Cryogenic upper stage test bed engine

You are here: Homepage > Search

Cryogenic upper stage test bed engine

Pauckert, R. / Zachary, A. / DeGaetano, E. / Sutton, R.

Advanced liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen pumped engines using the expander power cycle are planned for the orbit transfer vehicle. To reduce the cost and schedule of the final engine development program, NASA is funding critical component technology programs. Rocketdyne under a company-funded program has designed and fabricated an integrated component evaluator (ICE). This test bed includes all major components (injector, igniter, regeneratively cooled combustor and nozzle, liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen high pressure turbopumps) arranged in a near-flight configuration. The ducts and components are connected with bolted flanges to facilitate modifications. The ICE has been fabricated and installed on the test facility. The system and components have been modeled analytically to establish start and shutdown sequencing and steady-state control parameters. Igniter tests were completed, turbopump tests are in progress, and subsequent engine tests are planned to establish technologies for the advanced OTV engine.