The future of the AJ10

[the_roche_lobe]

Delta II - going
Delta IV 'lite' - stillborn
Shuttle - going
Constellation - going/gone

Is there a future for the long running AJ10 family?
Is it even still in production?

P

[Jim]

Delta II - going
Delta IV 'lite' - stillborn
Shuttle - going
Constellation - going/gone

Is there a future for the long running AJ10 family?
Is it even still in production?

Production for Delta II ended years ago.

[Downix]

Delta II - going
Delta IV 'lite' - stillborn
Shuttle - going
Constellation - going/gone

Is there a future for the long running AJ10 family?
Is it even still in production?

P

It is still available to purchase.  Its systems are such that I would not be surprised if LM, Boeing or SNC utilizes it in their crew vehicle.  I know if I was looking at crew vehicle development it would be at the top of my list.

[kevin-rf]

It is still available to purchase.  Its systems are such that I would not be surprised if LM, Boeing or SNC utilizes it in their crew vehicle.  I know if I was looking at crew vehicle development it would be at the top of my list.

With 9 solids? Look at the January 1997 fireball... The AJ-10 on top of an Atlas or Delta-IV might make more sense.

[Downix]

It is still available to purchase.  Its systems are such that I would not be surprised if LM, Boeing or SNC utilizes it in their crew vehicle.  I know if I was looking at crew vehicle development it would be at the top of my list.

With 9 solids? Look at the January 1997 fireball... The AJ-10 on top of an Atlas or Delta-IV might make more sense.

huh??

[Nick L.]

It is still available to purchase.  Its systems are such that I would not be surprised if LM, Boeing or SNC utilizes it in their crew vehicle.  I know if I was looking at crew vehicle development it would be at the top of my list.

With 9 solids? Look at the January 1997 fireball... The AJ-10 on top of an Atlas or Delta-IV might make more sense.

Kevin, I think he's talking about the AJ10 engine, not Delta II.

[Downix]

It is still available to purchase.  Its systems are such that I would not be surprised if LM, Boeing or SNC utilizes it in their crew vehicle.  I know if I was looking at crew vehicle development it would be at the top of my list.

With 9 solids? Look at the January 1997 fireball... The AJ-10 on top of an Atlas or Delta-IV might make more sense.

Kevin, I think he's talking about the AJ10 engine, not Delta II.

That is what I took it as, hence why the "Huh?"

[kevin-rf]

My miss read, I thought you ment you would start with the Delta II.

I agree the AJ-10 would be excellent. It has a history that dates back further than the RL-10.

[Ben the Space Brit]

OSC are interested in having a relight-capable upper stage for Taurus-II.  Aerojet have offered AJ-10.  I also suspect that AJ-10 may find its way into at least one (Lockheed's) commercial crew vehicle proposal.

[Downix]

Is there a future for the long running AJ10 family?
Is it even still in production?

A version of the AJ10 powers the Shuttle orbiter OMS units.  This engine is being further developed to power the Orion service module. 

Oh wait.  There isn't going to be an Orion service module. 

Never mind. 

 - Ed Kyle

But there will be a Dream Chaser, Boeing/Bigelow's "Orion Lite" and whatever LM is working on, all of which are prime canidates for the AJ-10.

[Patchouli]

Is there a future for the long running AJ10 family?
Is it even still in production?

A version of the AJ10 powers the Shuttle orbiter OMS units.  This engine is being further developed to power the Orion service module. 

Oh wait.  There isn't going to be an Orion service module. 

Never mind. 

 - Ed Kyle

But there will be a Dream Chaser, Boeing/Bigelow's "Orion Lite" and whatever LM is working on, all of which are prime canidates for the AJ-10.

Doesn't Dreamchaser have an OMS based off SS1/SS2's propulsion system?

But I can see the AJ10 having a future on a lunar variant of Dragon or a commercial cargo tug.

[Downix]

Does anyone have a good manual of the AJ-10, now I am curious to see what it can do.

[mmeijeri]

But I can see the AJ10 having a future on a lunar variant of Dragon or a commercial cargo tug.

Wouldn't Kestrel be more likely?

[Danderman]

But I can see the AJ10 having a future on a lunar variant of Dragon or a commercial cargo tug.

Wouldn't Kestrel be more likely?

AFAIK, Kestral is a kerolox system, not good for long term use.

[mmeijeri]

AFAIK, Kestral is a kerolox system, not good for long term use.

At L1/L2 and with good insulation that might not be too much of a problem. Or else with a kerosene/peroxide variant. Not that AJ-10 would not be great, but SpaceX seems to prefer to build things themselves.

[Robotbeat]

AFAIK, Kestral is a kerolox system, not good for long term use.

At L1/L2 and with good insulation that might not be too much of a problem. Or else with a kerosene/peroxide variant. Not that AJ-10 would not be great, but SpaceX seems to prefer to build things themselves.

