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.
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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