Developing Upper-Stage RL-10C-X Engine

Aerojet Rocketdyne is expanding of its existing advanced engine development agreement with the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) to develop the upper-stage RL10C-X engine and continue the AR1 booster engine development program through production of the first engine.

The RL10C-X represents the future of the nation’s premiere upper-stage rocket engine, the RL10, which has accumulated more than 50 years of proven flight experience. Using advanced 3-D printing technology paired with other modern manufacturing techniques, production costs for the RL10C-X will be greatly reduced without compromising current performance and reliability or impacting the launch vehicle interfaces.

Aerojet Rocketdyne has completed several successful hot-fire demonstrations of components built using 3-D printing, including a new thrust chamber assembly for the RL10C-X. Major components of the engine that are currently built from many parts that require significant touch labor to fabricate and assemble will be consolidated into just a few 3-D printed parts, reducing lead-times and costs. With RL10C-X, Aerojet Rocketdyne will be able to continue to offer a highly-reliable, high-performance upper-stage engine at reduced costs to its customers.

“Aerojet Rocketdyne has extensive experience building rocket engines for most of the nation’s preeminent launch vehicles and we will continue that legacy with the RL10C-X engine,” said Eileen Drake, CEO and president of Aerojet Rocketdyne. “We’re also excited to continue development of the AR1 engine; this is an American engine with a bright future.”

The AR1 uses liquid-oxygen (LOX)/kerosene (RP-1) to provide over 500,000 pounds of thrust and is suited to power the core stage of current and future medium- to heavy-lift launch vehicles. It incorporates industry-leading manufacturing technology, including 3-D printing to enhance affordability.

“We are currently manufacturing our first complete AR1 engine that will be ready for hot-fire testing in 2019,” added Drake. “AR1 is an ideal engine for a wide number of applications; it brings together the right propellant combination, thrust level, size and performance for launch vehicles in the medium to heavy class. In combination with the RL10C-X upper-stage engine, the AR1 will further drive down the cost of launch propulsion with the schedule confidence and mission assurance of a flight-proven company. I remain steadfast that Aerojet Rocketdyne offers the best boost and upper stage propulsion solutions across the launch vehicle spectrum by combining advanced technology and proven development and production processes.”

Aerojet Rocketdyne and the Air Force signed a modification to their existing Rocket Propulsion System Other Transactional Authority agreement on June 22, 2018 to fund this collaboration.

(Image provided with Aerojet Rocketdyne news release)

FMI: www.rocket.com