Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Receives $1 Million Award from U.S. Department of Energy to Advance Oxy-Combustion Technology

The Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and its team members $1 million to evaluate the benefits of pressurized oxy-combustion in a fluidized bed reactor to economically capture greenhouse gases emitted by coal-fired power plants. As part of the award, which the DOE signed into contract today, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and its partners will contribute an additional $267,000 toward the project.

Oxy-fuel combustion is the process of producing heat to generate electricity by burning fuel using pure oxygen instead of air. The combustion process using pressurized oxygen and recycled carbon dioxide gas improves process efficiency and eliminates nitrogen from the exhaust, thus enabling the economic capture of the carbon dioxide gas for geologic sequestration or enhanced oil recovery.

Click here to read the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne press release.

Coverage:

• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Receives $1 Million DOE Contract (San Fernando Valley Business Journal)
• DOE awards $1mn to test emissions control technology (Power Engineering)

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Propulsion Powers Atlas V Upper Stage, Placing Critical Government Satellite into Orbit

[Video Credit: SpaceVidsNet, via YouTube]

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and RD AMROSS successfully propelled a critical U.S. government satellite into orbit on Sept. 13, once again demonstrating the consistency and reliability of their rocket launch propulsion systems.  The spacecraft launched from Vandenberg Air Force Station in California on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.  The Atlas V is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 booster engine, and the upper-stage is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10 engine.

The Atlas V Centaur upper-stage is powered by a single RL10A4-2 engine that delivers 22,300 pounds of thrust.  The Atlas V Common Core booster is powered by the RD-180 engine and delivers nearly 1 million pounds of thrust.  The RD-180 is fueled by a kerosene/liquid oxygen mixture, provides an environmentally-clean operation, and uses an extremely efficient, high-pressured staged combustion cycle.  The high-pressure helium storage tanks on the Atlas V booster and upper stage were manufactured by ARDE, Inc., located in Carlstadt, N.J., a division of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.

Click here to view the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne press release.

Click here to view the United Launch Alliance press release. (Page includes a photo gallery.)

Coverage:

• Top-secret satellite is launched from Vandenberg (Los Angeles Times)

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Propulsion Powers Atlas V Upper Stage, Placing Radiation Belt Storm Probes into Orbit

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and RD AMROSS successfully propelled the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission into orbit, once again demonstrating the consistency and reliability of their rocket launch propulsion systems. The mission launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 booster engine, and the upper-stage is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10 engine. RD AMROSS LLC is a joint venture of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and NPO Energomash.

Built and managed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, the RBSP includes two spacecraft designed to fly in elliptical orbits to study the planet’s radiation belts and help scientists better understand the sun’s influence on the Earth and near-Earth space. The mission is part of NASA’s Living with a Star Geospace program to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects near the Earth and phenomena that could affect solar system exploration.


The Atlas V Centaur upper-stage is powered by a single RL10A4-2 engine that delivers 22,300 pounds of thrust. The Atlas V Common Core booster is powered by the RD-180 engine and delivers nearly 1 million pounds of thrust.

Click here to read the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne press release.

Click here to read the United Launch Alliance press release.

Coverage:

• NASA twin satellites to probe mysteries of the Van Allen belts (CNET News)
• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's RL10 engine propels RBSP mission into orbit (Zecco)

Hamilton Sundstrand Rocketdyne Powers ‘Curiosity’ Rover on Mars

Moments after Curiosity landed on Mars, the rover successfully began its mission to see whether the red planet has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life – thanks to power provided by Hamilton Sundstrand Rocketdyne, which helped design and develop the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG).

The MMRTG, which has a design life of 14 years, has been built to operate in a range of harsh environments, from the vacuum of deep space to extreme planetary surface atmospheres. It was developed by Hamilton Sundstrand Rocketdyne and Teledyne Energy Systems in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy.

The MMRTG is being used for the first time on the Curiosity mission. It provides both heat and electrical power to the rover, and continuous electrical power that allows day and night operation. The heat is used to provide thermal stability for Curiosity without drawing on the rover’s electrical power.

