Aerojet has
completed construction of a state-of-the-art engine test facility that will
enable effective, hands-on development of rocket engines containing
environmentally friendly hydrogen peroxide propellants.
Aerojet will use the facility to test subscale components of the hydrogen
peroxide Advanced Reusable Rocket Engine (ARRE) it is developing for the Air
Force’s Space Maneuver Vehicle. Other uses of the facility include testing the
Liquid Booster System — a pump-fed, peroxide engine Aerojet is developing for
Army target vehicles.
“Having a peroxide test facility on-plant is integral to our development
process. It reduces the cost and schedule risks to the customer and puts all
of our specialists, engineers and technicians in one place,” said Dave Gallet,
Aerojet ARRE program manager.
Aerojet has decades of experience testing hazardous propellants. This
facility applies that expertise to hydrogen peroxide, which can be difficult
to handle safely. The effort is needed because of growing customer demand for
nontoxic propellants.
Aerojet’s facility can test engines with high concentrations of hydrogen
peroxide at sea level pressure. Future enhancements will enable altitude
testing, which simulates operation in space, using both pressure-fed and
pump-fed engine designs at up to 100,000 pounds of thrust.
Aerojet’s ARRE is a non-toxic, hydrogen peroxide engine that utilizes
advanced injection conceptslRefabrication processes and chamber materials. The
Air Force’s Space Maneuver Vehicle is an unmanned space vehicle envisioned as
a reusable satellite bus. The ARRE also has applications on the Space Launch
Initiative, NASA’s effort to develop technologies for a second-generation
reusable launch vehicle.
Aerojet, a GenCorp company, is a world-recognized aerospace and
defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, and
defense and armaments markets. Aerojet’s Web site address is
http://www.aerojet.com .
