Ramp Assembly Instructions

Although the Ares I has a vertical Launch Pad, our ramp's 20 degree angle will better hold and display
your Ares I Can Model. Due to the amount of power tools needed be sure to ask for help. NASA puts
the safety of their employees first, because safety leads to better production and Mission success.
1. Go to a local hardware or building supply store and purchase:
(1) 8"x 6 5 ' ~ 3/4" MDF <Base>
(1) 3"x 66': 3/4" MDF <Rocket Ramp>
(1) 3-3/4"x 66': 3/4" MDF <Rocket Ramp>
(2) 3/4"x 30-3/4': 1/2" MDF <Filler Blocks>
(1) 5"x 23-5/8': 3/4" MDF <Brace>
(1) 3"x 5-1 /4': 3/4" MDF <Can Block>
(17) 1_1/4" or 1_1/2" Screws
Brad Nails (or Wood Glue)
1" Long Wooden Cylinder (Optional)
Medium Density Fiberboard
(MDF) may be substituted with
Plywood or any wood product
matching the dimensions.
2. Cut MDF to fit specifications in the Ramp Diagram. When using a power saw and working
with lumber, wear safety equipment such as safety glasses, gloves with grips, and closed toe
shoes (steel toe if possible).
3. Put two screws through the bottom of the base board at 1" from the end to stabilize
the Brace.
4. Put two screws through the bottom of the base board at 1" from the opposite end to stabilize
the Can Block.
5. Put the two MDF boards for the Rocket Ramp at a 90 degree angle (see fig.2 below) with
eight screws through the 3-3/4"x 66" MDF into the 3"x 66" MDF.
6. Secure the Rocket Ramp to the Base by screwing 3 screws through the can blocker into the
Rocket Ramp at the three points of the me "V" (see fig.3). Also put 2 screws through each
board of the Rocket Ramp into the Brace.
7. Place Fillers into the lower end (starting at the can block) of the Rocket ramp with brad nails
or wood glue (see fig.4).
8. <optional> Glue a 1" long wooden cylinder on top of the Rocket Ramp Fillers against the can
block (this gives room to glue the cotton to the cylinder).
o
Ramp Diagram
All parts except Filler Block
to be 3/4"MDF
Filler Block to be 1 /2" MDF
It is recommended that all
screws be pre drilled
should look like this.
, . I
'" Brace InstallatIOn I
" / I
,! '-.../ I
" I
Brace Installation
L"I
I I
, I
I
Rocket Ramp
Can Block
5.25"


National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
ARES I
CAN MODEL
A hands-on project to help learn about
and interact with NASAs Ares I Rocket.
VISIT US ON THE WEB
Be sure to ask for parental assistance before get-
ting online at <www.nasa.gov/ares>. Click the
Ares Education link, on the left of the screen for
additional information:
PrintaFull-PageColorPosterandPaperFunnel
Template.
ViewDetailedRampAssemblyInstructions.
Sendusane-mailwithcommentsandpictures
ofyourAresICanModelbyclickingonAres
EducationProgramunderContactsontheright
of the screen.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, AL 35812
www.nasa.gov/marshall
www.nasa.gov
NP-2009-06-118-MSFC
8-426227
OVERVIEW
NASAplanstotakehumansbacktotheMoon,and
theAresICrewLaunchVehicle(CLV)willhelpthem
getthere.TeAresIrocketismadeofseveralparts:
1.OrionCrewExplorationVehicle(CEV)
2.InstrumentUnit(IU)*
3.CoreStage(CS)*
4.UpperStageEngine(USE)locatedwithinthe
Interstage(IS)*
5.Frustum
6.FirstStage(FS),and
7.AftSkirt.(Unfoldtoseepicturebelow.)
BecomeaNASAteammemberandbuildanAresI
CanModelbyfollowingtherecipe.
* Parts of the Upper Stage (US)
TeAresICanModel,originallydesignedfor
blind students, serves as part of an interactive tour
fortheInstrumentUnitPerformanceAnalysisand
DesignDemonstrator(PADD).TeHumanFactors
EngineeringTeamattheMarshallSpaceFlightCenter
inHuntsville,ALdevelopeditfortheTennessee
SchoolfortheBlind(TSB)inNashville,TN.
GETTING STARTED
TomakeanAresICanModel,beginbycollecting
the following ingredients:
Two,12-oz.GreenPickledJalapenoPeppers
One,15-oz.SpaghettiwithMeatballs
Two,25-oz.TomatoSoup
One,6-oz.ChunkLightTuna
Nine,6-oz.TomatoPaste
ClearDuctTape
TwoPlasticFunnels
(Tefunneltemplateforcardboard/paper/tinfoil
materialsislocatedontheAresEducationWebsite.)
Cotton(Optional)
RECIPE
1. Tape a funnel to the top of an upside down can
ofpeppers(Tepepperssymbolizethepropulsion
enginehotzoneoftheOrionCrewExploration
Vehicle.)TeOrionholdsfourastronauts.
2.TetunacanrepresentstheAresIInstrumentUnit
thatcontainsthebrainsoftherocketsuchas
thefightcomputer.FUNFACTS:Atunacan=
1-inhigh;57tunacans=86-inhigh,the
heightoftheInstrumentUnit;2,600tunacans=
325-fthigh,theheightoftheAresIVehicle.
3.Stackandtapethetwotomatosoupcanstosym-
bolizetheliquidrocketfuel(liquidhydrogenand
liquidoxygen)oftheUpperStage.
4.AgaintheAresIUpperStageEnginelocated
withintheInterstageisrepresentedasthesecond
can of peppers.
5. Ten tape the spaghetti with meatballs on top
ofonetomatopastecanfortheFrustumsection
betweentheFirstandUpperStages.
6.TomaketheFirstStageofthesolidrocketfuel,
tape two tomato paste cans on top of each other;
do this four times as seen in the picture above.
7.Finally,makeaslitdownthesideofthelarger
funnel, and cut of its top to become the rockets
AftSkirt.(Forsafetyoreasierassemblysubstitute
cardboard,paper,ortinfoil.)Tapethefunnel
around the bottom of the tomato paste can. Te
cotton can be placed under this section to show
thefuelsbyproduct,whichisreleasedupontake-
of.NowcontinuetoassembletheAresIrocket
justlikeaNASAengineer.
DISPLAY RAMP
TeHumanFactorsEngineeringTeambuiltaramp
toproudlydisplaytheAresICanModel.Itisa
V-shapedrampmadeofmedium-densityfberboard
(plywood)atatwenty-degreeslope.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
The recipe shows how to make these can groups.
Placing First Stage on cotton.
Ares I Expanded View
1 2 3 4 5 6 7































Ares I Can Model
1 tuna can = 1.5 height, 3.375 diameter
57 1/3 tuna cans = 86 = height of Instrument Unit
2600 tuna cans = 325 = height of Ares I vehicle
Funnel Crew Return Capsule
Upside-down peppers Hot zone,
Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) engine
Tuna can Instrument Unit (IU)
Tomato soup Upper Stage liquid fuel tanks:
Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) and Liquid Oxygen (LO2)
Peppers Hot zone, Upper Stage Engine
Spaghetti w/meatballs Frustum
Tomato paste First Stage (FS) engine nozzle,
five segments of solid rocket propellant, FS
Instrument Unit and Parachute Compartment
Funnel FS Aft Skirt
Marshall Space Flight Center Human Engineering Analysis Team