On March 1, U.S.-based carbon fiber manufacturer Hexcel Corporation announced that its advanced composite material has been selected by Northrop Grumman for the production of booster end-of-life and end-of-life for NASA’s Artemis 9 Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) booster.
Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems is grappling with the obsolescence of space launch systems in booster design and manufacturing. An upgraded booster featuring Hexcel’s lightweight carbon fiber and prepreg will provide increased performance that will benefit future lunar exploration, science missions and ultimately Mars activities.
Beginning with the Artemis 9 mission, the new BOLE thrusters will replace the metal and steel hulls previously used in space shuttle systems with a lightweight carbon fiber composite hull and optimized and upgraded structures, electronic thrust vector control systems, and propellant materials. Obsolescence issues.
First BOLE application at Northrop Grumman’s Cape, Utah plant. Hexcel Advanced Composites will be used to manufacture the first composite shell for the BOLE thruster, which will be used in the Space Launch System for the planned 2031 Artemis 9 mission.
Post time: Mar-07-2022
