Tue, May 25, 2010
Aerojet Further Validates Engine Design For NASA's Orion Crew
Exploration Vehicle
A second set of hot-fire test sequences of a 25-pound thrust,
bipropellant engine intended for use on NASA's Orion Crew
Exploration Vehicle was successfully completed last week, according
to the engine's manufacturer Aerojet. This second test of the R-1E
engine included more than 17,250 seconds of total burn time,
demonstrating engine flexibility to operate under a broad variety
of conditions expected for NASA's Orion service module. Initial
test results indicate the engine performed successfully in
simulated space-flight mission scenarios.
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for developing
the Orion crew exploration vehicle as the nation's next generation
spacecraft for future exploration throughout our solar system.
Aerojet is providing all of the engines for the Orion spacecraft,
which is comprised of a crew module for crew and cargo transport
and a service module for propulsion, electrical power and fluids
storage. Risk reduction testing of critical subsystems has been
ongoing throughout Orion's development phase to maximize mission
success and crew safety.
This early demonstration of the engine's performance at expected
Orion operating conditions was conducted to retire risk to the
Orion vehicle including sustained operation at severe Orion
conditions. "These tests of flight-like hardware show our readiness
to support the early flight objectives for a possible orbital
demonstration flight as early as 2013," said Scott Jennings,
Aerojet's program manager.
Orion Artist's Concept
The R-1E currently provides in-space propulsion for the space
shuttle and has a long history of successfully enabling space
shuttle maneuvers. The R-1E also provides precise in-space
propulsion for the Japanese H-II transfer vehicle (HTV), which
rendezvoused and docked with the International Space Station last
year. Orion's engine complement includes 16 25-pound thrust
engines, eight 100-pound thrust bipropellant engines and a single
7,500-pound force Orion Main Engine. Additionally, Aerojet will
supply 12 160-pound force monopropellant engines for the Orion Crew
Module.
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