spacetoday.net: Shock absorbers to cope with Ares 1 oscillations

Shock absorbers to cope with Ares 1 oscillations

Posted: Thu, Aug 21, 2008, 8:56 AM ET (1256 GMT)
Ares 1 launch illustration (NASA)

NASA plans to install high-tech shock absorbers on its Ares 1 rocket to damp out thrust oscillations in the booster, agency officials said this week. The rocket's first stage, like other solid-fuel boosters, is expected to suffer thrust oscillations near the end of its burn that could pose a hazard to the Orion spacecraft and its crew. To compensate for the oscillations, engineers plan to install computer-controlled spring-mounted weights in the base of the first stage that would damp out the vibrations as needed. A "compliance structure" in the interstage between the first and second stages would also deal with the vibrations. The vibration problem has been cited by some as a major concern with the development of Ares 1.