ATK has delivered a technological first to Nasa – a full-scale, composite crew module (CCM) structure.
The CCM programme is a joint initiative by Nasa’s Engineering and Safety Center, ATK and other industry partners. It considers a composite crew module an alternative to the baseline Orion spacecraft design.
The design comprises an upper and lower shell, which are joined together with a splice joint and cured using out-of-autoclave technology.
The CCM is a unique design built to resemble a space capsule, which has the potential to reduce the overall weight of future manned launch vehicles.
Composite structures reduce launch costs through weight savings and are currently used on a range of space launch vehicles and aerospace structures.
The design will undergo full-scale structural testing at Nasa’s Langley Research Center to determine the strength and viability of the composite structure.
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By GlobalDataDuring destructive testing, the CCM will be placed under load conditions similar to those experienced during launch, orbit, landing and abort scenarios.
