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Los Alamos National Lab technology used in NASA launch

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  Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, September 25th 2025 at 0:03 GMT by KOB 4
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Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Hidden Role in a Recent NASA Launch

When the Space Launch System (SLS) carried the Orion capsule toward the Moon last month, many people celebrated the return of crewed lunar exploration. But beyond the rockets, engines, and astronaut suits, a quieter piece of history quietly played a pivotal role: a suite of guidance and navigation technologies developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The story of how a laboratory famed for the first atomic bomb helped steer a modern spacecraft is one of decades‑long collaboration, cutting‑edge engineering, and the enduring legacy of a national laboratory that has long been the “lab of the United States”.

From Apollo to Artemis: A Continuum of Guidance Technology

The article opens by reminding readers that Los Alamos was a key partner in the Apollo program. In the 1960s, LANW’s engineers helped design the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC), a marvel of early digital computing that guided the lunar lander. That legacy lives on in the technology powering today’s Artemis missions. According to the article, the guidance computer in Orion’s flight computer is a direct descendant of the AGC, updated with modern processors, but still built on the same architecture and design philosophies that Los Alamos pioneered.

NASA’s mission architect, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, explained that the guidance system must deliver “millimeter‑level accuracy” when the spacecraft is on its final descent. The “inertial measurement unit” (IMU) – essentially a gyroscope and accelerometer package – is manufactured by a contractor that incorporates a Los Alamos‑designed firmware stack. The firmware, developed in the 1980s for ballistic missile guidance, has been refined for decades and is now embedded in Orion’s avionics.

Advanced Software and High‑Performance Computing

Another key contribution, as the article details, is the high‑performance computing (HPC) cluster at Los Alamos. While the launch itself uses a relatively small on‑board computer, the trajectory calculations, trajectory optimization, and safety analysis are performed on LANL’s supercomputers during the mission’s planning phase. The cluster can process millions of trajectory scenarios in a matter of hours, allowing mission planners to choose the safest and most efficient path for the spacecraft.

The article quotes a LANL computational scientist who explained that the HPC cluster uses a novel “adaptive mesh refinement” algorithm that significantly reduces computational overhead while maintaining accuracy. The algorithm was originally used for simulating nuclear explosions, but it was repurposed for space trajectory calculations during the Artemis program’s development. In a nod to the laboratory’s interdisciplinary approach, the article mentions that the same algorithm also helps model the interaction between the SLS’s upper stage plumes and the surrounding atmosphere.

Radiation‑Hardening and Reliability Engineering

One of the most critical aspects of any space mission is ensuring that electronics can survive the harsh radiation environment of space. LANL’s materials scientists have worked for years on developing radiation‑hard semiconductors, and their work underpins the reliability of Orion’s flight computer. The article highlights that the guidance firmware is tested on a radiation‑tolerant silicon platform that LANL’s engineers had originally developed for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

The article links to a LANL technical paper that explains how the radiation‑hardening process involves multiple layers of shielding, error‑correcting codes, and redundant logic paths. These measures ensure that even if one part of the guidance computer fails, the system can recover or switch to a backup mode, a critical feature for crew safety.

Collaboration with Industry and Universities

While LANL’s contributions are substantial, the article emphasizes that the Artemis program is a partnership between NASA, national laboratories, and private industry. Los Alamos worked closely with companies such as Northrop Grumman and the contractor that builds Orion’s flight computer. The article provides a link to a NASA press release that lists all the partners and acknowledges LANW’s role in the mission’s success.

The article also points to a recent academic collaboration between LANL and the University of New Mexico, where students are developing new guidance algorithms that could further reduce computational load. That research, while still in early stages, promises to push the boundaries of what is possible in future deep‑space missions.

A Legacy of Innovation

In its closing paragraphs, the article reflects on Los Alamos’s broader impact on space exploration. From the first atomic bombs to the guidance systems that will take astronauts to the Moon again, LANL has continually pushed the frontiers of science and engineering. The article quotes a LANL historian who said, “The laboratory’s culture of open inquiry and interdisciplinary collaboration is exactly what the modern space age needs.”

Readers are encouraged to explore the linked NASA and LANL web pages for more technical details, including downloadable schematics of the guidance computer, the HPC cluster architecture, and the radiation‑hardening processes. Those interested in the history of space technology will also find a link to a Smithsonian exhibition on the Apollo Guidance Computer, which provides deeper context on the evolution of navigation systems from the 1960s to the present.

TL;DR: The recent NASA launch of the Orion capsule on the SLS was guided by a computer system that traces its roots back to Los Alamos National Laboratory’s work on the Apollo Guidance Computer. Modern adaptations of that technology – including high‑performance computing, radiation‑hardening, and advanced software – have been integrated into the guidance suite. LANL’s contributions, highlighted by NASA’s mission planners and detailed in linked technical papers, underscore the laboratory’s ongoing legacy in enabling safe, precise spaceflight.