Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) conducted the first two-engine firing of the first stage of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle on 18 January on a test stand outside McGregor, Texas.
The Merlin 1C gas-generator cycle, liquid oxygen/kerosene engines operated at full power, generating more than 180,000lb thrust (805kN) during the 14s run.
In the next test, scheduled for February, three engines will operate for a full first-stage burn time of 180s. The test series will continue with five, seven and finally the full complement of nine first-stage engines.
"[The test] marks the first time that we have simultaneously fired two engines on the same stage," says SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk. "No significant problems were encountered transitioning from single-engine testing in November, which suggests that we will be able to ramp up rapidly to a full complement of nine Merlin engines,"
With all nine engines firing, the Falcon 9 will generate more than 1 million lb thrust thrust in a vacuum.
The first Falcon 9 is scheduled for delivery to the SpaceX launch site at Cape Canaveral, Florida by the end of 2008. SpaceX has designed the Merlin engine for what it calls "rapid mounting and change-out", estimating an installation time of hours.
The Merlin 1C engine will fly for the first time when it powers SpaceX's next Falcon 1 mission, scheduled for the second quarter of 2008.