Launch services provider Rocket Factory Augsburg AG has tested its staged combustion Helix engine for the first time for a total duration of 74 seconds. This marks the successful completion of the first test campaign of the Helix flight configuration and confirms RFA’s milestone traction towards service commercialization.
Launch service provider Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) successfully tested its Helix engine in flight configuration for a total of 74 seconds. The test campaign consisted of long-duration hot firings of 30 and 40 seconds each. This was preceded by a short test of four seconds. All three tests were conducted with the same engine, reached the desired duration, and were subsequently shut down safely.
“Helix operated perfectly for a total duration of 74 seconds– including three ignition and shut-down sequences without the need to replace any components on the engine. This first qualification campaign also included up-throttling the engine to 130% of the nominal design point for a brief period. We are truly excited that our design has proven so reliable and performant. We have enough data to focus our attention on the next milestone, the integrated systems test of the upper stage. In this test, Helix will fire for the full duration of an upper-stage flight. We have just made a huge leap towards our first launch by completing this first qualification campaign of Helix”.
said Dr. Stefan Brieschenk, the company’s Chief Operating Officer.
These tests conclude the Helix’s successful long-duration hot-fire campaign in flight configuration. The campaign, which was conducted in Kiruna, Sweden, is the most important milestone in the development process to date: A total of 74 seconds of steady-state combustion demonstrated the engine’s endurance and multiple ignition capability. Valuable data was collected for further optimization of the engine, which is 100% IP from RFA. RFA will now focus on the integrated system test, starting with maintenance and expansion work on the test stand. The test is scheduled for the end of the year.
Source: RFA Space
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