NASA To Build New Engine Test Stand At Stennis

WLOX Tv - Online ^ | May 8, 2007 | Not Stated

[Islander7]

NASA announced plans on Monday to build a new engine test stand at Stennis Space Center in Hancock County. The announcement represents an estimated $175 million investment in Stennis and serves to support the Constellation Project. That's NASA's plan to return the United States to the Moon and eventually to Mars.

The new stand at Stennis will test NASA's J-2X engines, which will be used in the second stage of the Ares I launch vehicle. NASA officials say the new 300-foot-tall open-frame design will allow engineers to simulate conditions at different altitudes. The new stand will be completed in time to support the first J-2X engine test in December 2010.

Stennis is already home to the Apollo-era test stands which are still currently used. An existing test stand at Stennis also is being modified to test the J-2X engine at sea level conditions.

The proposed new structure will be the first large test stand built at the center since the 1960s.

"The Apollo-era test stands have served us well over the last 40 years, and I'm excited that NASA will have a new stand to take us into the next 40 years as we aspire to return to the moon and eventually land a human on Mars," said SSC Director Richard J. Gilbrech.

[Islander7]

Senator Trent Lott said, "This decision helps cement Stennis Space Center's future as the nation's premier rocket testing facility. Stennis Space Center is indeed a catalyst for Mississippi's job growth, particularly as part of our state's growing aerospace industry. The research and development activity taking place at Stennis certainly complements Mississippi's effort to provide more high-tech, skilled employment opportunities for Mississippians."

[burzum]

An existing test stand at Stennis also is being modified to test the J-2X engine at sea level conditions.

Did I miss something here? The J-2X is only designed to be on the upper stages of the Ares I and the Ares V. Why do they need a sea level test?

[Islander7]

...Why do they need a sea level test?...

Because it would be too costly to build a test stand in the stratosphere! ;-)

[burzum]

Well, yeah!

Looking into this a little bit, I found that a proposed J-2T was designed with an aerospike nozzle, which obviously means that it was designed for use with atmospheric pressure. The J-2X has no need of that, so a test stand built specifically for sea-level conditions is useless. I wonder if this test stand is being built just in case they decide to revive the J-2T program, but using the fuzzy justification of the J-2X requirements for the Ares program. I suppose a rocket built with just J-2Ts and J-2Xs would be pretty cheap for space probes and such.

[anymouse]

It’s pork for Mississippi. Stennis already has plenty of rocket engine test stands that would work just fine with modification. So does Redstone/MSFC in Huntsville, AL.