CEV Mockup Pictures

Hello Ekkehard

I think the GO2/GCH4 listed is for the reaction control system on Orion which only has a thrust of 100lbf, this is not the methane engine that NASA were originally intending to use for the LSAM which was in the order of 20,000lbf thrust.

I think that they are using small methane engines for the RCS so that if in the future they develop a much bigger one for the LSAM or Mars assent vehicle then they will not have 2 different fuels.

Hello, Andy Hill,

I have similar thoughts about it. But am a right that up to now the RCSs used consumed N2O4/ADMH?

They are keeping GO2/GCH4 which could be a test in the earthian orbit. The first orbital flights might be used as the base to decide wether to keep the GO2/GCH4-concept for the LSAM or not...



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

J-2 is good tech, and I look forward to seeing it fly again.

There seem to be a number of variants to the J-2 engine and NASA appears to need at least 2 of these. I believe that they've were originally trying to increase engine efficiency with design modifications but are now going with the existing engineering designs. The only mod's being for the differing environments the engine will need to operate in.