EMERGENCY ESCAPE SYSTEM

While the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 catches the headlines, work continues on other NASA projects, and that includes the Constellation back-to-the-Moon program. Whether it proceeds unscathed from present reviews is unlikely, but for the moment interesting things are happening there, including tests on the rocket-powered Launch Abort System (LAS).

The LAS is another ‘shades of Apollo’ item, which means a powerful system that will literally pull the Command Module, now called the Orion Crew Vehicle (OCV), up and away from the Ares launch rocket. Once free, the OCV will float down to safety under three massive parachutes. Development testing is an absolute essential, and among the vital components are the LAS rockets, which have just been tested, while strapped upside-down on a fixed test rig (video, top above).

NASA has also released a cgi video (bottom) which shows the whole emergency abort sequence, from lift-off to an airbag-cushioned landing. It’s a fascinating thing to watch, and when you see the complex sequence of events needed for the LAS to work properly, it demonstrates just how staggeringly intricate aerospace design is, and why development budgets are so huge.