Aerojet will use the facility to test subscale components of the hydrogen peroxide Advanced Reusable Rocket Engine (ARRE) it is developing for the Air Force's Space Maneuver Vehicle. Other uses of the facility include testing the Liquid Booster System -- a pump-fed, peroxide engine Aerojet is developing for Army target vehicles.

"Having a peroxide test facility on-plant is integral to our development process. It reduces the cost and schedule risks to the customer and puts all of our specialists, engineers and technicians in one place," said Dave Gallet, Aerojet ARRE program manager.

Aerojet has decades of experience testing hazardous propellants. This facility applies that expertise to hydrogen peroxide, which can be difficult to handle safely. The effort is needed because of growing customer demand for nontoxic propellants.

Aerojet's facility can test engines with high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide at sea level pressure. Future enhancements will enable altitude testing, which simulates operation in space, using both pressure-fed and pump-fed engine designs at up to 100,000 pounds of thrust.

Aerojet's ARRE is a non-toxic, hydrogen peroxide engine that utilizes advanced injection concepts, fabrication processes and chamber materials. The Air Force's Space Maneuver Vehicle is an unmanned space vehicle envisioned as a reusable satellite bus. The ARRE also has applications on the Space Launch Initiative, NASA's effort to develop technologies for a second-generation reusable launch vehicle.

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