|
Author
|
Topic: NASA's solid rocket booster recovery ships
|
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 08-14-2011 11:54 AM
   
Does anyone know which everyday in-service ship NASA's solid rocket booster recovery ships "Liberty Star" and "Freedom Star" most closely resemble? |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
|
posted 08-14-2011 12:29 PM
Believe that in their past lives they were Coast Guard cutters. |
PeterO
Member Posts: 399
From: North Carolina
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 08-14-2011 03:23 PM
The KSC Fact Sheet for the ships says that they were specifically designed and constructed as SRB recovery vessels, not modified from existing ships.The high bow and low working deck aft is similar to the design of ocean-going tugs, which is the role that they play. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 08-21-2012 01:02 PM
NASA release NASA, Maritime Administration announce new home For Liberty StarNASA and the Transportation Department's Maritime Administration (MARAD) signed a memorandum of understanding Aug. 21 to transfer NASA's solid rocket booster recovery ship, M/V Liberty Star, to the National Defense Reserve Fleet for use as a training vessel at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. "Liberty Star served NASA well during the Space Shuttle Program," said Robert Lightfoot, acting associate administrator for NASA. "We know it will greatly benefit the Kings Point midshipmen, and we're proud that Liberty Star will continue to serve the United States with distinction." With the end of the Space Shuttle Program, the two agencies worked together to ensure Liberty Star could continue service as a training vessel for midshipmen at the Merchant Marine Academy. This agreement is mutually beneficial for NASA and MARAD. This ship will serve as a training vessel at the academy, providing significant merchant marine training value to Kings Point midshipmen as the vessel has dynamic positioning, modern towing capabilities and other features that will expand training opportunities. NASA will continue to have access to Liberty Star if the agency requires its use and it is available. "This agreement is a win-win for both Kings Point and NASA," said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. "The ship's high tech equipment and real world capabilities closely mirror what graduates will see entering the maritime work force." Liberty Star was launched in 1981 and served as one of two recovery vessels for retrieving the space shuttle's solid rocket boosters, which were jettisoned about 2 minutes after launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA still is working to identify a suitable new use for M/V Freedom Star, the other recovery ship. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 08-21-2012 01:19 PM
So how would the five segment SRB be recovered for the new heavy launch vehicle. Would they enter back into service once the vehicle goes into test? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 08-21-2012 01:23 PM
NASA does not plan to recover the boosters launched as part of the Space Launch System. Like the RS-25 (SSME) engines, the boosters are becoming expendable components. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 08-21-2012 01:27 PM
Interesting, I did not understand that was the plan. What was the rational? Is there a site where I could read more about the SRBs role in the new initative? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 08-21-2012 01:59 PM
As of now, the use of the solid rocket boosters is only assured for the initial test flights. The purpose for using the shuttle legacy hardware (e.g. SRB canisters, SSMEs) for those tests is in large part driven by cost reduction concerns; recovery efforts add to cost. I do not believe NASA or its contractors have yet to assemble briefing materials that go into this level of detail; most is derived from press briefings and internal planning documents. (To keep this topic focused on the retiring recovery ships, I'm going to suggest that further questions about the SLS be posted to its dedicated discussion thread.) On edit: I'll note that the release does say that "NASA will continue to have access to Liberty Star if the agency requires its use and it is available." |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2475
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 08-21-2012 02:27 PM
Thanks Robert. It is great to see that these ships will be repurposed and that new seamen will be doing training on such a historic vessel.I would understand why they would remain in service as I am assuming there is very little time on these ships. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 08-21-2012 08:38 PM
collectSPACE NASA's space shuttle rocket recovery ship setting sail for Merchant MarinesA NASA sea ship that for 30 years retrieved space shuttle boosters after they splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean now has a new mission to serve the Merchant Marines.  Following up on the earlier conversation, I confirmed with NASA this afternoon that the Space Launch System will be using expendable boosters, both during its test and operational flight programs. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 08-22-2012 02:34 PM
Reports are that the ship will be renamed the Kings Pointer. A previous Kings Pointer was transferred from USMMA to Texas, which didn't have a ship to train midshipmen. |
advertisement