spacetoday.net: Ares 1 vibration worries eased

Ares 1 vibration worries eased

Posted: Fri, Apr 4, 2008, 8:17 AM ET (1217 GMT)
Ares 1 launch illustration (NASA)

Concerns that the new Ares 1 rocket could suffer from severe vibrations have eased after new analyses have found the problem is not as severe as once thought. NASA officials said Thursday the thrust oscillation problem with the Ares 1 was not strong enough to pose a risk to crews on the Orion spacecraft that would be launched by the Ares 1. Engineers are also looking into solutions to mitigate the vibrations, including shock absorbers on the rocket or dampers under the seats inside Orion. The Ares 1 lower stage is a five-segment version of the solid rocket boosters used on the space shuttle; many solid-fuel boosters suffer from thrust oscillation problems.