Aerospace Design Build Heavy Civil Machining

Exploration Upper Stage Umbilical (EUSU)

YEAR

2023

LOCATION

Kennedy Space Center, FL

The Project

Exploration Upper Stage Umbilical (EUSU) – JP Donovan was contracted to build, test, and install the EUSU for NASA’s ML-2. This umbilical will provide ground-side support for the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS), which is the main source of propulsion for the Orion Crew Module during its interplanetary transport to the moon and beyond. The EUS will fly on Block 1B of NASA’s SLS Rocket.

This unique umbilical is the first two-armed umbilical designed by NASA. Its purpose is to provide the cryogenic fuel, pneumatics, electronics, and Environmental Control Systems (ECS) to the EUS while on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). There are two active hinges and one passive hinge that provide the umbilical the ability to extend and retract, while two compliance mechanisms allow harmless interface with the EUS and the SLS vehicle

In-house services

The JP Donovan team is responsible for the build and test of the entire EUSU structure and the respective subsystems within it. Our in-house procurement, production, fabrication, and machining teams allow for efficient integration of all project subsystems, and our 20,000 sqft fabrication facility provides space for organized workstations to optimize the workflow for each task. Our highly trained fabrication team along with our AS9100 certified precision machine shop provides the ability to maintain the extreme geometric dimensioning and tolerancing requirements of critical Ground Support Equipment (GSE) projects like the EUSU. The combined capability of the JPD in-house resources minimizes lag-time, enhances quality, and allows for proper alignment of JPD processes with customer expectation.

Following fabrication, assembly, and testing at the JPD facility, the EUSU will be delivered and installed at KSC in preparation for its next round of tests to validate the system for T-0.

Following fabrication, assembly, and testing at the JPD facility, the EUSU will be delivered and installed at KSC in preparation for its next round of tests to validate the system for T-0.