CECE demonstrates propulsion technologies to land on the moon

Citation

(2006), "CECE demonstrates propulsion technologies to land on the moon", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778faf.010

CECE demonstrates propulsion technologies to land on the moon

CECE demonstrates propulsion technologies to land on the moon

Keywords: Aerospace industry, Space technology

In recent testing, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's (PWR) Common Extensible Cryogenic Engine (CECE) reportedly exceeded performance goals and demonstrated propulsion technologies required to land on the moon in support of NASA's Vision for Space Exploration. PWR is a business unit of United Technologies Corp.

In a Phase I Development Program test, the CECE demonstrated an overall “deep throttling” capability of 11.4-1, exceeding the test goal of 10-1. Deep throttling, or a wide variation of thrust, enables a vehicle to maintain adequate thrust during in-space travel, yet have a controlled descent at its final destination.

The CECE has accumulated a total run time of 900s during testing that began in April at PWR facilities in West Palm Beach, Fla. Review of preliminary test data indicates all primary and secondary test objectives were achieved.

“We are extremely pleased that the performance of the CECE clearly demonstrates the engine is fully capable of supporting NASA's lunar-landing objectives” said Graham Webb, General Manager, PWR – West Palm Beach.

“The CECE project has achieved an early success for NASA's exploration program by demonstrating that a cryogenic engine can be throttled over a wide thrust range, which may enable its use in a variety of mission applications” said Chris Moore, Program Executive for Exploration Technology at NASA Headquarters.

PWR's CECE Program Manager, Victor Giuliano, noted, “The collaborative efforts of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and NASA Glenn Research Center made it possible to begin engine system-level testing for deep-throttling technology advancement only 10 months after program start.”

The CECE is a deep-throttling, 15,000-pound-thrust-class engine fueled by a mixture of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The engine will validate key component technologies required by high energy, in-space propulsion systems for future space exploration such as the Lunar Surface Access Module, the Crew Exploration Vehicle and in-space transfer systems.

NASA awarded PWR a $6 million contract in June 2005 to begin development of the CECE. The two- phase technology development program includes two separate design, manufacturing and engine system-level demonstration tests.

The CECE is built upon PWR's extensive experience in cryogenic propulsion. The engine benefits from the fundamental design of the RL10, which has earned a reputation of being one of the most reliable, safe and high performing cryogenic upper-stage engines ever developed. The RL10 is currently in production for service on the Atlas and Delta launch vehicles.