The jettison motor, a crucial part of NASA’s Orion spacecraft’s Launch Abort System (LAS), was successfully cast for Artemis III and IV, marking a noteworthy accomplishment for L3Harris Technologies. One of the three solid rocket motors on the LAS that will contribute to the mission’s success and safety is the jettison motor.
NASA will create history by sending the first woman, person of colour, and international astronaut to set foot on the moon through the Artemis missions. After more than 50 years, Artemis III will bring humanity back to the lunar surface, and Artemis IV will be the first voyage to the Gateway space station in lunar orbit.
“The jettison motor is a rocket on top of a rocket, perched atop NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket.” Its task is to outrun the enormous SLS rocket on every mission, according to Kristin Houston, President of Aerojet Rocketdyne’s Space Propulsion and Power Systems, L3Harris. The Jettison motor is a precision-engineered device that accelerates astronauts to a safe altitude.
The Orange County location of L3Harris is one of several locations growing their facilities to boost solid rocket motor output. It has vast experience with solid rocket motor technology in both civil and defense applications. Workers at the Artemis III jettison motor case production facility in Huntsville, Alabama, made it. Prior to being delivered to Lockheed Martin for integration with NASA’s Orion spacecraft, the jettison motor is now undergoing additional processing and inspection.
