Orion Abort Test Booster

The Orion Abort Test Booster (ATB) is a small solid rocket launcher which will be developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation under contract by U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Space Development and Test Directorate (SDTD).^[1]^[2]

Its goal will be to demonstrate and qualify the Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) that will allow the astronaut crew to safely escape in the event of an emergency during launch pad operations and through the ascent of the Orion vehicle.

While the first test was at one point planned for 2015, in early 2013 a decision was made to postpone abort testing until after the 2017 uncrewed maiden flight of the SLS vehicle.^[3]

The ATB can be considered as the successor to Little Joe II. It is to be based on a converted Peacekeeper missile stage.

References

Orion program

General	Orion (spacecraft) Orion Service Module Space Launch System Crew Exploration Vehicle Orion abort modes Orion lite

Missions	Exploration Flight Test 1 Exploration Mission 1 Exploration Mission 2

Italics indicate future missions

Constellation program

Launch tests	Ares I-X Pad Abort 1

Later missions	List of Constellation missions Orion Asteroid Mission Orion Mars Mission

Components	Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle Ares I Ares V Earth Departure Stage Altair J-2X RS-68 Shuttle-Derived Launch Vehicle Shuttle-Derived Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle Jupiter (rocket family)

Launch sites	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39

Abort	Orion abort modes Orion Abort Test Booster Launch Abort System (LAS) Max Launch Abort System (MLAS)

Related topics	Vision for Space Exploration Exploration Systems Architecture Study DIRECT Constellation Space Suit Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (AT-LAST) NASA Authorization Act of 2005 Augustine Commission

List of missions

Orion Abort Test Booster

See also

References