Click here to read the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne press release. 

Coverage:

• Nuclear Pack Powers Rover on Mars (New York Times)
• With NASA Mars Rover Curiosity Safely on Surface, Time to Take Inventory (Washington Post)

Boeing to Further Develop Commercial Crew Space Transportation System under NASA CCiCap Award Supported by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

NASA has selected Boeing to receive $460 million in additional funding to further develop the Boeing Commercial Crew Transportation System in the third round of the Commercial Crew Program, Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap). In its partnership with Boeing on CCiCap, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne will continue to support development of the service module with integrated launch-abort propulsion system for the Commercial Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft. The CST-100 spacecraft is designed to transport people to the International Space Station and other low-Earth orbit destinations.

The CCiCap agreement between NASA and Boeing focuses on the design and development of a fully-integrated commercial crew transportation system that includes spacecraft, launch vehicle and ground and mission systems. In its partnership with Boeing, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne will continue to provide support on propulsion system design maturation leading to the Critical Design Review, and complete development testing on key propulsion system components on the CST-100 spacecraft.

Click here to read the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne press release.

Coverage:

• NASA Taps Three Companies To Develop New Spacecraft (Los Angeles Times)
• Rocketdyne Gets Good News on Space Vehicle Program (San Fernando Valley Business Journal)
• SpaceX, Boeing Big Winners in NASA Competition for New Spacecraft (McClatchy-Tribune News Service)
• NASA Awards $1.1 Billion to 3 Companies to Develop Spacecraft (Washington Post)

United Technologies to Sell Rocketdyne Unit to GenCorp Inc.

United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) announced it has reached agreement to sell its Rocketdyne unit, currently part of Pratt & Whitney, to GenCorp Inc. for $550 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2013.

As previously announced, proceeds from the sale will be used to repay a portion of the short-term debt incurred to finance the proposed acquisition of Goodrich Corporation. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Click here to read the UTC press release.

Coverage:

• GenCorp To Pay $550M For UTC's Rocketdyne (Hartford Courant)
• GenCorp To Pay $550M For UTC's Rocketdyne (Reuters, via Aviation Week)
• United Tech. sells Rocketdyne unit for $550 mln (MarketWatch)
• Rocketdyne sold to GenCorp for $550 million (Los Angeles Times)
• GenCorp buying P&W Rocketdyne (United Press International)
• GenCorp to buy rocket manufacturer Rocketdyne (Flight International)
• Aerojet's Parent Company Bids $550 Million for Rival Rocketdyne (SpaceNews)

Three Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68A Engines Power Delta IV Heavy Upgrade Vehicle on Inaugural Flight

Video Credit: SpaceVidsNet, via YouTube

The sky rumbled and the ground shook as the three most powerful hydrogen-fueled liquid rocket engines ever built successfully boosted a U.S. government satellite into orbit on June 29. Developed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, the RS-68A engines thundered into the sky on their inaugural launch, boosting a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket from the pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Once above Earth’s atmosphere, the reliable Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10B-2 engine provided upper-stage propulsion.

The RS-68A is a liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen booster engine designed to provide increased thrust and improved fuel efficiency for the Delta IV family of launch vehicles. It evolved from the RS-68 engine, which was developed and certified for commercial use with private company funds. Each RS-68A provides 702,000 pounds of lift-off thrust, or 39,000 more pounds of thrust than the RS-68 engine, with increased combustion efficiency as well. During hot-fire tests, the RS-68A engine demonstrated the ability to operate for 4,800 seconds of cumulative run time – more than 10 times what’s needed to boost the Delta IV Heavy rocket into space.

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney's press release. 

