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NASA Installing Shocks On Ares

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the hydaulics-will-be-in-the-next-rev dept.

caffiend666 writes "In order to abate the massive vibration issues of their new Ares I spacecraft, NASA is installing shock absorbers. 'The plan is to install 16 canisters in the bottom of the rocket with 100-pound weights attached to springs. Battery-powered motors will move the weights up and down to stop vibrations. Those are essentially remote-controlled shock absorbers, said Garry Lyles, who headed the team of NASA engineers tackling the shaking problem.' So, when the spaceship is a rocking, don't come a knocking?"

5 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. Why have they left it this late? by bugg_tb · · Score: 4, Informative

    Whilst I'm not overly surprised by the decision why have they left it this late, as its a well documented problem thats been around since the beginning of space flight.

  2. Re:cost? by Thelasko · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's a picture of it.

    --
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  3. Re:This is not going to increase efficiency.... by Z00L00K · · Score: 4, Informative

    Their demise wasn't caused by a flaw in the rocket itself, it was because the capsule was using pure oxygen under low pressure in order to save weight.

    Unfortunately - materials that were flame-retardant or flameproof in normal air became extremely volatile in the 100% oxygen atmosphere in the capsule. They changed to a different mixture after that accident.

    Their accident also happened while on the ground during a test and not in space. Their accident was actually to honor them being designated Apollo 1. (as from what I have understood from at least one source, other sources does claim that it already was designated Apollo 1). So the only in flight accident with the Apollo program was Apollo 13 - and they did survive.

    So this actually tells us - beware us from accountants.

    --
    If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
  4. Re:The Hell! 1600+ pounds additional weight? by flattop100 · · Score: 5, Informative
    NASA planned for this, you noobs:

    Altogether, the added equipment would reduce the lift capacity of the Ares I rocket's first stage by up to 1,400 pounds (625 kg), though the booster segment currently has a margin of about 8,000 pounds (3,628 kg) to work with, Cook said.

    There's a much more informative article on Space.com from yesterday: http://www.space.com/news/080819-nasa-ares1-vibration-update.html

  5. Re:More untested principles by Free+the+Cowards · · Score: 4, Informative

    3. Basically all space rockets are aerodynamically unstable. This is absolutely nothing new.

    4. Before it was eclipsed by an even worse event, Apollo 13 briefly scared the crap out of everyone involved when the center engine of the second stage nearly ripped the entire rocket to little pieces. It was experiencing pogo oscillation, flexing the massive thrust frame by three inches at 16Hz, experiencing 68 gees. Just before this incredible vibration destroyed the entire craft, a fuel sensor was falsely tripped and shut the engine down, saving the ship.

    Saturn V and Apollo were full of problems. Rocket science is hard, remember? I suggest that you get a clue before you mindlessly criticize.

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