Scott Nicholas
Aerojet Rocketdyne has conducted hot-fire acceptance tests on eight auxiliary engines to be used on the inaugural flight of NASA‘s Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System next year.
The company said Wednesday it oversees the development of auxiliary engines for the European Space Agency’s European Service Module that will provide air and water, temperature control, power and propulsion capacity for Orion crew members.
Aerojet Rocketdyne will also assist Orion’s prime contractor and builder Lockheed Martin in efforts to refurbish the Orbital Maneuvering Subsystem engine of the ESM.
Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO, said the design approach on the power and propulsion systems for the ESM followed similar strategies from the Apollo program.
“Successful acceptance testing of the auxiliary engines brings us one step closer to enabling human exploration well beyond low-Earth orbit,” said Mike Hawes, a vice president and Orion program manager at Lockheed.
