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)
  

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)
  

NASA: RS-25D Engines Heading to Stennis

NASA is moving 15 RS-25D engines from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The RS-25D engines - better known as the Space Shuttle Main Engine - are being "repurposed" to power the core stage of the Space Launch System, according to NASA.

The RS-25D engine is built by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.

Click here for a full story - and photos - from NASA.

Additional Coverage:

• NASA begins moving shuttle main engines to Stennis for future use (Huntsville Times)
• NASA Moves Shuttle Engines From Kennedy To Stennis (Space Travel)
  

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and NASA Complete Hot-Fire Test on J-2X Engine

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and NASA successfully completed a 500-second duration hot-fire test on NASA’s J-2X engine, a key step in demonstrating the propulsion system’s ability to power humans further into space than ever before. NASA selected the J-2X as an upper-stage engine for the Space Launch System (SLS) – an advanced heavy-lift launch vehicle.

The hot-fire test ran full-duration for 500 seconds in the A2 test stand at John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The engine ran at a 100 percent power level to gain a better understanding of how the engine behaves during a full mission.

Read the Pratt & Whitney press release here.

Coverage:

• J-2X test-firing a milestone for NASA (Florida Today)
• NASA hits firing goal of 500 seconds with first new J-2X engine (Huntsville Times)
• NASA Test Fires Engine for Giant New Rocket (SPACE.com)
• SLS J-2X Upper Stage engine enjoys successful 500 second test fire (NASAspaceflight.com)
• NASA runs J-2X engine 500 seconds in ground firing (Spaceflight Now)
• NASA's New Upper Stage Engine Passes Major Test (NASA)