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Performance of the Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility During Altitude Firing Tests of the Delta 3 Upper StageThe Spacecraft Propulsion Research Facility at the NASA Lewis Research Center's Plum Brook Station was reactivated in order to conduct flight simulation ground tests of the Delta 3 cryogenic upper stage. The tests were a cooperative effort between The Boeing Company, Pratt and Whitney, and NASA. They included demonstration of tanking and detanking of liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen and helium pressurant gas as well as 12 engine firings simulating first, second, and third burns at altitude conditions. A key to the success of these tests was the performance of the primary facility systems and their interfaces with the vehicle. These systems included the structural support of the vehicle, propellant supplies, data acquisition, facility control systems, and the altitude exhaust system. While the facility connections to the vehicle umbilical panel simulated the performance of the launch pad systems, additional purge and electrical connections were also required which were unique to ground testing of the vehicle. The altitude exhaust system permitted an approximate simulation of the boost-phase pressure profile by rapidly pumping the test chamber from 13 psia to 0.5 psia as well as maintaining altitude conditions during extended steady-state firings. The performance of the steam driven ejector exhaust system has been correlated with variations in cooling water temperature during these tests. This correlation and comparisons to limited data available from Centaur tests conducted in the facility from 1969-1971 provided insight into optimizing the operation of the exhaust system for future tests. Overall, the facility proved to be robust and flexible for vehicle space simulation engine firings and enabled all test objectives to be successfully completed within the planned schedule.
Document ID
19980219320
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Meyer, Michael L. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Dickens, Kevin W. (Sierra Lobo, Inc. Fremont, OH United States)
Skaff, Tony F. (Sierra Lobo, Inc. Fremont, OH United States)
Cmar, Mark D. (Sierra Lobo, Inc. Fremont, OH United States)
VanMeter, Matthew J. (Sierra Lobo, Inc. Fremont, OH United States)
Haberbusch, Mark S. (Sierra Lobo, Inc. Fremont, OH United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1998
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AIAA Paper 98-4010
NASA/TM-1998-208477
NAS 1.15:208477
E-11247
Meeting Information
Meeting: Propulsion
Location: Cleveland, OH
Country: United States
Start Date: July 12, 1998
End Date: July 15, 1998
Sponsors: Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Society for Electrical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 565-02-0D
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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