Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has finished testing its orbital maneuvering and attitude control (OMAC) thrusters for Boeing's CST-100 spacecraft.
The 1,500lb (6.6kN) force thrust class engine achieved full thrust while validating key operating conditions," said Terry Lorier, Rocketdyne's commercial crew programme manager. The CST-100 is Boeing's entry into NASA's commercial crew integrated capability (CCiCap) programme to develop a shuttle to and from Earth for International Space Station (ISS) astronauts.
CST-100 will carry 24 of the Rocketdyne OMAC thrusters for in-space maneuvering. Rocketdyne also builds the launch abort system (LAS), a rocket perched atop the capsule to separate it from the launch vehicle should a launch abort be necessary.
CST-100 is currently conducting tests under the second commercial crew development (CCDev2) round and competing for CCiCap, the winners of which are expected to be announced in July.
Rocketdyne is being sold by parent company United Technology Corporation (UTC). Parties are reportedly close to a signing.
Source: Flight International
