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MLAS and LAS: Project Comparison of Lessons LearnedThe development of new and safer manned space vehicles is a top priority at NASA. Recently two different approaches of how to accomplish this mission of keeping astronauts safe was successfully demonstrated. With work already underway on an Apollo-like launch abort system for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), an alternative design concept named the Max Launch Abort System, or MLAS, was developed as a parallel effort. The Orion system, managed by the Constellation office, is based on the design of a single solid launch abort motor in a tower positioned above the capsule. The MLAS design takes a different approach placing the solid launch abort motor underneath the capsule. This effort was led by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC). Both escape systems were designed with the Ares I Rocket as the launch vehicle and had the same primary requirement to safely propel a crew module away from any emergency event either on the launch pad or during accent. Beyond these two parameters, there was little else in common between the two projects, except that they both concluded in successful launches that will further promote the development of crew launch abort systems. This presentation will compare both projects from the standpoint of technical requirements; program management and flight test objectives and highlight the synergistic lessons learned by two engineers who worked on each program.
Document ID
20110015562
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Dittemore, Gary
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2011
Subject Category
Space Transportation And Safety
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-24490
Meeting Information
Meeting: NASA Project Management (PM) Challenge 2012
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: February 22, 2012
End Date: February 23, 2012
Sponsors: NASA Headquarters
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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