Page 9 - Aerotech News and Review 9-4-15
P. 9
NASA concludes series of engine tests for next-gen rocket
NASA has completed the first de- development of a new engine control- to test the SLS core stage. The B-2 Test of the deep space exploration program contractor for the RS-25 engine work.
velopmental test series on the RS-25 ler, or “brain,” to monitor engine status Stand at Stennis is being renovated to for this country, this is the front lines, “This was a great test series for
engines that will power the agency’s and communicate programmed perfor- conduct tests on the SLS flight core ZKHUHZHHQDEOHWKRVHPLVVLRQVWRÀ\´
new Space Launch System rocket on mance needs. VWDJHSULRUWRLWV¿UVWXQFUHZHGPLV- Stennis,” said Ronnie Rigney, RS-
missions deeper into space than ever sion. That testing will involve install- The developmental tests began with 25 project manager at Stennis. “Our
before. “These are extremely reliable en- LQJWKHÀLJKWVWDJHRQWKHVWDQGDQG¿U- D-DQKRW¿UHDQGUHVXPHGLQ0D\ teams built up a lot of history with
gines. We are testing them again be- ing its four RS-25 engines simultane- after scheduled work was completed space shuttle main engines and were
The test series wrapped up Thursday cause we want to ensure that the engine ously, just as during an actual launch. on the high-pressure industrial water able to use that expertise to meet very
ZLWKDVHYHQWKKRW¿UHWHVWRIDGHYHO- performs as required with a new engine system that provides the thousands FKDOOHQJLQJWHVWVSHFL¿FDWLRQVIRUWKH
opmental RS-25 engine on the A-1 Test controller, higher propellant inlet pres- “What a great time to be at Stennis,” of gallons of water needed during an RS-25. The testing done here will help
Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center sures and lower temperatures that are Center Director Rick Gilbrech said. engine test. Aerojet Rocketdyne of ensure the engines perform as needed
in Bay St. Louis, Miss.. The test ran for part of the SLS design. We also want to “When it comes to powering the future Sacramento, California, is the prime during actual SLS missions.”
a full-duration 535 seconds. mitigate any risks on the ground before
ÀLJKW´:RIIRUGVDLG NASA photograph
“The completion of this test series
is an important step in getting SLS Four RS-25 engines will help power The RS-25 engine fires up
ready for the journey to Mars,” said the SLS core stage during launch. Fir- for a 535-second test Aug.
Steve Wofford, engines manager at ing simultaneously at 109 percent of its 27, 2015 at NASA’s Stennis
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center operating level, the engines will pro- Space Center near Bay St.
in Huntsville, Ala., where the SLS Pro- vide approximately 2 million pounds /RXLV0LVV7KLVLVWKH¿QDOLQ
gram is managed for the agency. “The of thrust. The engines will operate in a series of seven tests for the
RS-25 engine gives SLS a proven, high FRQMXQFWLRQZLWKDSDLURI¿YHVHJPHQW development engine, which
performance, affordable main propul- solid rocket boosters for a total of 8.4 will provide NASA engineers
sion system. It is one of the most ex- million pounds of thrust to lift the ini- critical data on the engine
perienced large rocket engines in the tial 70-metric-ton (77-ton) SLS off the controller unit and inlet
world, with more than a million sec- launch pad. The SLS eventually will pressure conditions.
RQGVRIJURXQGWHVWDQGÀLJKWRSHUD- evolve to a 130-metric-ton (143-ton)
tions time.” FRQ¿JXUDWLRQWKDWZLOOHQDEOHPLVVLRQV
to such deep space destinations as an
The series was designed to collect asteroid and Mars.
valuable data on performance of the
RS-25 engine, a former space shuttle 7HVWLQJRI56ÀLJKWHQJLQHVIRU
main engine operating at higher thrust the initial SLS missions will begin at
levels in order to provide the power Stennis this fall. In addition to testing
needed for the SLS vehicle. Of par- 56ÀLJKWHQJLQHV6WHQQLVRSHUDWRUV
ticular interest is data that will aid in will employ their collective expertise
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