Development of the Space Shuttle Main Engine /May 1979/

During the last year, significant progress was made toward the development of the Space Shuttle Main Engine, which will provide propulsion for the Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicle. Engine system testing continued at the National Space Technology Laboratories on both single engines and a three-engine cluster. A third single engine test position was activated at the Rocketdyne Santa Susana Field Laboratory to provide additional capability for demonstrating increasing engine maturity and for solving problems. The results of engine system testing is discussed as well as the major problems identified and the design changes incorporated to solve those problems. A review of the program efforts toward the delivery of the first set of flight engines and the certification of the SSME for manned flight is included.