Aerojet

Aerojet Rocketdyne has announced it secured a contract from Nasa and Boeing, which has a combined value of nearly $1.4bn for developing a space launch system engine.

The company said Nasa awarded a $1.16bn contract to resume production of the RS-25 engine to be used for the agency’s new Space Launch system (SLS).

Previously, NASA used the engine in its space shuttle programme.

The liquid hydrogen or oxygen fuelled RS-25 engines are considered to be one of the most trusted rocket booster engines. In the future, the modified and upgraded engine is expected to carry humans to Mars.

Four RS-25 engines are expected to be used in the SLS rocket, which will generate more than two million pounds of thrust. The first test flight of SLS is scheduled in 2018.

Aerojet Rocketdyne programme execution advanced space and launch programmes vice president Jim Paulsen said: "The RS-25 engines designed under this new contract will be expendable with significant affordability improvements over previous versions.

"The RS-25 engines designed under this new contract will be expendable with significant affordability improvements over previous versions."

"This is due to the incorporation of new technologies, such as the introduction of simplified designs; 3D printing technology called additive manufacturing and streamlined manufacturing in a modern, state-of-the-art fabrication facility."

Separately, Aerojet received another contract from Boeing to carry out the design, development, qualification, certification and initial production of the propulsion system for the Nasa Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner service module propulsion system. The contract is valued at $200m.

Under the commercial crew transportation capability (CCtCap) subcontract with Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne will provide seven hardware sets with additional options.

Each of the hardware sets will include four launch abort engines, 24 engines for on-orbit maneuvering and attitude control, 28 engines for the reaction control system (RCS) engines and other tools.

Boeing CST-100 is expected to take astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for Nasa by 2017.

Aerojet Rocketdyne CST-100 service module propulsion system programme manager Terry Lorier said: "Aerojet Rocketdyne is leveraging adaptations of proven hardware and technologies to deliver an affordable reliable propulsion system that can be counted on to perform throughout the spacecraft’s mission and ensure the safety of the astronauts and success of the mission."


Image: RS-25 engine testing for Nasa’s space launch system. Photo: courtesy of Nasa.