NASA is looking into the possibility of using heavy-duty shock absorbers to solve a sound-wave problem from the solid-fuel motors on its Ares I moon rocket.
If the vibrations hit the wrong frequency, they could potentially shake the astronauts to death — or at the least make it impossible for them to work. The astronauts would be in the Orion crew capsule launched on top of the Ares.
The leading solution is to put weight on springs in parts of the bottom end of the rocket and underneath astronauts' seats to dampen the vibrations. Think MacPherson struts, such as those found on cars and trucks, said Garry Lyles, who heads a NASA team working on the problem.
"These are actually absorbers that are used in vehicles today, especially one-ton and 1 1/2-ton pickup trucks," Lyles said in a Thursday telephone news conference.
Lyles said it's possible further analysis and tests will reveal the shaking problem that's turned up in computer models of the still unbuilt Ares may be a non-issue. But engineers are seeking solutions just in case.
NASA is not ready to proclaim the case closed and still considers it the highest level of potential problem, Lyles said.
There are many such challenges that face NASA's return-to-the moon program, according to a report issued Thursday by outside federal auditors.
The Government Accountability Office highlighted other potential problems, including too much weight in both the rocket and Orion capsule, design issues with a new engine for a booster, insufficient facilities for certain types of testing, and private industry's inability to make the Orion capsule's 1960s-style peel-away heat shield.
Source:Xinhua/Agencies
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