Published: May 09, 2008 11:31 am      

Stennis tests engine

STENNIS SPACE CENTER — The last in the first series of nine tests concluded Thursday as NASA personnel collected data that will help them design the next engine that will take man to the moon and beyond.

The tests were conducted using heritage parts from engines designed for use to take man to the moon in the 60’s and 70’s said Tom Byrd, Deputy Manager of J2X Upper Stage Engine Office. Those tests gathered data that will help NASA engineers develop that next engine, the J2X, said Stennis Space Center Deputy Director Gene Goldman.

The new engine will be the powerhouse that will bring man back to the moon and on to Mars. When the shuttle is retired in 2010 test stands at Stennis will have been modified to test the new engine, enabling the center to test the third generation of NASA engines. Shuttle engine tests are slated to end at Stennis sometime next year, Goldman said.

J2X development is being conducted to produce and engine power two new space vehicles, the Ares I and the Ares V. The first unmanned launch of the Ares I is slated for sometime in 2013, and the Ares V launch is slated for 2018.

Development of the Ares I and V have a primarily objective of lunar landings.

“As an agency going to the moon is the first step to go to Mars and beyond,” Goldman said. While Ares I will transport astronauts, the unmanned Ares V will bring the lunar landing craft into space.

The new engines will be assembled at the Stennis Space Center by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, who has been assembling engines at the site since the 70’s.

Components used in Thursday’s test came off of engines designed decades ago but were modified to produce higher power levels, Byrd said. Design of the J2X will utilize data collected in the tests.

“This all leads to a better design,” Byrd said.

When the shuttle is retired there will be a three year gap between United States space craft travel. To maintain transport to the space station Byrd said NASA will team up with the Russian space program to use the Soyuz space craft. After the shuttle is retired NASA will no longer have a cargo vehicle to transport large materials to the space station. Cargo missions will be contracted out to commercial entities at that time. Ares I will have docking capabilities with the space station, but only has space for six astronauts and maybe some small cargo, Byrd said.

The new engine will not be reusable like the shuttle engine is now, Byrd said. But the cost to produce the J2X is expected to be cheaper.

After the press conference media representatives viewed the last of the first series of tests. Only a faint flame could be seen emitting from the A-2 test stand, but heat from that flame could be felt during the successful 400 second test.