P&W Completes Successful Test of J-2X Gas Generator
(Canoga Park, Calif., September 8, 2008) -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company, completed a series of successful tests on a gas generator for the J-2X rocket engine. The J-2X engine will power the nation's new Ares I and Ares V second-stage launch vehicles scheduled to send United States astronauts to the International Space Station and back to the moon by 2020.
The gas generator for the J-2X will use the same technology currently used on the proven RS-68, the largest liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen rocket engine developed to power the Delta IV family of expendable launch vehicle. Tests on this newly designed generator have helped determine the performance and stability of the J-2X configuration and have helped engineers finalize the specifications for the unit to be tested on the powerpack and development engines. This unit is the first full-scale hot-fire testing for J-2X components.
"We are using heritage technology with a successful track record of reliability and performance and applying modern technology to create a safer, more efficient product for our customer," said John Vilja, J-2X program manager, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. "It's a dynamic blend of modern science and proven technology as we move into the next-generation of space-launch vehicles. This approach will significantly reduce the overall cost of the development program."
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