NASA's New Upper Stage Engine Passes Major Test

[NASA News <hqnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Nov. 9, 2011

Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington 
Headquarters, Washington                                         
202-358-1979/5241 
michael.j.braukus@xxxxxxxx/j.d.harrington@xxxxxxxx 

Rebecca Strecker 
Stennis Space Center, Miss. 
228-688-3249 
rebecca.a.strecker@xxxxxxxx 

Daniel Kanigan 
Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. 
256-544-6849 
daniel.n.kanigan@xxxxxxxx 

RELEASE: 11-380

NASA'S NEW UPPER STAGE ENGINE PASSES MAJOR TEST

BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. -- NASA conducted a successful 500-second test 
firing of the J-2X rocket engine on Wednesday, Nov. 9, marking 
another important step in development of an upper stage for the 
heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS). 

SLS will carry the Orion spacecraft, its crew, cargo, equipment and 
science experiments to destinations in deep space. SLS will be safe, 
affordable and sustainable to continue America's journey of discovery 
from the unique vantage point of space. 

"The J-2X engine is critical to the development of the Space Launch 
System," Dan Dumbacher, NASA's deputy associate administrator for 
exploration systems development, said after the test at NASA's 
Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. "Today's test means NASA is 
moving closer to developing the rocket it needs if humans are to 
explore beyond low-Earth orbit." 

Data from the test will be analyzed as operators prepare for 
additional engine firings. The J-2X and the RS-25D/E engines for the 
SLS core stage will be tested for flight certification at Stennis. 
Both engines use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants. The 
core stage engines were developed originally for the space shuttle. 

"The J-2X engine team and the SLS program as a whole are extremely 
happy that we accomplished a good, safe and successful test today," 
said Mike Kynard, Space Launch System Engines Element Manager at 
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. "This engine 
test firing gives us critical data to move forward in the engine's 
development." 

Stennis has tested engines that carried Americans to space in both the 
Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. The J-2X engine is being developed 
for Marshall by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne of Canoga Park, Calif. 

"We look forward to adding to the legacy as we fulfill our 
responsibility to test engines that will power America's next launch 
vehicle," said Stennis Director Patrick Scheuermann. 

For more information about NASA exploration, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration 

For information about NASA's Space Launch System, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/SLS 

	
-end-



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