Coverage:

• Delta IV launch: Secret, but very loud (Florida Today)
• World's most powerful rocket launches secret US satellite (Christian Science Monitor)
• Delta IV rocket launch from Cape Canaveral video (ABC Action News)
• Delta IV rocket launches into space (WMKG Orlando)

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Successfully Completes CCDev-2 Hot-Fire Testing on Thruster for NASA's Commercial Crew Program

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne successfully completed a series of hot-fire tests on a service module thruster for Boeing's Commercial Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft. The CST-100 spacecraft, designed to transport people to the International Space Station and other low-Earth orbit destinations, is in development under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

The Orbital Maneuvering and Attitude Control System (OMAC) thruster is a key component for safe, reliable and affordable commercial crew transportation. It is designed for multiple uses, including maneuvering the CST-100 spacecraft during orbit and re-entry, and providing axial thrust, roll control and separation from the launch vehicle if an abort becomes necessary.

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney's press release.

Coverage:

• Pratt completes thrust test on space station craft (Hartford Business Journal)
• Thruster Tests Completed for Boeing's CST-100 (Space Fellowship)
• Rocketdyne finishes Boeing CST-100 thruster testing (Flight International)
• Boeing says its space taxi engines have passed a testing hurdle (Huntsville Times)
• Thruster Tests Completed for Boeing's CST-100 (NASA)

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Propulsion Powers Atlas V Upper Stage

Video Credit: SpaceVidsNet, via YouTube

In another awesome display of consistent and reliable rocket launch propulsion, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and RD AMROSS successfully propelled a critical U.S. government satellite into orbit on June 20. The spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 booster engine, and the upper-stage is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10 engine.

The Atlas V Centaur upper-stage is powered by a single RL10A4-2 engine that delivers 22,300 pounds of thrust. The Atlas V Common Core booster is powered by the RD-180 engine and delivers nearly 1 million pounds of thrust. The RD-180 is fueled by kerosene/liquid oxygen mixture, provides an environmentally-clean operation, and uses an extremely efficient, high-pressure staged combustion cycle.

Click here to read the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne press release. 

Coverage:

• Atlas V Launches Launches NRO Spysat (Space Daily)
• Hush, Hush US Spy Satellite Blasts Off Atop Milestone Atlas Rocket (Universe Today)
• Air Force Launches US Spy Satellite on Secret Mission (SPACE.com) 

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Propulsion Orbits Critical Communications Satellite for U.S. Military

Video Credit: SpaceVidsNet via YouTube

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne upperstage propulsion successfully orbited the second in a series of Advanced Extremely High-Frequency (AEHF) communications satellites for the U.S. military, once again demonstrating the consistent reliability of its power and propulsion systems. The spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 booster engine, and the upper-stage is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10 engine.

The AEHF is a joint service satellite communications system that will provide global communications for military troops within all services of the U.S. Department of Defense. The spacecraft will be used to relay highly secure and jam-resistant communications for the Armed Forces of the United States, the British Armed Forces, the Canadian Forces and the military of the Netherlands. When fully deployed, the system will consist of four spacecraft that travel in geostationary orbits.

The Atlas V Centaur upper-stage is powered by a single RL10A4-2 engine that delivers 22,300 pounds of thrust. The Atlas V Common Core booster is powered by the RD-180 engine and delivers nearly 1 million pounds of thrust. The RD-180 is the only liquid oxygen/kerosene-fueled engine with an oxygen-rich staged-combustion cycle flying in the United States today.

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's press release.

Coverage:

• Second AEHF Military Communications Satellite Launched (Space Daily)
• Air Force launches advanced communications satellite (MSNBC)
• Next Generation Military Communications Satellite Launched for US Air Force (Universe Today)
• Satellite for secure war-time communications goes up (Spaceflight Now)

P&W Rocketdyne Celebrates Commissioning of Commercial-Scale Prototype Dry Solids Pump to Provide High-Efficiency, Low-Emission Gasification

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne celebrated the commissioning of a commercial-scale dry-solids pump – a revolutionary feed system integrated with PWR’s compact gasifier to efficiently gasify coal, petcoke and other solid fuels. The dry-solids pump, located at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota, is the latest step toward global commercialization of innovative technology designed to lower energy costs, provide a clean alternative fuel source and strengthen U.S. energy security.

