STENNIS SPACE CENTER —
Testing and development of the next engine that will take humans beyond low Earth orbit is underway.
The engine is touted as next generation but is actually based on an engine from the Apollo era, the J2. Through modifications, the engine will see new life, provide more thrust and be more efficient, said Tom Byrd, J2X Engine lead with Marshall Space Flight. Test stands currently testing the engine also are from the Apollo era, the A-1 and A-2 test stands.
The engines will be used in the new manned heavy lift vehicle, currently called the Space Launch System.
NASA still has plans for the shuttle’s main engines, even though the space shuttle program was retired. Those engines will be used as boosters to bring the SLS from sea level to low Earth orbit, said James Wahl, with Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne Business Development and Strategic Planning.
Once in low Earth orbit, the J2X will fire to bring the SLS out of Earth’s orbit and into deep space, Byrd said. Since the engine will be used primarily at very high altitudes, Stennis will need a way to simulate those conditions for testing.
That is where the A-2 test stand will come in, at first. Skip Roberts, A-2 Test Director, said the stand is capable of simulating altitudes of 50,000 feet using a large diffuser attached to the stand.
Currently, a variation of the J2X power pack is being tested under sea level conditions at the A-1 test stand. A-1 Test Director Jeff Henderson said a power pack is essentially a rocket engine without the parts that provide thrust. Testing a power pack as opposed to an entire engine allows for more variance during testing, Byrd said.
The role of the A-3 test stand, which is currently under construction, will be to test the engine in a simulated environment higher than 50,000 feet. Tom Rich, A-3 Construction Manager, said once completed, the stand will simulate conditions of 100,000 feet, which is the edge of space. While the stand is expected to be completed in about a year, activation of the stand will begin in August of 2013. Activation of the stand will entail testing only the altitude simulation properties of the stand. Engine testing will not occur until the specifications for the engine NASA wishes to test are finalized, Rich said.
Byrd said teams are looking at two configurations of the J2X: One with a stub nozzle and another with a full nozzle. No matter which engine is decided upon, Byrd foresees the A-3 test stand being used for a long time.
“This is going to be used for decades. I’m sure we’ll see it used for all sorts of things,” Byrd said.
Unlike the A-2’s diffuser, the A-3 will use an enclosure and other specialized equipment to simulate the high altitudes, Rich said.
Workers at Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne are working with the nuts and bolts of the J2X, taking parts off and replacing them with others to achieve the performance levels needed to bring humans into deep space, said Wahl.
The old shuttle engines to be used in the booster stage of the SLS also are being stored at Pratt Whitney. He said 15 of the old shuttle engines, which had been used during the shuttle program, will be relocated from Kennedy Space Center to Pratt Whitney at Stennis by April. Those engines also will be tested once more at Stennis, after they undergo modifications to meet the needs of their new job, Wahl said.
Local News
Related Photos
-
POWER PACK — A-1 Test Director Jeff Henderson shows off the J2X power pack being tested at Stennis Space Center. Testing a power pack, which is a rocket engine without the thrust components, allows wider variations to be tested without damage to the engine. Jeremy Pittari
Stennis testing next generation space flight engines
- Local News
-
-
Wildcats tring to win Region 23 title
Host Pearl River opened Region 23 Tournament play in dominating fashion here Thursday in Wildcat Stadium, demolishing top-seeded East Central 12-1 in eight innings and now faces second-seeded LSU-Eunice (La.) in Friday’s second round at 7 p.m.
-
Veterans honored for Armed Forces Day
In observance of United States Armed Forces Day, Picayune Memorial High School hosted the annual Jerry “Chip” Burge Jr. Memorial Armed Forces Reception on Friday.
-
Katrina taught Poplarville valuable lessons
The Pop-larville area learned valuable lessons in disaster readiness from hurricane Katrina in 2005, and those lessons led to improvements which provide a greater measure of security for local residents.
-
Help senior citizens in your family or neighborhood with advance planning
According to the United States Census Bureau, 15.1 percent of the population in Pearl River County is 65 years old or older.
-
Tchnology can speed emergency response
Recent national tragedies have reminded us once again how important it is to stay in touch with loved ones and emergency response officials for breaking news. Being technology-ready before disaster strikes is critical to saving lives, connecting friends and family, and assisting first responders.
I -
Boil water notice lifted
Center Water has lifted a “boil water notice” for customers living on Hilltop Dr. and Green Meadow Drive.
Water tests indicate that water is safe to drink. -
Click it or ticket: Cop's watching you
Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner and the Picayune Police Department’s patrol officers will be on the look out for seat belt violations.
-
Miss. seniors get another shot to pass grad tests
Mississippi officials are trying to retest hundreds of high school seniors who flunked exams that are required for graduation.
-
Panther pitcher shuts out Maroon Tide
Pascagoula’s Andrew Crane continued his dominance of Picayune Thursday night.
-
Miss Mississippi USA visits Infinity Center
The reigning Miss Mississippi USA Paromita Mitra visited INFINITY Science Center on Thursday to promote the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (S.T.E.M.) education to middle school students and Cub Scout Pack 213 from Biloxi.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Wildcats tring to win Region 23 title
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Raw: School Bus Crash Injures Five Children
Quick Response Saved Baby on Phila. Train Tracks
One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
