37th Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit · 2001 · 10 citations · 3 references
EngineeringAerospace EngineeringInternal Combustion EnginesPerformance MeasurementTest DevelopmentBenchmarkingEngine DesignEngine PerformanceEngine TestingLiquid Rocket EnginesTest ReliabilityDevelopment Cost EstimationEngine Performance TestingRocket Engine PerformanceRocket Engine Testing
Tests quantity, number of Engines fired, total cumulated firing time performed during development are key factors for reliability estimation, but above all, for Launcher customer trust. In other respect schedule and development cost are first order dependant of the Engine test plan: the difference between a high number of tests and a low rate test plan may be of about two years which is tremendous in front of the commercial satellite market trends. The paper compares the test plan of the major liquid rocket engine: Fl, J2, SSME, LE-7, LE-7A, VULCAIN 1 and 2, VINCI, RD-180, RS-68, HM7, LE-5A and LE-5B.
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