NASA personnel at Marshall Space Flight Center are preparing for a big lift in support of the Artemis Program.

In the coming months, NASA intends to use four strand jacks in unison to lower the test stand’s crosshead, which weighs 1.25 million pounds, or 625 tons, onto Test Stand 4693 with the Exploration Upper Stage test article underneath. 

When asked about his new Safety and Mission Assurance (SMA) role, Clifton Arnold joked that it came with many hats — in fact, more hats that he ever expected.

“The position expanded,” explained Arnold. “Pressure Systems included ground and flight pressure systems. With that, Lifting Devices was added, and then we included a special category called Propellants and Pressurants that deals with all propellants and inert gases.

“Lifting Devices and Equipment (LDE) for Managers and Program Personnel," recently made available on the SATERN site, will help managers and program personnel understand the hazards, process and requirements associated with use of LDE.  

Updates to NASA-STD-8719.9, Lifting Standard reduce redundancy and clarify Lifting Devices and Equipment processes.

The revised NASA-STD-8719.9, Lifting Standard — formerly Standard for Lifting Devices and Equipment — is currently in review. The new version has been updated and streamlined for clarity and ease of use.

Expert Roland Verreet's detailed presentation showed participants what to look for and where to look in order to avoid wire rope failures.

The Lifting Device and Equipment Committee (LDE) met in February to work on streamlining the next revision of the NASA Standard for LDE.