XCOR Aerospace Completes Successful Development Of Methane Rocket Engine

ROCKET SCIENCE

XCOR Aerospace's methane rocket engine.

Mojave CA (SPX) Aug 31, 2005
XCOR Aerospace announced Monday that it has successfully completed its first series of tests on a 50 pound thrust rocket engine fueled by methane and liquid oxygen.

"We are very pleased with the test results and expect increased performance in future versions," said XCOR Chief Engineer Dan DeLong. "These engine tests gave us operational familiarity working with methane. We have extensive experience with liquid oxygen, so running an engine with a cryogenic fuel wasn't a stretch for us."

Future generations of the 3M9 engine are intended for use as Reaction Control Systems (RCS) and satellite maneuvering systems. The advantages of a methane-fueled engine include long-term on-orbit storage, higher density than hydrogen engines, higher performance than kerosene engines, and the potential for using methane derived from the Martian atmosphere as a fuel source.

The engine tests took place at XCOR's facilities at Mojave Spaceport and consisted of 22 engine firings totaling 65 seconds. The longest engine firing was 7 seconds. This first series of tests was done with self-pressurizing propellants. Pressure-fed and pump-fed versions are also in development. Additional technical performance information may be available upon request.

ROCKET SCIENCE

Thirty Years And Counting

Stennis Space Center MS (SPX) Aug 23, 2005
The first was in 1975. Since then more than 2,200 tests on Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) have been completed at NASA's Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.