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Both halves of a frangible nut installed during an early launch of NASA’s Space Shuttle program, each measuring approximately 5.75˝ x 2.75˝ x 3.75˝, with a total weight of nearly 16 pounds, stamped with the part number: “Frangible Nut / 55340/10306-0001-801 / Mfg. Date: Mo: 08 Yr: 82 / Mfg: 19113/114850-9 / Lot-Ser. No.: AAA-00086.” The mating halves are additionally marked “6008W1” and “6008W2,” with the interior threading of one half bearing red inspection paint.
This particular frangible nut would have been installed as part of the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) Holddown Post Assembly on the Mobile Launch Platform, where it secured the boosters to the launch structure prior to liftoff. Frangible nuts were explosively actuated separation devices used throughout the Space Shuttle program in critical structural release points, including the SRB holddown system at launch, as well as in-flight events such as the jettison of the Solid Rocket Boosters approximately two minutes after launch and the separation of the External Tank before orbital insertion.
