NASA has completed the application of a thermal protection system to the core stage’s liquid hydrogen tank at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
The agency said Tuesday the recent development brings the Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis III mission closer to launch.
Thermal Protection System
The new addition to the SLS rocket is intended to protect the hydrogen tank from extremely high temperatures during launch and ascent. The specialized insulation will also maintain the temperature of the liquid hydrogen at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit on the pad before launch. Furthermore, the thermal protection system will safeguard the human crew and other structural components of the rocket.
The insulation sprayed on the tank is made of flexible polyurethane foam tested to withstand extreme conditions. NASA personnel sprayed the large components of space shuttle tanks while in a vertical position. The core stage, however, was sprayed horizontally, marking the first time it was done at Michoud.
Artemis III Mission
Artemis III will build upon the crewed Artemis II flight test by incorporating new critical capabilities, particularly the human landing system and advanced spacesuits. These significant additions aim to enable the first crewed lunar mission to the Moon’s South Pole region. The mission is also intended to prepare for the possibility of landing humans on Mars.
“The thermal protection system protects the SLS rocket from the heat of launch while also keeping the thousands of gallons of liquid propellant within the core stage’s tanks cold enough,” said Jay Bourgeois, thermal protection system, test and integration lead at NASA Michoud. “Without the protection, the propellant would boil off too rapidly to replenish before launch.”
