SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- Aerojet successfully test-fired a hydrogen/oxygen rocket engine with a Thrust-Augmented Nozzle (TAN), which injects and burns propellants downstream of the nozzle throat to increase thrust and create an "afterburning" engine.
The April 11 test at Aerojet's Sacramento facility demonstrated nearly 29 percent improvement in thrust performance by injecting and burning additional propellants into the supersonic flow path of the rocket nozzle at sea level conditions. The additional thrust was achieved without significant loss in engine efficiency -- a key goal of the test.
"The test results exceeded our predictions and provided excellent data for further development of the TAN design concept for use in booster engines," said Julie Van Kleeck, executive director of Space Systems for Aerojet.
Aerojet is proposing the TAN concept as an integral part of booster rocket engines for both the U.S. Air Force's and NASA's next generation reusable launch vehicles. Aerojet will conduct additional TAN development testing and reusable launch vehicle level studies over the next several months, followed by a 40,000 lb of thrust demonstration test in 2003 or 2004.
"The use of TAN on these next generation booster engines would provide significant safety, reliability and payload delivery benefits," said Mel Busman, Aerojet technical principal and inventor of the TAN concept.
Aerojet, a GenCorp company, is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader principally serving the missile and space propulsion, and defense and armaments markets.
