A Triple Success for Rocket Propulsion

It looks like Rocket propulsion has achieved a triple success as three new propulsion systems have been successfully tested in in Europe and the USA. There’s also a big first for the UK rocket testing with the use of STERN motors at the University of Bristol held during late March this year.

The Bristol University engineers conducted four successful 1 second firings of the Static Test Expansion/Deflection Rocket Nozzle between 19th and 31st of March. These tests make a series of firsts for UK rocketry as this is the first time Expansion/Deflection (ED) nozzle motors have been tested and also the first use of hydrogen and air as propellants for STERNs.

Italy and America are also experiencing great successes with rocket propulsion. Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of the USA, successfully conducted its first simultaneous firing of three of its Merlin 1C kerosene, liquid oxygen engines, on 8th March this years. The test lasted for 18 seconds, and things look good to for the second test at SpaceX’s testing facilities in Texas which will use fives engines and then the final tests which will involve SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket’s nine-Merlin 1C configuration.

Italian propulsion company Avio’s second stage 26,000kg Zefiro 23 solid rocket motor was responsible for the third success of rocket propulsion. The test lasted for 80 seconds and was held at a test site in Sardinia. The Zefiro 23 solid rocket motor will power the European Space Agency Vega launcher, so these tests are great news.

All in all rocket propulsion has seen three excellent successes so far this year and we can look forward to more of the same as 2008 continues.

If you're looking to make a career change to a test engineer or perhaps position in the space industry then maybe 2008 is a good year to make your move.