• TOPICS
    • Design
    • Manufacturing
    • Inspection
    • Heat Treating
    • Lubrication
    • Materials
    • The Gear Industry
    • Gears by Type
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Departments
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Subscribe
  • VIDEO
    • Gear Technology TV
      • Ask the Expert Live
      • Revolutions
    • Industry Videos
  • BLOGS
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • NEWS and EVENTS
    • Product News
    • Industry News
    • Events
  • ADVERTISING
    • Brand Awareness
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Native Advertising (Sponsored Content)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
    • Response & Lead Generation
      • Online: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Newsletters
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • Online: Buyers Guide
    • Print Advertising
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Print: IMTS Showstoppers
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Manufacturing sMart
      • Print: Specifications
    • Online Advertising
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Native Advertising (Sponsored Content)
      • Online: Buyers Guide
      • Online: Specifications
    • E-mail Advertising
      • E-mail: E-Newsletters
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Specifications
    • Special Promotions
      • Print: IMTS Showstoppers
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Manufacturing sMart
  • CONTACT US
  • AGMA
    • Membership
    • Events
    • Education
    • Emerging Technology
    • AGMA Media
    • Standards
Subscribe
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Home » Solar Atmospheres Launch Abort System Aids 'Orion' Launch

Solar Atmospheres Launch Abort System Aids 'Orion' Launch

January 9, 2015

On Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, NASA’s new spacecraft Orion launched successfully from Cape Canaveral and completed its first test flight. New to all future “human present” rockets will be the Launch Abort System (LAS). This part of the safety system was vacuum heat treated by Solar Atmospheres. 

The large manifold housing made from 6AI 4V titanium is designed to rapidly propel astronauts away from the main rocket in case of a catastrophic explosion or any other unexpected event. Once fired, the LAS will accelerate the astronauts away from the main rocket at forces up to 10 to 15 g’s.

“The welded component needed to be homogenously treated to insure peak performance in the event the LAS would be needed," said Michael Johnson, sales manager of Solar Atmospheres. "Precise temperature monitoring of the part and uniformity of the furnace was the easy part, while minimizing distortion, and avoiding eutectic’s with the fixturing materials used, were ultimately the real challenge. At the end of the day, both Solar and its customer had a process that proved to be successful on the prototype and the three additional manifolds that followed.”  

Heat Treating Industry News
  • Related Articles

    Solar Atmospheres of California Commissions Solar + Energy Storage System

    Solar Atmospheres and Solar Manufacturing Approach Finish Line for World's Largest Vacuum Furnace

    Solar Atmospheres and Solar Manufacturing Release Reference Manual

Free Gear Technology Subscriptions
Subscribe
Free Gear Technology Subscriptions
Subscribe
FEATURED VIDEO
  • Liebherr pallet
    Liebherr Palletizing Cell
June 23, 2022
RECOMMENDED
  • Grinding Slow, Grinding Fine

    June 27, 2022
    grinding-large-gear.jpg
  • Nondestructive evaluation of stresses and stress-related defects in gears

    June 27, 2022
    nondestructive-testing.jpg
  • Technology Advancements in EV Inspection

    June 27, 2022
    edrive-inspection.jpg
  • IMTS 2022 Booth Previews

    July 14, 2022
    imtsmap.jpg
  • Preview of 3D Printing at IMTS 2022

    July 14, 2022
    3d-printed-gear.jpg
  • IMTS 2022 Booth Previews

    July 14, 2022
    imtsmap.jpg
  • Preview of 3D Printing at IMTS 2022

    July 14, 2022
    3d-printed-gear.jpg
  • Grinding Slow, Grinding Fine

    June 27, 2022
    grinding-large-gear.jpg
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • AGMA
Powered byAGMA
Copyright © 2022 Gear Technology
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact