NASA LogoNTRSNTRS - NASA Technical Reports ServerSearchmore_vertCollectionsAboutNewsHelpLogin Back to ResultsPerformance 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 ID19980219320Acquisition SourceLegacy CDMSDocument TypeReprint (Version printed in journal)AuthorsMeyer, 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 AcquiredSeptember 6, 2013Publication DateJuly 1, 1998Subject CategorySpacecraft Propulsion And PowerReport/Patent NumberAIAA Paper 98-4010NASA/TM-1998-208477NAS 1.15:208477E-11247Meeting InformationMeeting: PropulsionLocation: Cleveland, OHCountry: United StatesStart Date: July 12, 1998End Date: July 15, 1998Sponsors:Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.,American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics,American Society for Electrical Engineers,American Society of Mechanical EngineersFunding Number(s)PROJECT: RTOP 565-02-0DDistribution LimitsPublicCopyrightWork of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.Available DownloadsNameType19980219320.pdfSTIcloud_downloadcontent_copyvisibilityRelated RecordsThere are no records associated with this record.visibility_offNo Preview Available
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