Only if they can't get a good enough price from outside, which happens a lot when lots of people are used to juicy fat-margin contracts.

[Patchouli]

The AJ10 could still find use by Orbital on future versions of Cygnus.
A crewed variant could make use of a higher thrust OMS system and they too could become interested in a lunar capable vehicle.
OSC seems to prefer to not reinvent something if it can be bought off the shelf.

[mmeijeri]

AJ-10 is my favourite for near-term storable propulsion, but a kerosene/peroxide Merlin and Kestrel would be great too. If you wanted to use this for landers you might want a pump-fed version anyway. If you're going to develop a new engine, you may as well go with something non-toxic.

[Vahe231991]

The Orion spacecraft that was first launched on December 5, 2014, relies on the AJ10 for primary propulsion. Therefore, the AJ10 is still in use even though the Delta II that used an AJ10 as the rocket motor for the second stage was retired in 2018.

Link:
https://newatlas.com/nasa-test-fire-service-module-engine/60944/
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orion-mpcv.htm

[Jim]

The Orion spacecraft that was first launched on December 5, 2014, relies on the AJ10 for primary propulsion. Therefore, the AJ10 is still in use even though the Delta II that used an AJ10 as the rocket motor for the second stage was retired in 2018.

No, it had no active service module and hence no AJ10

[MATTBLAK]

The Orion spacecraft that was first launched on December 5, 2014, relies on the AJ10 for primary propulsion. Therefore, the AJ10 is still in use even though the Delta II that used an AJ10 as the rocket motor for the second stage was retired in 2018.

No, it had no active service module and hence no AJ10

I know, right?! People making authoritative statements such as that the 2014 flight's Service Module had an engine - such a thing would be easy to look up and confirm.

[Vahe231991]

The Orion spacecraft that was first launched on December 5, 2014, relies on the AJ10 for primary propulsion. Therefore, the AJ10 is still in use even though the Delta II that used an AJ10 as the rocket motor for the second stage was retired in 2018.

No, it had no active service module and hence no AJ10

I know, right?! People making authoritative statements such as that the 2014 flight's Service Module had an engine - such a thing would be easy to look up and confirm.

As explained here, the Orion's service module is powered by one AJ10-190 engine, which generates 5,778 pounds of thrust.

[Skyrocket]

The Orion spacecraft that was first launched on December 5, 2014, relies on the AJ10 for primary propulsion. Therefore, the AJ10 is still in use even though the Delta II that used an AJ10 as the rocket motor for the second stage was retired in 2018.

No, it had no active service module and hence no AJ10

I know, right?! People making authoritative statements such as that the 2014 flight's Service Module had an engine - such a thing would be easy to look up and confirm.

As explained here, the Orion's service module is powered by one AJ10-190 engine, which generates 5,778 pounds of thrust.

Here is a photo showing the Artemis-1 Orion spacecraft with the AJ10-90 engine. It is the first Orion capsule with this engine.
The Orion EFT-1 flight did not have a service module, hence no AJ10 engine

[Jim]

As explained here, the Orion's service module is powered by one AJ10-190 engine, which generates 5,778 pounds of thrust.

There was no active service module or AJ10 on EFT-1.

Look at the date of the article you linked

[Vahe231991]

As explained here, the Orion's service module is powered by one AJ10-190 engine, which generates 5,778 pounds of thrust.

There was no active service module or AJ10 on EFT-1.

Look at the date of the article you linked

This article doesn't mention the EFT-1 mission, it only emphasizes that the Orion space modules being earmarked for the Artemis missions have been or are being fitted with the AJ10.

[DanClemmensen]

As explained here, the Orion's service module is powered by one AJ10-190 engine, which generates 5,778 pounds of thrust.

There was no active service module or AJ10 on EFT-1.

Look at the date of the article you linked

This article doesn't mention the EFT-1 mission, it only emphasizes that the Orion space modules being earmarked for the Artemis missions have been or are being fitted with the AJ10.

Please read the Wikipedia article for an overview, and then read that article's references. EFT-1 did not have a real service module.
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration_Flight_Test-1
Also, don't argue with Jim. He was there. You were not.

[jbenton]

As explained here, the Orion's service module is powered by one AJ10-190 engine, which generates 5,778 pounds of thrust.

There was no active service module or AJ10 on EFT-1.

Look at the date of the article you linked

This article doesn't mention the EFT-1 mission, it only emphasizes that the Orion space modules being earmarked for the Artemis missions have been or are being fitted with the AJ10.

Though you're right that the Orion CSM will use AJ10, they're mentioning EFT-1 because you described it as "the Orion spacecraft's first flight."

The Orion spacecraft that was first launched on December 5, 2014, relies on the AJ10 for primary propulsion. Therefore, the AJ10 is still in use even though the Delta II that used an AJ10 as the rocket motor for the second stage was retired in 2018.

