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Mojave CA (SPX) Aug 31, 2005 XCOR Aerospace announced Monday that it has successfully completed its first series of tests on a 50 pound thrust rocket engine fueled by methane and liquid oxygen. "We are very pleased with the test results and expect increased performance in future versions," said XCOR Chief Engineer Dan DeLong. "These engine tests gave us operational familiarity working with methane. We have extensive experience with liquid oxygen, so running an engine with a cryogenic fuel wasn't a stretch for us." Future generations of the 3M9 engine are intended for use as Reaction Control Systems (RCS) and satellite maneuvering systems. The advantages of a methane-fueled engine include long-term on-orbit storage, higher density than hydrogen engines, higher performance than kerosene engines, and the potential for using methane derived from the Martian atmosphere as a fuel source. The engine tests took place at XCOR's facilities at Mojave Spaceport and consisted of 22 engine firings totaling 65 seconds. The longest engine firing was 7 seconds. This first series of tests was done with self-pressurizing propellants. Pressure-fed and pump-fed versions are also in development. Additional technical performance information may be available upon request. Related Links SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express
Thirty Years And Counting
Stennis Space Center MS (SPX) Aug 23, 2005The first was in 1975. Since then more than 2,200 tests on Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) have been completed at NASA's Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi.
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