The 400-ton per day prototype dry-solids feed pump system, developed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, will be used to test petcoke, bituminous and sub-bituminous coals over the next 12 months. The commissioning is a collaborative effort between the EERC; Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne; the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL); ExxonMobil; and the Alberta Energy Research Institute.

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's press release.

Coverage:

• Rocket developer, EERC begin testing solids pump for gasification (Biomass Magazine)
• NETL: Project could make coal gasification 'economically competitive' (The State Journal)
• EERC works toward goal of clean coal at less cost (Dickinson Press)
• New high-pressure dry-solids feed pump could make high-efficiency, lower-emission gasification economically competitive (Green Car Congress)
• Opening New Avenues for High-Efficiency, Low-Emission Coal Gasification (U.S. Dept. of Energy)
  

P&W Rocketdyne Engines Successfully Boost Government Payload Into Space

The sky rumbled with the sound of a rocket launch on April 3 as Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne once again demonstrated the consistent reliability of its propulsion systems with the successful lift-off of a critical satellite for the U.S. government. The mission launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV medium rocket with Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 and RL10B-2 engines providing the booster and upper-stage propulsion, respectively.

The RS-68 is the world's largest hydrogen-fueled engine, designed for heavy lift with 758,000 pounds of vacuum thrust and 663,000 pounds of sea-level thrust. The RL10B-2 is a unique cryogenic upper-stage engine that provides 465 seconds of specific impulse and 24,750 pounds of thrust.

Click here to read Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's press release.

Coverage:

• Delta 4 Rocket Successfully Lofts Surveillance Satellite (Spaceflight Now)
• Rocket Launches Secret Spy Satellite for US Military (SPACE.com)
  

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Successfully Completes Latest Hot-Fire Test on Launch Abort Engine for Boeing’s CST-100 spacecraft

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company, successfully completed a full-mission duration hot-fire test on a Launch Abort Engine (LAE) for Boeing’s Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft. The CST-100 spacecraft, designed to transport people to the International Space Station and other low-Earth orbit destinations, is in development under NASA’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program.

The Service Module and Integrated Launch Abort propulsion system is a critical system for safe, reliable and affordable commercial crew transportation. It is designed to push the crew capsule to safety if an abort is necessary. If unused for an abort, the same propellant load can be used for other parts of the mission, including re-boosting the space station orbit. The LAE test was conducted in the California desert.

Click here to read the Pratt & Whitney press release.

Coverage:

• PWR Analyzing CST-100 Abort Engine Tests (Aviation Week)
• Latest Hot Fire Test on Launch Abort Engine for Boeing CST 100 Spacecraft Completed (Space Travel)
• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Hot-Fires Launch Abort Engine (Space Fellowship)
• Pratt & Whitney Tests Abort Engine for New Spacecraft (San Fernando Valley Business Journal)
• Boeing commercial spacecraft hits major milestones (Flight International)
• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Hot-Fires Launch Abort Engine (Product Design & Development)
  

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Powers 200th Mission of Centaur Rocket, Places Communications Satellite for U.S. Navy into Orbit

[Video credit: United Launch Alliance, via YouTube]

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne once again demonstrated the consistent reliability of its propulsion systems by successfully powering the Centaur upper-stage rocket on its 200th mission and placing the first in a series of Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) communications satellites for the U.S. Navy into orbit. The payload launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 booster engine, and the Centaur is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10 engine.

The Atlas V Centaur upper stage is powered by a single RL10A4-2 engine that delivers 22,300 pounds of thrust. The Atlas V Common Core booster is powered by the RD-180 engine and delivers nearly 1 million pounds of thrust. The RD-180 is the only liquid oxygen/kerosene fueled engine with an oxygen-rich staged-combustion cycle flying in the United States today.

Click here to read the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne press release.

Click here to read the United Launch Alliance press release. (Includes a photo gallery.)

