Aerojet Rocketdyne Demonstrates 24-Hour Turnaround of AR-22 Engine for Experimental Spaceplane Concept
July 10 2018 - 12:17PM
Aerojet Rocketdyne successfully fired its AR-22 booster rocket
engine an unprecedented 10 times in 240 hours at NASA Stennis Space
Center, demonstrating the feasibility of rapidly recycling the
engine to enable a reusable launch vehicle capable of high-tempo,
aircraft-like flight operations.
“Aerojet Rocketdyne has continued to refine the reusable engine
technology we originally developed for the Space Shuttle program,”
said Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and president. “With the
AR-22 we are taking reusability to the next level and have
demonstrated that daily, affordable access to space is within
reach.”
The highly anticipated test sequence was carried out as part of
the collaboration between Boeing [NYSE:BA] and the U.S. Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the Experimental
Spaceplane program. Boeing is designing and developing the Phantom
Express spaceplane for this program and the successful engine test
results will help improve the spaceplane’s design.
“Phantom Express is a disruptive, reusable launch system.
Successfully completing this highly demanding rocket engine test
series validated a new level of booster capability for this
transformational launch vehicle,” continued Drake. “Turning the
AR-22 within 24 hours repeatedly over 10 days demonstrates the
capability of this engine and the ability to enable rapid,
responsive access to space.”
On Tuesday, July 3, DARPA director Steve Walker visited NASA
Stennis Space Center to view one of the engine tests. He
complimented the team on their support of national security,
highlighting their demonstration of the importance of the speed of
relevance.
The liquid-oxygen and hydrogen-fueled AR-22 engine, capable of
generating more than 375,000 pounds of thrust, fired at full
throttle during the tests, each lasting at least 100 seconds in
duration. After each firing, Aerojet Rocketdyne technicians carried
out pre-planned inspections and data reviews in preparation for the
next test.
The 10 test firings took place in a test period conducted June
26 to July 6, 2018.
“Aerojet Rocketdyne is very proud to have such an important role
in a program that could literally revolutionize space access with a
vehicle capable of launching on a daily basis,” Drake added. “With
the Defense Department and commercial sector anticipating a shift
toward constellations of smaller satellites that can be replenished
quickly, the Phantom Express is the right program at the right time
for the nation.”
The Phantom Express spaceplane is designed to launch vertically
and land horizontally to allow for aircraft-like operations in
support of the U.S. government’s resilient space vision and
commercial missions. The vehicle will be equipped with an
expendable second stage capable of placing up to 3,000 pounds or
1,361 kg of payload into low Earth orbit.
Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings,
Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), is an innovative company delivering solutions
that create value for its customers in the aerospace and defense
markets. The company is a world-recognized aerospace and defense
leader that provides propulsion and energetics to the space,
missile defense and strategic systems, tactical systems and
armaments areas, in support of domestic and international markets.
Additional information about Aerojet Rocketdyne can be obtained by
visiting our websites at www.Rocket.com and
www.AerojetRocketdyne.com.
Media Contacts:Mary Engola: (703)
236-1256mary.engola@rocket.com
Todd McConnell: (703)
236-1253todd.mcconnell@rocket.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38bb198a-994b-413c-a341-76c11f0e97ea
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4be48e8d-3058-4d1b-9e21-e13c3e091eaa
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