Wed, Aug 20, 2008
Space Agency Will Use 17 "Shock Absorbers"
In what might strike some as an inelegant solution, NASA
announced Tuesday it will employ 17 large vibration dampeners to
quell vibrations in its upcoming Ares I booster rocket.
As ANN reported, NASA confirmed in January its
engineers were working to fix a "thrust oscillation" issue with the
Ares I rocket. The space agency said computerized design models for
the rocket showed accelerating gas vortices from the rocket matched
the natural vibrating frequencies of the motor's combustion
chamber... leading to a whole lot of shaking goin' on.
Thrust oscillation is a phenomenon found in all solid rocket
motors, including those used on the space shuttle -- which are also
being used on Ares. NASA said in January its program managers had
been aware of the problem since October 27.
To combat the issue, The Associated Press reports NASA will
attach 16 remote-controlled vibration dampeners, each with 100-lb
weights attached to springs able to be moved up and down as needed
to counteract such vibrations. A 17th so-called "shock absorber"
will be mounted near the rocket's midsection, using a ring of such
weights and springs to stop vibrations from reaching the Orion
manned capsule atop the rocket.
Ares project manager Steve Cook admits the weights will add,
well, weight... but stresses the rocket will be able to handle it,
adding other technical issues facing the program will also be
resolved.
"There's nothing on our risk list that I would term a
showstopper or major issue that we can't deal with," Cook said.
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