Max Launch Abort System

<h2 id="july-2009-test-launch">July 2009 test launch</h2>
A "pad abort" flight test of the Max Launch Abort System was performed at <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a>'s <a href="/facts/Wallops_Flight_Facility/F6QvD712">Wallops Flight Facility</a> on July 8, 2009, at 10:26 <a href="/facts/UTC/2EnjfSyu">UTC</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> A primary test goal was the successful separation of a mock crew capsule from the abort system.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a> The test vehicle weighed over 45,000 pounds (20,000 kg) and was over 33 feet (10 m) tall.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a>
The test vehicle had several differences from the actual proposed system. The main difference was that the four propulsion rockets were not located in the forward fairing, but in a boost skirt located at the bottom of the test vehicle.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a> The rockets in the fairing were represented by geometric dummies.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a> The propulsion thrust was not balanced between the rockets by a manifold system, contrary to what was foreseen with the actual system.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a>

This article incorporates <a href="https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/policies.html#Guidelines">public domain material</a> from websites or documents of the <a href="/facts/National_Aeronautics_and_Space_Administration/TIMCV0yV">National Aeronautics and Space Administration</a>.

<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li>Bergin, Chris (December 6, 2007). <a href="https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/12/mlas-the-alternative-orion-launch-abort-system-gains-momentum/">"MLAS – the alternative Orion Launch Abort System gains momentum"</a>. NASA Spaceflight.</li>
<li>Hautaluoma, Grey; Edwards, Ashley; Henry, Keith; Powell, Rebecca (June 18, 2009). <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jun/HQ_M09-110_MLAS_June_22.html">"NASA Reschedules Test of Max Launch Abort System to June 22"</a>. NASA. NASA Release M09-110.</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
 Media related to Max Launch Abort System at Wikimedia Commons

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">"NASA's Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) Overview". NASA. Retrieved August 15, 2024. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/features/MLAS_overview.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/features/MLAS_overview.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">"NASA Considering Alternate Launch Abort System for Orion". NASASpaceFlight.com. December 6, 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2024. <a href="https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/12/nasa-considering-alternate-launch-abort-system-for-orion/" target="_blank">https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/12/nasa-considering-alternate-launch-abort-system-for-orion/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">"NASA's Constellation Program: Max Launch Abort System". NASA. Retrieved August 15, 2024. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/index.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">"Max Q: The Ultimate Challenge of Space Flight". NASA. October 29, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2024. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/max-q-the-ultimate-challenge-of-space-flight" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/feature/max-q-the-ultimate-challenge-of-space-flight</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">"NASA's Wallops Flight Facility and the MLAS". NASA/Wallops Flight Facility. July 1, 2009. Retrieved August 15, 2024. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/feature10.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/feature10.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Isakowitz, Steven J. (2010). International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems. AIAA. pp. 357–359. ISBN 978-1-60086-784-2. <a href="978-1-60086-784-2" target="_blank">978-1-60086-784-2</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Wood, Eric M. (2010). "Reliability Considerations of Multiple Solid Rocket Motors in Launch Abort Systems". Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. 47 (2): 317–321. doi:10.2514/1.47414 (inactive 1 November 2024).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link) <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Connors, Mary M. (2008). Launch Escape Systems and Emergency Recovery: Historical Overview and Future Prospects. NASA. pp. 112–115. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Shayler, David (2001). Gemini: Steps to the Moon. Springer-Praxis. pp. 192–194. ISBN 978-1-85233-405-5. <a href="978-1-85233-405-5" target="_blank">978-1-85233-405-5</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Garcia, Mark (15 January 2015). "NASA's Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV)". NASA. Retrieved August 15, 2024. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/index.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Hautaluoma, Grey; Edwards, Ashley; Henry, Keith; Powell, Rebecca (July 8, 2009). "NASA Tests Alternate Launch Abort System For Astronaut Escape". NASA. NASA Release 09-156. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ09_156_MLAS_launch_successful.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ09_156_MLAS_launch_successful.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">"Max Launch Abort System (MLAS)". NASA. July 8, 2009. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/multimedia/galleries/mlas-13.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/multimedia/galleries/mlas-13.html</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Hautaluoma, Grey; Edwards, Ashley; Henry, Keith; Powell, Rebecca (July 8, 2009). "NASA Tests Alternate Launch Abort System For Astronaut Escape". NASA. NASA Release 09-156. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ09_156_MLAS_launch_successful.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ09_156_MLAS_launch_successful.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">"MLAS". NASA/Wallops Flight Facility. Retrieved July 11, 2009. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/mlas.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/mlas.html</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Hautaluoma, Grey; Edwards, Ashley; Henry, Keith; Powell, Rebecca (July 8, 2009). "NASA Tests Alternate Launch Abort System For Astronaut Escape". NASA. NASA Release 09-156. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ09_156_MLAS_launch_successful.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ09_156_MLAS_launch_successful.html</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">Hautaluoma, Grey; Edwards, Ashley; Henry, Keith; Powell, Rebecca (July 8, 2009). "NASA Tests Alternate Launch Abort System For Astronaut Escape". NASA. NASA Release 09-156. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ09_156_MLAS_launch_successful.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jul/HQ09_156_MLAS_launch_successful.html</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">"MLAS". NASA/Wallops Flight Facility. Retrieved July 11, 2009. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/mlas.html" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/mlas.html</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Max Launch Abort System open-in-new

Max Launch Abort System