NASA Stirs Up the First Development Dome Welds for Ares I Upper Stage

Using a metal joining technique called friction stir welding, the Ares Projects team at the Marshall Center has completed welding the first liquid hydrogen tank dome being developed to define manufacturing processes for the upper stage of the Ares I -- the rocket that will launch explorers to the moon, Mars and beyond in coming decades. The innovative welding process produces high-strength welds