Link:
https://newatlas.com/nasa-test-fire-service-module-engine/60944/
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/orion-mpcv.htm

Emphasis mine.

That flight only had the capsule with no service module. Artemis 1 will be the first launch with the whole CSM stack, including the AJ10. The articles you linked say that Orion will use AJ10 in flight they do not say that it was used on EFT-1. I don't think that you're asserting that it was used in EFT-1, but the way you phrased it, you seemed to imply that it was used in EFT-1.

[edkyle99]

Aren't the Orion AJ10 engines repurposed from Shuttle orbiters?  There are a limited number available I suspect.

 - Ed Kyle

[Jim]

As explained here, the Orion's service module is powered by one AJ10-190 engine, which generates 5,778 pounds of thrust.

There was no active service module or AJ10 on EFT-1.

Look at the date of the article you linked

This article doesn't mention the EFT-1 mission, it only emphasizes that the Orion space modules being earmarked for the Artemis missions have been or are being fitted with the AJ10.

It doesn't have to mention EFT-1.  Look at the title of the article "ORION’S EUROPEAN SERVICE MODULE MAKES ITS DEBUT AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER"  It means the first one. 

[Jim]

The Orion spacecraft that was first launched on December 5, 2014, relies on the AJ10 for primary propulsion.

This specific sentence is wrong or at the least misleading. 

The Orion spacecraft that was launched on December 5, 2014 did not rely on the AJ10 for primary propulsion.

[tadaniels]

Aren't the Orion AJ10 engines repurposed from Shuttle orbiters?  There are a limited number available I suspect.

 - Ed Kyle

My understanding is that they are re-purposed STS OMS engines.

[Hog]

Aren't the Orion AJ10 engines repurposed from Shuttle orbiters?  There are a limited number available I suspect.

 - Ed Kyle

My understanding is that they are re-purposed STS OMS engines.

They are, and NASA put out an RFI back in 2019 for new ones.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45002.0

[Vahe231991]

Are there any photos of the AJ10 engines being incorporated into Orion space capsule earmarked for the Artemis II mission, since the space capsule for the Artemis III mission is still under construction?

[Kaputnik]

So are new AJ10s available?
If not, what is the current stock of ex-Shuttle engines?

Anybody else here old enough to remember the original methalox design for Orion... *sigh*...

[russianhalo117]

So are new AJ10s available?
If not, what is the current stock of ex-Shuttle engines?

Anybody else here old enough to remember the original methalox design for Orion... *sigh*...

The AJ10 production modernization and restart programme is underway. A new modernized and additively manufactured version is in development to replace all legacy AJ10 versions and variants. Also AJ10 is undergoing an incremental upgrades testing programme like RS-25.

[Hog]

So are new AJ10s available?
If not, what is the current stock of ex-Shuttle engines?

Anybody else here old enough to remember the original methalox design for Orion... *sigh*...

There was an article that detailed all the specifics, I looked but couldn't find it.  It was dated from when one was hotfired.

[hektor]

Are there any photos of the AJ10 engines being incorporated into Orion space capsule earmarked for the Artemis II mission, since the space capsule for the Artemis III mission is still under construction?

There is only one engine per Orion. The engine was already installed - in the case of Artemis II - on the second European Service Module which was delivered to KSC a few month ago. Likewise for Artemis III an AJ10 has been shipped or should be shipped to Germany for the same purpose. Ditto for Artemis IV, etc.

Airbus readies the no. 2 European Service Module for its crewed mission to the Moon

[Vahe231991]

In the wake of the success of the first launch of the SLS, once the Orion spacecraft being used in the Artemis 1 mission approaches lunar orbit we should expect images to be released of Orion CM-002 firing the AJ10 engine to the lunar orbit insertion.

[russianhalo117]

In the wake of the success of the first launch of the SLS, once the Orion spacecraft being used in the Artemis 1 mission approaches lunar orbit we should expect images to be released of Orion CM-002 firing the AJ10 engine to the lunar orbit insertion.

AFAIU it is going to a distant retrograde orbit.

[DanClemmensen]

In the wake of the success of the first launch of the SLS, once the Orion spacecraft being used in the Artemis 1 mission approaches lunar orbit we should expect images to be released of Orion CM-002 firing the AJ10 engine to the lunar orbit insertion.

AFAIU it is going to a distant retrograde orbit.

Yes, but"distant retrograde orbit" does not convey the true strangeness of this trajectory at all. The spacecraft has two close encounters with the Moon, one when entering this orbit and one as it is leaving. The trajectory between these events is a wondrous pair of loops around the moon that do not look like ellipses at all. There is an animation at:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_1

[Vahe231991]

Has NASA released any images showing the Orion space capsule used for the Artemis 1 mission firing the AJ10-190 engines for entering distant retrograde lunar orbit?