Return of Large Scale Upper Stage Rocket Thermal-Vacuum and Altitude Hot-Fire Test Capability to the U.S.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has undertaken a project to restore full-scale thermal-vacuum and altitude hot fire rocket testing capability within the United States by the end of 2020. The restoration of the In Space Propulsion (ISP) facility at the Glenn Research Center's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky Ohio will accommodate full-scale long duration cryogenic stage testing in a simulated space environment as well as hot-fire testing at altitudes up to 120,000 ft. The reference test article for the restoration is a 30,000lb thrust LOX/LH2 stage with a 300 second burn duration. This presentation will describe the scope and progress of the restoration, current capabilities, and planned and potential uses for the facility once fully restored.