NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) relies on two massive fuel tanks that must endure extreme forces during launch and flight. Merrick helped design and deliver the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tank test stands that allow engineers to apply real-world loads to evaluate tank performance ahead of SLS missions.

The liquid hydrogen stand is 212 feet and features a twin tower design that provides access platforms on either side of the tank. The liquid oxygen stand sits on an 80-by-80-foot concrete base with an L-shaped platform system. Both structures were created to handle hundreds of thousands of pounds of force in multiple directions, replicating the pressures and bending loads the tanks may see during launch and flight.

Because future missions may require new tank configurations and testing of other components, both test stands were created with long-term use in mind. Modular platforms, reconfigurable attachment points and durable structural systems make the stands suitable for upcoming SLS evolutions. These structures provide NASA with a reliable place to test mission-critical hardware well before it reaches the launchpad and support safer flights.