Coverage:

• Atlas V lifts US Navy satellite into orbit (Flight International)
• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne powers Centaur rocket placing U.S. Navy MUOS communications satellite into orbit (Avionics Intelligence)
  

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Successfully Completes J-2X Powerpack Test

Video Credit: NASA / SSC

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne successfully completed the first in a series of powerpack hot-fire tests on the J-2X engine, which is being developed for NASA to power humans further into space than ever before. Powerpack tests are designed to evaluate the full range of operating conditions of the engine's components during flight. NASA selected the J-2X as the upper-stage propulsion for the Space Launch System (SLS) – an advanced heavy-lift launch vehicle.

The powerpack consists of components on the top portion of the engine, including the gas generator, the oxygen and fuel turbopumps, and the ducts, valves, and controls that bring the propellants together to drive the turbines of the two turbopumps. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne will perform hot-fire tests on the powerpack through summer, using varying pressures, temperatures and flow rates to ensure the engine is ready to support exploration to low-Earth orbit, Mars and possibly beyond.

View the Pratt & Whitney press release.

Coverage:

• NASA Performs J-2X Powerpack Test (RedOrbit)
• J-2X engine powerpack tested (UPI)
  

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne to Power Centaur Rocket Mission

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne will power the Centaur upper-stage rocket on its 200th mission and to place the first in a series of Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) communications satellites for the U.S. Navy into orbit on Feb. 16. The launch is scheduled to take off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, with a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10A4-2 engine providing the upper-stage propulsion.

The payload will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 booster engine, and the Centaur is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10A4-2 engine, which delivers 22,300 pounds of thrust.

Editor's note: The launch has been rescheduled for Friday, Feb. 24.

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Signs Agreement for Commercial-Scale Gasification Demonstration Plant in China

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has signed a negotiation framework agreement with two energy industry leaders to design, construct and operate a commercial-scale advanced gasification demonstration plant in China’s central eastern Henan Province. The agreement is a key step toward commercializing technology designed to lower the cost of coal gasification and provide an alternative fuel source that reduces water use and carbon dioxide emissions.

Under the framework, Zhongyuan Da Hua Group Company Ltd. and East China Engineering Science & Technology Company will share development costs for construction and operation of a demonstration plant with Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, subject to the terms of a formal agreement currently being negotiated between the parties.

Click here to read the press release from Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.

Coverage:

• P&W Rocketdyne signs agreement for China commercial-scale gasification demonstration plant (Industrial Fuels and Power)
• China seeks energy-tech license from UTC (Hartford Business Journal)

NASA: J-2X Begins New Series of Tests

NASA is set to begin a series of tests on the powerpack for the J-2X engine. The tests, at the A-1 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center, will evaluate a full range of operating conditions.

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is developing the J-2X engine to power the upper stage of the NASA Space Launch System.

Click here for additional information - and photos - from NASA.

Coverage:

• Stennis testing next generation space flight engines (The Picayune Item)
  

P&W Rocketdyne Vice President Interviewed on 'Space Show'

Steve Bouley, vice president, Launch Vehicle and Hypersonic Systems, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, was a guest on the Jan. 18 edition of The Space Show. In a 60-minute interview with Dr. David Livingston, Bouley discusses the RS-68 and RL10B-2 engines, which power the Delta IV; the evolution of hypersonic technology and other subjects.

Click here to listen to broadcast No. 1692 of The Space Show.

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Engines Power the Rocket Boosting the Latest Communications Satellite for U.S. Department of Defense

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne demonstrated the consistent reliability of its propulsion systems by successfully boosting the fourth in a series of Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellites to increase communications capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense. The mission launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV medium rocket with Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 and RL10B-2 engines providing the booster and upper-stage propulsion, respectively.

The WGS satellites are part of a larger system that increases military communications capabilities for U.S. and alliance forces deployed worldwide. They help support the exchange of information, execution of tactical command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

The RS-68 is the world's largest hydrogen-fueled engine, designed for heavy lift with 758,000 pounds of vacuum thrust and 663,000 pounds of sea-level thrust. The RL10B-2 is a unique cryogenic upper-stage engine that provides 465 seconds of specific impulse and 24,750 pounds of thrust.

Coverage:

• Air Force Launches New Military Communications Satellite Into Orbit (SPACE.com)