter and external tank, enabling the rocket motors to parachute back down through the Earth's atmosphere to be recovered and reused.
This mission is the 28th shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Discovery will carry the S6 truss segment as well as a new station crewmember to the orbital outpost.
Over the past 20 years, ATK and NASA have made substantial investments in process automation, engineering modelling, and inspection techniques that have enabled significant improvements to flight safety margins, increased mission reliability, and extended service life and reusability.
< An artist's impression of the forthcoming Ares I launch vehicle, adapted from a space shuttle solid rocket booster.
The RSRMs and BSMs will be used for the remainder of the Space Shuttle Program with similar versions being used on NASA's Ares I, the launch vehicle that will replace shuttle missions to the ISS as well as conduct future lunar missions. ATK is the prime contractor for the Ares I five-segment first stage.
"Transitioning the boosters and related critical skills to Ares I will provide substantial benefit from all the experience and progress gained over the years and enable significant risk reduction to the programme," said Kahn. "Our task is now to continue our commitment to quality and success as we support the remaining shuttle flights and prepare to launch Ares I-X and Ares I."
Adapted from information issued by ATK.
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