Researchers at NASA’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, recently completed a development test on a proposed design of acoustic panels for the Space Launch System’s (SLS) Universal Stage Adapter. Given the extreme sound produced by the world’s most powerful rocket, this test series, conducted at Plum Brook’s Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility, provided data for acoustic modeling that will be used to ensure future payloads aboard the second configuration of SLS, called Block 1B, are protected from the high levels of noise and vibration experienced during launch. The testing was supported by personnel from NASA’s Glenn Research Center; NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center; USA prime contractor, Dynetics; and acoustics subcontractor, Zin-Technologies. The Block 1B version of NASA’s Space Launch System is scheduled to launch Exploration Mission-3 in 2024, carrying both crew and cargo to the Moon.
Photo credit: NASA