Northrop Grumman wraps up BOLE motor segment for NASA’s SLS rocket booster

Northrop Grumman has completed the first Booster Obsolescence and Life Expansion (BOLE) motor segment for the next NASA‘s Space Launch System (SLS) solid rocket booster.

BOLE has nearly five metric tons of payload capacity for SLS Block 2 Moon and Mars missions on top of the SLS Block 1B configuration that will launch on Artemis IV.

The new solid rocket boosters will be equipped on Block 2 starting Artemis IX after all the recovered and refurbished shuttle-era steel cases have been expended.

Image Credit: Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman says its BOLE booster offers cutting-edge carbon fiber technology and a weight-efficient composite case. Along with all of the new stuff, the booster produces 11 percent more total impulse than the current five-segment solid rocket boosters.

Northrop confirmed that the first BOLE test will happen this year including a full-scale static fire with all five segments integrated and horizontally fired in a test bay.

(source – Northrop)