NASA conducted a key stability test firing of the J-2X rocket engine Dec. 1, marking another step forward in development of the upper-stage engine that will carry humans farther into space than ever before.
The Dec. 1 test firing focused on characterizing the new engine’s combustion stability, a critical area of development. During the test firing, a controlled explosion was initiated inside the engine’s combustion chamber to introduce an energetic pulse of vibrations not expected during nominal operations. Data from this and future combustion stability tests will help engineers understand more about the engine’s performance and robustness during engine operation.
The J-2X engine was test fired on the A-2 Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, in south Mississippi. The engine is being developed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. It will provide upper-stage power for NASA’s new Space Launch System. The SLS will carry the Orion spacecraft, its crew, cargo, equipment and science experiments to space — providing a safe, affordable and sustainable means of reaching the moon, asteroids and other destinations in the solar system.
Subpoena Threatened Over Heavy-Lift Rocket Aviation Week
Sen. John D. Rockefeller, 4th, plans to subpoena documents related to NASA’s plans for a heavy-lift space launch system (SLS) and other activities if the agency does not produce them by the close of business on June 27.
Space Access Update #124 6/20/11 Copyright 2011 by Space Access Society
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We don’t (currently) expect further legislative action on NASA Exploration budget and policy before sometime in July. As the political season slows to its usual hot-weather saunter, it’s a good time to take a look at where things stand on some of the issues we care about this year. Briefly, things are… interesting. Neither as bad as they could be, nor in some cases as good as they may superficially appear. Much is in flux, little definitively settled yet.
SLS “Competition”: We’re Not Impressed
Lawmakers cutting public deals are generally about as subtle and delicate as a brontosaur courtship. The recent grafting of “competition” onto the ongoing NASA Space Launch System (SLS) heavy lifter boondoggle was no exception.
In an effort to improve the prospects of contractors in his own state, Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby is urging that NASA undertake competitive bidding for parts of the Space Launch System, specifically solid-rocket boosters produced in Utah. In a letter to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, the Republican senator wrote:
I am concerned, therefore, that NASA is considering a Space Launch System architecture that relies on a booster system for the Space Shuttle. I am particularly concerned that this plan might be implemented without a meaningful competitive process. Designing a Space Launch System for heavy lift that relies on existing Shuttle boosters ties NASA, once again, to the high fixed costs associated with segmented solids. Moreover, I have seen no evidence that foregoing competition for the booster system will speed development of the SLS or, conversely, that introducing competition will slow the program down.
TPIS PR — Cape Canaveral, FL — TEA Party in Space (TPIS), a non-partisan organization, today publicly praised a letter sent by California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden about competing NASA’s procurement of the Space Launch System (SLS). TPIS values non-partisan cooperation among all political leaders who seek a successful space program based on fiscal responsibility, limited government, and the competitive free market. TPIS is happy to join with these two Senators who wisely recognize that NASA must compete its contracts to be fair to the tax payers in this time of budgetary crisis.
Human spaceflight for less: the case for smaller launch vehicles, revisited
As NASA, Congress, and industry debate what the new Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket should be, some argue that such a rocket isn’t necessary at all. Grant Bonin makes the case for exploration architectures that use larger numbers of smaller, less expensive rockets.
New strategies for exploration and settlement
For many space advocates, space settlement has long been the ultimate goal of spaceflight, but one that has seen little progress in the last few decades. Jeff Foust reports on two recent speeches that offer similar, if slightly differing, takes on new approaches that could make settlement a reality.
Bring home the sample
A Mars sample return mission remains a high priority for scientists, but one that is technically and financially difficult to carry out. Lou Friedman discusses the importance of sample return and the role that international cooperation can play to further it.
NASA’s new robot challenge
Draft rules for a new NASA prize competition involving sample return technology were quietly released last month. Ben Brockert reviews the rules and discusses some potential issues with the planned competition.
The last shuttle crew
Next month the final shuttle mission will lift off with a four-person crew. Anthony Young reflects on this final crew and the future of human spaceflight.
Chris Bergin of NASASpaceflight.com reports that a decision on NASA’s Space Launch System is “just weeks away.” (Isn’t the suspense killing you? It’s like a World Cup final penalty kick shootout. For geeks.)
At the risk of spoiling the fun, it appears that NASA will be selecting an IL SD HLV 70MT –> 130MT, which is to say something a lot like this:
AEROJET/TELEDYNE PR — THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. and Sacramento, Calif., June 2, 2011 – Teledyne Technologies Incorporated announced today that its subsidiary, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. (TBE), in Huntsville, Ala., has signed a letter of agreement to form a strategic alliance with Aerojet – General Corporation, a GenCorp company, to manufacture and assemble liquid rocket engines.
The agreement states that Teledyne Brown and Aerojet will cooperatively develop, manufacture and market liquid propellant rocket engines for customers such as NASA and other aerospace companies.
In a letter to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer have urged that the space agency open up the heavy-lift Space Launch System to competitive bidding instead of continuing with existing contracts.
In this time of constrained budgets, it would be inexcusable to funnel billions of taxpayer dollars into a non-competitive sole-source contract for the new Space Launch System. By allowing a competitive process, NASA could realize hundreds of millions of dollars in annual savings, and billions in savings over the life of the program. Furthermore, a competitive process will build capacity and enhance the critical skills and capabilities at a wide range of aerospace technology companies. Continue reading ‘Senators Urge Competitive Bidding on NASA Heavy Lift Vehicle’
BOEING PR — TITUSVILLE, Fla., June 1, 2011 — Boeing has established an Exploration Launch Systems Engineering and Integration office in Titusville to support the operational readiness of NASA’s next launch system, currently under study.
“This new Boeing office near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center expands our capability to execute our current Upper Stage Production and Instrument Unit Avionics contracts, as well as continue our support of NASA as it lays the groundwork for development of heavy-lift launch vehicle concepts,” said Jim Chilton, Exploration Launch Systems vice president for Boeing. “We plan to ensure critical skills and capabilities are retained to provide a smooth workforce transition from the Space Shuttle program that builds on accomplishments and investments made to date.”
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