Page 1 - Aerotech News and Review 5-20-16

Air Force demonstrates key rocket engine
technologies for next generation launch systems

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Air Force photograph by Ron Fair
and contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne achieved a
major milestone under the Hydrocarbon Boost
program, which is advancing domestic rocket
engine technologies in support of next genera-
tion launch.

The Hydrocarbon Boost program completed
full power, full duration tests of the oxygen-
rich staged combustion sub-scale preburner.

Testing was conducted at the historic rocket
Test Stand 2A at Edwards Air Force Base, Ca-
lif.; the facility was first utilized to test the F-1
engine used to power Saturn V rockets in the
Apollo program to reach the moon.

The sub-scale preburner test campaign ac-
complished the first demonstrations of several
key rocket engine technologies, including the
first use of Mondaloy 200 superalloy in a rock-
et engine environment and the first operation
of a diluent type preburner. Demonstration of
Mondaloy 200, which was co-developed by
Aerojet Rocketdyne and the AFRL Materials
Directorate, was a critical step to proving the
unique combination of high-strength and burn
resistance necessary for hardware survival in
the harsh ORSC rocket environment.

“These tests are a significant milestone for
our program, but also just the beginning of
an effort to develop and transition the tools,
components and knowledge needed for our
customer and the U.S. rocket industry,” said
Dr. Shawn Phillips, chief of the AFRL Rocket
Propulsion Division.

The U.S. has a limited technology base in
the high-performance ORSC rocket engine
cycle. The United Launch Alliance Atlas V
launch vehicle is powered by Russian RD-
180 rocket engines, which were developed

See ROCKET, Page 3 The Hydrocarbon Boost sub-scale preburner firing at full-power at Test Stand 2A, Air Force Research Laboratory, Edwards AFB, April 21, 2016.

Lancaster High School students spend day with NASA
dents performed the role of the pilot child was contained in an 8-foot-by-
by Leslie Williams for the remotely piloted aircraft, named 8-foot grid where obstacles such as NASA photograph
NASA Armstrong FRC Ikhana. Piloted airplanes in the national trees and mountains were in the way
airspace intrude upon the unmanned of them locating the lost child using an Lancaster high school students participate in search and rescue simulation
Born after 1995 during the onset aircraft. In the simulation, they used unmanned aircraft. The simulation re- using an unmanned aircraft to locate a lost child.
of the Internet, Generation Z grew up displays for Detect and Avoid, DAA, quired students to act as pilot, air traffic
playing video games. Recently students and Traffic Advisory and Collision controller and flight planner.
from this generation participated in a Avoidance Systems, TCAS II, as part
simulation that could lead to the real- of a project to integrate Unmanned Air- The students ended the day with an
ity of unmanned aircraft flying in the craft System in the airspace. engineering challenge to design a wind-
National Airspace System, NAS, along powered system. Students determined
with piloted aircraft. “In addition to the hands-on UAS- the most efficient propulsion-driven
NAS simulator activity, the students aircraft design, such as the number of
NASA’s Armstrong’s Office of Edu- participated in an exercise where they propeller blades and wind effects.
cation and the AERO Institute in Palm- learned the importance of teamwork
dale hosted 22 Lancaster High School and communication to complete a LAMPE provides pathways for
ninth-grade students to participate in search-and-rescue mission for a lost students to use applied project-based
a workshop as part of the Lancaster child using Ikhana,” said Maria Cabal- learning activities and leading-edge
Academy of Multimedia Programming lero, NASA aerospace engineer. technology to engage them in science,
and Engineering, LAMPE, April 25. technology, engineering and math-
The search and rescue hunt for the ematics, or STEM, related activities.
Similar to playing a video game, stu-

May 20, 2016 • Volume 30, Issue 6 Serving the aerospace industry since 1986 Use your smartphone to connect to
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