Northrop Grumman Corporation has successfully completed the development of the initial motor segment under the Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) program for the upcoming generation of the Space Launch System (SLS) solid rocket booster. This initiative enhances the payload capacity by nearly five metric tons for the SLS Block 2 missions aimed at Moon and Mars exploration, going beyond the upgrades being made for the SLS Block 1B variant that is expected to launch with Artemis IV. These newly developed solid rocket boosters are slated for deployment with Block 2 starting from the Artemis IX mission, after the last of the renovated shuttle-era steel casings are utilized.
Rooted in the legacy of the most robust and largest solid rocket boosters previously launched, the BOLE booster by Northrop Grumman integrates revolutionary carbon fiber technology and a composite casing that helps reduce weight. This innovation, along with other improvements, contributes to an 11% increase in total impulse over the existing five-segment solid rocket boosters. The inaugural demonstration test of the BOLE is planned for this year, which will showcase a comprehensive static firing test of the booster with all five segments assembled and tested horizontally in a dedicated testing facility.
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