Boeing's Rocketdyne and Lockheed Martin have completed testing of the engines for the new Delta IV and Atlas V launchers.
Rocketdyne has finished testing and received certification for the 650,000lb-thrust (2,890kN) RS-68 engine, which will boost the Delta IV fleet of launchers, with a first flight set for May. The engine has been test-fired 183 times for a total of 18,645s. Boeing has also completed five hot fire tests of the engine integrated with the Delta IV Common Core Booster.
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin has conducted the final test firing of the US-Russian RD AMROSS-Pratt & Whitney-NPO Energomash RD-180 engine with a 350s burn at 47% and 100% power levels. The engine is now qualified for the Atlas V. The programme has involved 135 tests lasting 25,450s.
Source: Flight International
