Liquid Rocket Engine Test Capability - A Global Survey
- Paper number
IAC-07-C4.1.07
- Author
Dr. Shamim Rahman, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Stennis Space Center, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The global interest in space flight and its key technologies is accelerating as more and more earth applications are found for space borne assets. The physics of spacelift is such a key technology and interests all nations and peoples. Visionaries such as Oberth, Tsiokolvsky, Goddard and others, might not have imagined how quickly their early work on chemical rocket propulsion theory/analysis would open the doors to worldwide communications, environmental assessments, and so forth, and even transform geopolitics and national defense. Spacelift of course depends first and foremost on reliable rocketry. This reliability is always first demonstrated on the earth in rigorous ground testing on one-of-a-kind national asset test facilities that are typically built-to-suit. Once a purview of a few select spacefaring nations, in recent decades globalization has encouraged even developing nations to incorporate space access through propulsion into their national goals. Both government and private sectors are notably involved in rocket test capability, sometimes funded solely by commercial needs. This paper specifically examines an evolving suite of rocket propulsion test capability that is reported (indirectly) in descriptions of rocket propulsion development efforts worldwide. We compare and contrast the world’s (liquid rocket) chemical propulsion test capability as it is known to exist in open literature, including web sources. Both sea-level and altitude simulation test capability is discussed, with a focus on the medium-to-large scale test capability for boost and upper stage rocket propulsion. A point of departure for this paper was the study performed by The Aerospace Corporation in 2002 for NASA Stennis Space Center, as well as conference reports on major liquid rocket engine development or evolutions in recent years. It is found that approximately 12 nations possess world class rocket engine test capability with multiple test stands for use. This test infrastructure, which is in the critical path of rocket propulsion development, in effect enables the global market for space launch vehicles.
- Abstract document