NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Collections About News Help Login
Back to Results
Testing of a Liquid Oxygen/Liquid Methane Reaction Control Thruster in a New Altitude Rocket Engine Test FacilityA relocated rocket engine test facility, the Altitude Combustion Stand (ACS), was activated in 2009 at the NASA Glenn Research Center. This facility has the capability to test with a variety of propellants and up to a thrust level of 2000 lbf (8.9 kN) with precise measurement of propellant conditions, propellant flow rates, thrust and altitude conditions. These measurements enable accurate determination of a thruster and/or nozzle s altitude performance for both technology development and flight qualification purposes. In addition the facility was designed to enable efficient test operations to control costs for technology and advanced development projects. A liquid oxygen-liquid methane technology development test program was conducted in the ACS from the fall of 2009 to the fall of 2010. Three test phases were conducted investigating different operational modes and in addition, the project required the complexity of controlling propellant inlet temperatures over an extremely wide range. Despite the challenges of a unique propellant (liquid methane) and wide operating conditions, the facility performed well and delivered up to 24 hot fire tests in a single test day. The resulting data validated the feasibility of utilizing this propellant combination for future deep space applications.
Document ID
20120009210
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Meyer, Michael L. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Arrington, Lynn A. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Kleinhenz, Julie E. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Marshall, William M. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 2012
Subject Category
Propellants And Fuels
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2012-217643
E-18201-1
E-18201
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Propulsion 2012
Location: Bordeaux
Country: France
Start Date: May 7, 2012
End Date: May 10, 2012
Sponsors: Association Aeronautique et Astronautique de France, European Space Agency, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 253225.01.03
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Related Records

IDRelationTitle20150010201See AlsoTesting of a Liquid Oxygen/Liquid Methane Reaction Control Thruster in a New Altitude Rocket Engine Test Facility
No Preview Available