Vulcain 2 Engine Now In Full Production

ROCKET SCIENCE

Vulcain 2 test firing.

Vernon, France (ESA) Apr 06, 2005
A small ceremony took place Tuesday at the site of Snecma Moteurs in Vernon, France, to mark the beginning of industrial production of the Vulcain 2 engine, designed for the new Ariane 5 ECA and Ariane 5 ES ATV launchers.

Present at the ceremony was Patrick Devedjian, the French Minister for Industry and Jean-Paul Bechat, Chairman of the Executive Board of Sagem-Snecma. ESA was represented by Antonio Fabrizi, Director of Launchers and Robert Laine, Head of the Ariane Department.

"As the 12 February Ariane 5 ECA qualification flight was a complete success; we can now go into full production of the Vulcain 2 engine," said Jean-Paul Bechat.

The Vulcain 2 is used for the main stage of the Ariane 5 ECA that can place payloads of up to 10 tonnes into geostationary orbit, and by the Ariane 5 ES ATV, designed to deliver ESA's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) to the International Space Station (ISS).

Ariane 5 ES ATV's maiden flight is planned for 2006. It will place the ATV into a 300 km circular low Earth orbit, inclined to 51.6 degrees, from where the ATV will use its own propulsion system to reach and dock with the ISS.

Vulcain 2 is a modification of the Vulcain cryogenic engine used by the Ariane 5 Generic launcher and has an increased thrust of 20%. The engine operates under slightly higher pressure than that used for the Ariane 5 G and with a mixture ratio of 20% more liquid oxygen.

Its new oxygen turbopump operates at 13 000 rpm to deliver a pressure of 161 bar.

This redesigned engine also has a new nozzle and nozzle extension to allow exhaust from the turbopumps to be re-injected into the main system, thus improving engine performance at high altitudes.

All these modifications mean that the Vulcain 2 engine can provide an additional lift capability of 1.3 tonnes into geostationary orbit.

During yesterday's ceremony, those present met with the Vulcain 2 designers and technicians, and visited the test centre to see a Vulcain 2 engine, the first produced under a contract for 30 engines.

Antonio Fabrizi said after the ceremony: "This first contract for Vulcain 2 engines has been placed under the European Guaranteed Access to Space Ariane 5 Programme. It ensures that Ariane 5 launchers will be available for European missions."

ROCKET SCIENCE

SpaceX Completes Falcon I Structural Qualification For Flight

El Segundo CA (SPX) Apr 04, 2005
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) last Thursday announced the completion of qualification and acceptance testing of all primary structures for the Falcon I launch vehicle.

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