Nichols Martin
Aerojet Rocketdyne has shipped eight auxiliary engines, which will regulate the Orion spacecraft’s trajectory, for NASA’s second Artemis mission.
Also designed to back up the spacecraft’s main engine, the bipropellant engines will undergo integration with Orion’s European Service Module, the company said Tuesday.
Each auxiliary engine provides 110 pounds of thrust and will be placed at the bottom of the ESM that works to deliver propulsion, power and temperature control functions for Orion. The ESM also supplies water and air to astronauts.
Artemis 2 will be the Orion spacecraft’s first astronaut-crewed operation. The spacecraft will launch aboard the Space Launch System rocket for the mission, which is scheduled to commence in 2022.
The company manufactured and tested the engines under an agreement with Orion’s prime contractor, Lockheed Martin.
Aerojet Rocketdyne also recently delivered Orion’s jettison motor for the Artemis 1 mission.
