Tag: #NASA

Apollo 11 Adapter, Screwdriver, Tool Set, Command Module

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

“The Eagle has landed.”

The primary objective of Apollo 11 mission was to complete a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy
on May 25, 1961: perform a crewed lunar landing and return to Earth.

Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969, carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, Command
Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin into an initial Earth-orbit of 183 by
187 kilometers (114 by 116 miles). An estimated 650 million people watched Armstrong’s televised image
and heard his voice describe the event as he took “…one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” on
July 20, 1969.

Among the tools that accompanied the astronauts on their epic voyage was the “Adapter, Screwdriver, Tool
Set, Command Module, Apollo 11.” This multipurpose kit, which included a 1/4-inch flat screwdriver labeled
“Tool 2,” was designed to torque slotted screws and bolts within the spacecraft. This tool set, now housed in
the Smithsonian, represents the meticulous attention to detail that characterized every aspect of the Apollo
program.

The workforce behind Apollo 11 extended far beyond NASA’s own ranks. 400,000 people workforce, among
them aerospace engineers, seamstresses meticulously crafting multi-layer space suits, technicians
tightening bolts at launch complex 39A, mathematicians checking and double-checking complex equations,
and parachute packers ensuring the astronauts’ safe return — all played indispensable roles in the mission’s
triumph.

As Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the lunar surface in the Eagle lander, leaving Collins to orbit alone in
the command module Columbia, they carried with them the hopes, dreams, and tireless efforts of this vast
army of supporters. Each bolt tightened, each stitch sewn, and each calculation performed had brought
them closer to this monumental moment in human history.

At Tsamouris, we dig into the history of the smallest components in achieving great feats. Just as the Apollo
tool set played a vital role in the success of the lunar landing, our fasteners and tools are designed to support
our clients in their own groundbreaking endeavors. We draw inspiration from the dedication and precision
demonstrated by the 400,000 individuals who made the impossible possible sixty years ago.

Faulty Bolt Caused SpaceX Falcon 9 Explosion

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

A NASA investigation into the June 2015 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket failure has concluded that a single bolt,
rather than a manufacturing defect, was behind the catastrophic event.

The unmanned mission, known as CRS-7, was supposed to deliver a Dragon cargo spacecraft to the
International Space Station when disaster struck just 139 seconds after liftoff. The rocket’s second stage
liquid oxygen tank suffered an “anomalous event,” causing the vehicle to disintegrate in the blink of an eye.

While SpaceX’s own investigation pointed to a faulty rod end bolt that broke due to a material defect, freeing
a helium-filled composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) to wreak havoc, NASA’s independent review
team found the evidence less conclusive. They suggested that manufacturing damage, improper installation,
or other equally plausible scenarios could have led to the bolt’s failure.

However, the NASA probe went a step further, identifying a critical design flaw: the use of industrial grade
instead of aerospace grade stainless steel for the rod end. This material choice, which lacked proper
modeling and testing for the application, fell short of the manufacturer’s recommended 4:1 safety factor.

The report also highlighted other issues, such as the potential for increased latency in the rocket’s telemetry
system and the risks associated with using commercial parts in flight-critical applications. NASA urged
SpaceX to pay closer attention to manufacturers’ recommendations when sourcing components for their
vehicles.

In response, SpaceX maintained that all credible causes, including those identified by NASA, were
addressed before the Falcon 9’s return to flight.

As a the Fasteners Specialists©, Tsamouris is committed to quality and adherence to the highest standards
to help prevent bolt oversights that could lead to catastrophic failures.

1,000 Screws — How China Built Its Space Station

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Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

In the summer of 2021, China’s ambitious Tiangong space station project was well underway, with the core
module, Tianhe, already in orbit and astronauts busy configuring the station for future crews. The project,
which had been in planning since the late 1990s, is a testament to China’s growing space capabilities and its
commitment to long-term human presence in Earth’s orbit.

The construction of the Tiangong space station was a complex undertaking, requiring precision — the
astronauts had over 1,000 screws to remove in the core module alone, highlighting the complexity of the
assembly process.

Tianhe, which weighs 22.5 tons, was launched on a Long March-5B rocket and served as the foundation for
the station. It contained all the necessary life support systems, living quarters, and docking ports for future
modules and spacecraft.

The Tiangong space station is just one of many notable achievements by the Chinese space program in
recent years, including successful lunar sample-return and Mars rover missions. With the operation of the
Mengtian and Wentian laboratory modules, the station serves as a crucial platform for scientific research
and a stepping stone for China’s future lunar and Martian exploration efforts.

At Tsamouris, we understand the critical role that precision fasteners play in pushing the boundaries of
human exploration and scientific discovery.