A California company has been awarded a $50 million NASA contract to start the development of an engine the agency intends to use on two new rockets that will loft astronauts and payloads on missions to the moon and Mars.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Inc. of Canoga Park, Calif., will build the J-2X, an upgraded version of the engine that powered the second and third stages of the Saturn 5 rockets that launched Apollo astronauts to the moon.
NASA intends to use the J2X to power the second stage of a new Crew Launch Vehicle that will be built to launch Apollo-style capsules that will carry astronauts on missions to the International Space Station, the moon, Mars and other celestial destinations.
The J-2X also will be used as the propulsion system for the second stage of a Cargo Launch Vehicle that will loft lunar landers, habitats and other hefty payloads needed to stage human expeditions to locations throughout the solar system.
In addition, the engine will power an Earth departure stage that will propel NASA's Crew Exploration Vehicle, which is being built to replace the agency's space shuttles, and other payloads to the moon from low Earth orbit.
The cost reimbursement contract covers a period that extends until Nov. 30. The money will be used to start conceptual design of the engine and procure long lead items for the J-2X. Initial systems requirement and design reviews will take place in September and October, respectively.
Image note: Click to enlarge the NASA artist's concept of the agency's planned Crew Launch Vehicle blasting off with Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the background.
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