Aug 18, 2008

Grey Hautaluoma/Stephanie Schierholz Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0668/4997 grey hautaluoma-1@nasa gov stephanie schierholz@nasa gov

June Malone Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala 256-544-0034 june e malone@nasa gov

RELEASE: 08-208

NASA ENGINEERS COMPLETE ENGINE TEST SERIES FOR ARES I ROCKET

HUNTSVILLE, Ala -- Engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala , have completed a series of tests on a key component of the J-2X engine The J-2X powers the upper stage of the Ares I rocket, which will launch human explorers to the International Space Station and to the moon

The test on Aug 15 was the last of 20 in this series, concluding the second of four planned sets of tests on the J-2X's workhorse gas generator, the driver for the turbopumps which start the engine

The gas generator test program is designed to demonstrate the component's performance, durability and combustion environment, and to reduce risk in the design, fabrication and operation of flight hardware The third phase of testing will begin in July 2009 The J-2X's workhorse gas generator is fabricated by Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne of Canoga Park, Calif

The primary objectives achieved in this series of tests were to regulate ignition timing and address stability issues in the gas chamber During engine start, a pressurized helium system begins to turn the turbopumps, which draw liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants into the system The propellants flow into the generator's combustion chamber, where they are sparked into life by pyrotechnic igniters installed in the side of the main combustion chamber

Once combustion is initiated, hot gases flow into the turbine The combustion gas provided by the generator drives the turbomachinery, which delivers high pressure propellants to the main injector during the J-2X burn This testing allows engineers to address stability issues that can arise during operation of the combustion chamber and will allow engineers to develop a clean design for the J-2X engine

Beginning in 2015, the Ares I rocket will carry the Orion crew capsule and as many as six astronauts and small payloads to the International Space Station During the first two-and-a-half minutes of flight, the first stage booster will power the vehicle to an altitude of about 189,000 feet, or 36 miles, at a speed of Mach 4 8 After its propellant is spent, the reusable booster will separate, and the upper stage's J-2X engine will ignite -- powering the Orion to low Earth orbit at an altitude of about 425,328 feet, or roughly 80 miles

The workhorse gas generator test series is an essential step in development of the J-2X engine More than 50 tests have been performed on the generator to date This generator was manufactured to be more durable than the generators that will be used in the J-2X engine, allowing it to withstand numerous tests

NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston manages NASA's Constellation Program, which includes development of the Ares I rocket, the Ares V heavy launch vehicle for cargo launcher, the Orion crew capsule, and the Altair lunar lander Marshall manages Ares projects for the agency

For an image of the workhorse gas generator testing, visit:

http://www nasa gov/ares

For information about NASA's Constellation Program, visit:

http://www nasa gov/constellation

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