Made in Huntsville: Teledyne Brown hardware aboard Artemis I

HUNTSVILLE – As Artemis I vehicle lifted off this week, a crucial piece of hardware seven years in the making soared with it into the starlit sky.

Teledyne Brown Engineering designed and built the Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter (LVSA), one of the primary structures of the Artemis I vehicle. The LVSA is the conical shaped section of the rocket that connects the core stage to the second stage, known as the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS).

Much of the fabrication was done in conjunction with Marshall Space Flight Center at its Advanced Weld Facility where the friction stir welding was performed.

“Our team has worked for over seven years on this program, and we are elated to see those long hours and dedication for both Teledyne, NASA and all the supporting contractors finally culminate in a successful launch,” said Scott Hall, president of Teledyne Brown Engineering. “It takes tremendous effort and passion to achieve such a milestone, and this will be recorded in history as a major advancement in mankind’s goals to further space exploration.”

The LVSA provides structural support for launch, houses the separation system, and protects avionics and electrical devices in the ICPS from extreme vibration and acoustic conditions during launch and ascent.

Artemis I is one of three vehicles that will use the LVSA. Teledyne Brown Engineering is on contract to build the LVSA section on all three of the upcoming vehicles.