Successful Static Fire Test of Engine Gimballing System for Thrust Vector Control, 9/22/2002

A team from California State University, Long Beach and Garvey Spacecraft Corporation (GSC) conducted their first static fire test of a rocket engine gimballing system. This system is to be integrated into a thrust vector control system and flown on the Prospector-3 rocket in the next few months.

The test was conducted at the Mojave Test Area on Sept. 22, 2002. The TVC sequence was nominal, even though the burn was cut short by two seconds when the motor burned through at the nozzle interface. The latter was not a surprise, since this engine had been fired previously (June 2001) and was reaching the end of its lifetime. Details about the sequence as well as test data will be posted here shortly.

Integration started on Saturday afternoon, with the normal integration challenges in the software area. Sunday, the excitement came first from a frozen LOX vent relieve valve, and then ignition system glitches. Some rapid real-time fixes corrected both issues and the final countdown went smoothly.

• MPEG video (1.3 MB)

• Windows Media Video (4.3 MB)

For additional information about either the CALVEIN project and/or the cooperative program between CSULB and Garvey Spacecraft Corporation, please contact the following project representatives:

For additional information about either the CALVEIN project and/or the cooperative program between CSULB and Garvey Spacecraft Corporation, please contact the following project representatives:

Dr. Eric Besnard Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dept. California State University, Long Beach 1250 Bellflower Blvd Long Beach, CA 90840 Tel:(562) 985-5442 Fax:(562) 985-1669 Email:besnarde@csulb.edu

John Garvey Garvey Spacecraft Corporation 389 Haines Avenue Long Beach, CA 90840-1841 Tel:(562)-498-2984 Email: info@garvspace.com

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