Aerojet has successfully completed the second series of hot-fire test sequences of its R-1E engine that will be used for Nasa’s Orion exploration vehicle.
The second test included over 17,250 seconds of total burn time and demonstrated the engine’s flexibility to operate under a range of conditions.
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Aerojet programme manager Scott Jennings said the early demonstration was conducted to retire risk to the Orion vehicle including sustained operations in severe conditions.
“These tests of flight-like hardware show our readiness to support the early flight objectives for a possible orbital demonstration flight as early as 2013,” he said.
The 25lb thrust, bipropellant R-1E engine currently provides propulsion for the space shuttle and the Japanese H-II transfer vehicle (HTV) that docked with the ISS in 2009.
Orion’s engine complement includes 16 thrust engines, eight thrust bipropellant engines, a single 7,500lb thrust main engine and 12 monopropellant engines.
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By GlobalData
