Mar 052010
I’m still short one computer and am thus a bit capabilities-limited, but in the meantime please enjoy this layout drawing of the NERVA nuclear thermal rocket engine from Aerojet, drawn in 1962. I’ve a bunch of different NERVA designs I’ll probably post if there is interest.
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9 Responses to “Aerojet NERVA design, 1962”
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Please do!
Very cool. More please!!
I always think of Aerojet as the most unfortunate of the Golden Age space contractors. I’m sure from the standpoint of 1963 or so, they must have thought themselves to be in excellent shape, with the 260-inch solid motor, the M-1 LH2 engine, and NERVA all in the pipeline. A decade later, each of those programs was dead and buried, and not one of them ever flew a foot. Then, to top it off, they missed out on the SSME (through serious chicanery, if Dick Mulready’s book is to be believed), which was the last large rocket program for decades.
Now they’re converting their Sacramento-area test site into housing. How sad.
more more more Pleaseeee!!!
When I began hunting for contractor models for a wealthy collector, I came across three of the NERVA contractor models. I know Gene Young has one I gave him and the others were sold off at auction. If I can find a picture I’ll send it. It was a very detailed metal and wood model on a circular base that was a short truncated cone to the nozzle, very cool.
> I came across three of the NERVA contractor models.
I’ve seen two on eBay. Quickly ran *way* past my limit.
Follow up: this is NERVA 1 and not NERVA 2, I assume? (75K vs. 250K)
Actually, performance on this model was rather poor by later standards.
“Engine, Rocket, Nuclear, Shielded, Heated-bleed Model No. AJ31-6” was to have a vacuum thrust of 55,800 pounds, a specific impulse of 757 seconds, a chamber pressure of 550 psi and a cycle duration of 1200 seconds. The roll control thrustes would ahve a thrust of 621 lbs axial (per nozzle), 600 lbs longitudinal and an Isp of 335.8 seconds. Total dry weight of the engine was to be 13,758 lbs, 8550 lbs of which was the reactor.
George Allegrezza:I always think of Aerojet as the most unfortunate of the Golden Age space contractors.
You also forgot to mention the M-1 engine, the largest lox-H2 engine ever built – another one that never flew. But let me assure you that all is not lost – watch the Phoenix re-emerge from the ashes.
ADMIN’S NOTE: Actually, he didn’t forget the M-1.
[…] I have some remarkably good diagrams of early-program NERVA nuclear rocket designs (first half of the 1960′s), but the later, more refined designs remain a bit unavailable. (I know an archive that has several linear feet of NERVA stuff… anyone want to fund an expedition for me?) Here is an Aerojet diagram for a 75,000 lb-thrust NERVA from 1968. Compare to THIS design from 1962… […]