New SLS Booster Design Faces Anomaly During Test

A new version of the solid rocket booster being developed for the Space Launch System experienced an anomaly during a test firing in Utah on June 26. Northrop Grumman conducted the first demonstration test of the Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) version of the five-segment solid rocket booster for the SLS at its Promontory, Utah, test site. The booster, fixed horizontally, fired for a little over two minutes, simulating an actual launch.

During the test, about 100 seconds in, exhaust and debris were observed coming out from the side of the nozzle. The motor continued to burn for the rest of the test. NASA and Northrop Grumman officials did not address the anomaly during the webcast.

Jim Kalberer, vice president of propulsion systems at Northrop Grumman, mentioned observing an anomaly near the end of the test but did not provide further details. The BOLE design aims to enhance SLS missions, starting with Artemis 9 in the 2030s, by increasing payload capacity by over 10%.

It remains uncertain if the BOLE design will be used, as NASA's budget proposal seeks to cancel the SLS after the Artemis 3 mission. This incident marks the second time in less than a year that a Northrop Grumman solid rocket booster experienced nozzle issues.