Wednesday, February 24, 2021
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

USAF, NASA collaborate on successful testing of Methane Engine

by Air Force News Agency
February 21, 2020
in Air Force News
3 min read
0
USAF, NASA collaborate on successful testing of Methane Engine

The Masten 25k lbf thrust Broadsword rocket engine. (Masten Space Systems photo/Matthew Kuhns)

17
SHARES
145
VIEWS

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE: The Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, and Masten Space Systems Inc. successfully tested a liquid methane rocket engine, the first of its kind tested at AFRL.

AFRL and Masten signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement in December 2018. The agreement enabled Masten to test the Broadsword 25K engine at AFRL’s rocket testing facility at Edwards Air Force Base in Test Area 1-125 and complete NASA’s Tipping Point contract requirement of a ten second hot fire test.

The Broadsword 25K engine required a large supply of high-pressure gaseous nitrogen to pressure feed their engine. AFRL’s Aerospace Systems Directorate and their Rocket Propulsion Division at Edwards AFB has the capability at Test Area 1-125 to deliver a large supply of high-pressure gaseous nitrogen.

The hot fire campaign started in July 2019 with four hot fire tests before the final test of 10 seconds of combustion. These hot fire tests validated the tune ignition and start-up transients of the engine. The culmination of testing ended Dec. 10, 2019 when Masten completed their Broadsword 25K engine test of 10 seconds of steady state combustion. The success of these hot fire tests validated Broadsword’s startup transient and steady state performance with the new technology developed under the Tipping Point program.

“Working on the 25K Broadsword Tipping Point has been a wonderful project,” said Matthew Kuhns, chief engineer at Masten Space Systems and principle investigator on Tipping Point. “The successful hot fire testing paves the way for exciting new high performance rocket engine designs,” he added.

“The Rocket Propulsion Division is leveraging our existing research and development test capabilities by partnering with new and non-traditional defense contractors in order to accelerate speed of discovery,” said Julie Carlile, deputy chief, Rocket Propulsion Division. “Collaborating with Masten provided this opportunity utilizing our established propulsion testing infrastructure to assist the commercial space sector’s emerging small launch capabilities and lunar science missions,” she said.

The Tipping Point public-private partnership is an innovative way NASA helps industry develop promising space technologies that could benefit future commercial and government missions.

Masten was founded by CTO David Masten in 2004 and is located in Mojave, California. Masten’s main focus is “enabling space transportation and reliable planetary landers for the Earth, Moon, Mars, and beyond. We are a passionate company of inventors, creators and builders with goals that include landing our own vehicle on the moon, according to the company website.”

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which invests in and develops transformative space technologies to enable future missions, selected Masten for a Tipping Point award to mature the M10A 25,000 lbf liquid oxygen/methane Broadsword Engine in 2017. NASA Tipping Point contracts are awarded to companies with technologies that are on the verge of maturation and are likely to benefit both NASA and the commercial space market.

The AFRL Rocket Lab at Edwards AFB has played a key role in advancing rocket engine technologies for the nation since 1952. AFRL has been a prominent player in nearly every liquid rocket engine developed and flown by the United States. This testing is a trailblazer for future liquid methane engine tests and partnerships among the commercial rocket industries.

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary Rocket Propulsion scientific research and development center for the United States Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development.

Tags: enginesmethane engineNASAUS air force
Previous Post

Turkey says might receive US missiles over Syria threat

Next Post

Sikorsky Receives Second Contract to Build Presidential Helicopters

Related Posts

United States B-1B bomber training in the Australian Top End

USAF begins retirement of B-1 aircraft, paving way for B-21

February 22, 2021

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE: In support of its efforts to modernize America’s bomber fleet, the Air Force will begin divesting...

Third NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Aircraft Arrives at Sigonella

NATO’s first operational UAS flying unit

February 22, 2021

Northrop Grumman's RQ-4D Phoenix Global Hawk has recently enabled NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Force to achieve a declaration of...

Next Post
Sikorsky Receives Second Contract to Build Presidential Helicopters

Sikorsky Receives Second Contract to Build Presidential Helicopters

Latest Defense News

United States B-1B bomber training in the Australian Top End

USAF begins retirement of B-1 aircraft, paving way for B-21

February 22, 2021
Four Taiwan ex-intelligence officers charged with spying for China

Four Taiwan ex-intelligence officers charged with spying for China

February 22, 2021
Saudi arms producer in defence venture with Lockheed Martin

Saudi arms producer in defence venture with Lockheed Martin

February 22, 2021
Third NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Aircraft Arrives at Sigonella

NATO’s first operational UAS flying unit

February 22, 2021
Israel and US begin Arrow 4 development

Israel and US begin Arrow 4 development

February 22, 2021
Norwegian Army Adding 20 CV90s to its Fleet

Norwegian Army Adding 20 CV90s to its Fleet

February 19, 2021

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Australian Army Discussions and Updates
  • General Maritime News
  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates
  • The Indonesian Army
  • Bombings, Mass shootings & Domestic Security Issues in the US
  • New Coronavirus threat
  • Afghanistan War
  • Facebook War Against Australia
  • China - Geostrategic & Geopolitical.
  • Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com