NASA made a critical step in its goal to develop the heavy lift Space Launch System by successfully testing the J-2X rocket engine on a test stand at the Stennis Space Flight Center in Mississippi for 500 seconds, the time it would burn in flight.
What was the result of the test?
NASA has pronounced the test a success. The J-2X burn ran smoothly, without a hitch. The J-2X that was tested is the first of seven test articles that have been assembled by Pratt and Whitney at its facility at NASA Stennis. Once each of the seven engines are tested under various conditions, NASA will start to receive flight ready engines.
What is the J-2X?
The J-2X is a modified version of the J-2 engine that powered the second and third stages of the Saturn V which launched men to the moon in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The J-2X was originally designed to be used in the upper stage of the Ares 1 and Ares V under the old Constellation space exploration program. Upon the cancellation of Constellation by President Obama, the J-2X has been designated to power the second stage of the Space Launch System, scheduled for its first test launch in 2017. The J-2X burns liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen and has 294,490 pounds of thrust.
What will be the role of the J-2X in future NASA missions?
The J-2X will power the upper stage of the Space Launch System. The Space Launch System is NASA's planned heavy lift rocket that will launch astronauts to destinations beyond low Earth orbit, including the moon, Earth approaching asteroids, and ultimately Mars.
What is the Space Launch System?
The Space Launch System will consist of two stages with two strap-on boosters. The first stage will be powered initially by three RS-25D/E engines, with later versions being powered by five RS-25D/Es. There will be initially two five segmented solid rocket boosters strapped on to the first stage, but later there will either be upgraded strap-ons that will either be solid or liquid fueled. The upper stage will be the one powered by a single J2-X with either a cargo carrier or a manned Orion Multi Service Crew Vehicle on top. The initial version of the SLS will be capable of launching 70 metric tons to low Earth orbit, but later versions will be able to launch 100 metric tons, then later still 130 metric tons.
Mark R. Whittington is the author of Children of Apollo and The Last Moonwalker. He has written on space subjects for a variety of periodicals, including The Houston Chronicle, The Washington Post, USA Today, the L.A. Times, and The Weekly Standard.
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