US missile and space propulsion company Aerojet has completed hot-fire testing of a cryogenic oxygen and methane reaction control engine (RCE).
The engine is being developed under NASA's propulsion cryogenic advanced development (PCAD) project. Managed by the agency's Glenn Research Center, PCAD is exploring cryogenic propulsion technologies potentially enabling higher-performing space vehicles and simplified ground operations using oxygen and methane propellants.
One of PCAD's goals is to produce repeatable thrust impulses from a cryogenic RCE, and Aerojet says it achieved very small thrust impulses, which would enable in-space fine manoeuvring operations and provide "higher performance through efficient consumption" of on-board propellants.
Aerojet completed over 135 tests. The engine features an injector-igniter assembly with two propellant valves, producing what the company claims is a system with 100% reliable ignition.
"Injector and igniter sea-level testing exceeded operational pulsing requirements set by the project and provided extensive test data in support of NASA's exploration technology development programme," says PCAD project manager Mark Klem.
Aerojet will update its RCE design using the hot-fire data and fabricate additional engines for delivery to NASA early next year, to support a full propulsion-module system test and engine altitude testing.
Source: Flight International