Lee Mohon
Dec 04, 2023
Exciting news from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama! Engineers and service technicians have successfully installed a crucial component, the frangible joint assembly, onto the adapter that links the core phase to the upper part of the NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. This cone-shaped phase adapter, known as the launch vehicle stage adapter, is a vital part of the SLS mega rocket that will power NASA’s Artemis III mission to the Moon.
The frangible joint sits atop the adapter and serves as a separation system, designed to disintegrate upon command. This allows for a rapid separation of the upper part of the rocket, NASA’s Orion spacecraft, and the crew inside Orion from the SLS core phase and adapter. Frangible joint assemblies are commonly used in the space industry to effectively separate fairings or stages during launch, climb, in orbit, and payload release.
SLS is an integral part of NASA’s deep space exploration, along with Orion and the Gateway, as well as commercial human landing systems. It is the only rocket capable of sending Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.
For more on NASA SLS, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/sls
News Media Contact
Corinne Beckinger
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256.544.0034
corinne.m.beckinger@nasa.gov
