Written by Derek Kessler on
Monday, 17 December 2007
There's an old mantra I'm sure many of you have heard: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' That's the approached that NASA is taking with the design for the upper stage rockets for the Ares I and Ares V rockets. They are testing parts from the 1960's era Saturn V rockets for use in the new engine. The old Saturn V's launched the manned missions to the moon, and the Ares rocket system is poised to do the same by 2020, so NASA has gone back to what they know works to see how they can use what they've already got.
Testing will take place later this month at the NASA Marshal Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The old J-2 engines used for the upper stage of the Saturn V will be tested for tolerances and performance for the design of the new J2-X engines for the Ares system. Of particular scrutiny will be the powerpacks - the turbopumps and gas generator that perform the actual combustion work of the rocket.
The testing will consist of seal tests to ensure that the vintage powerplant is still competent (fuel propellant is chilled to -250 C), followed by engine firings ranging from 12 seconds to 9 minutes. Testing is scheduled to run through February 2008. The data obtained will be used by contract winner Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne to design, build, and test the J2-X engines.
The Orion crew exploration vehicle with its Ares rocket system is currently projected to be ready for flight in 2015. NASA plans to retire the space shuttle in 2010.
"Oh, now, be honest, Captain... warrior to warrior... you do prefer it this way, don't you? As it was meant to be. No peace in our time. Once more unto the breach... dear friends."
There's an old mantra I'm sure many of you have heard: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' That's the approached that NASA is taking with the design for the upper stage rockets for the Ares I and Ares V rockets. They are testing parts from the 1960's era Saturn V rockets for use in the new engine. The old Saturn V's launched the manned missions to the moon, and the Ares rocket system is poised to do the same by 2020, so NASA has gone back to what they know works to see how they can use what they've already got.
