FARNBOROUGH, ENGLAND - GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) is beginning the development of revolutionary high-speed turbine technology for a new Mach 4 jet engine in conjunction with NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio USA.
NASA's Glenn Research Center has selected GEAE for the development of a Revolutionary Turbine Accelerator (RTA) technology demonstrator and may lead to installation on a third-generation reusable launch vehicle. The five-year, $55 million program will begin immediately under an existing task order and will result in testing of a demonstrator in 2006.
"Ultra-low cost space access can be realized by an affordable air-breathing propulsion system that provides aircraft-like operations. The economic solution points to a versatile propulsion platform which can be utilized in applications other than space access," said Paul Bartolotta, project manager for RTA at Glenn. "GEAE's RTA concept provided us with the most advanced versatile system."
NASA Glenn leads the RTA Project for NASA's Advanced Space Transportation Program managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
"The first goal is to develop and demonstrate the technology that can achieve sustained high supersonic speeds with quick-turnaround capability to resemble the operation of today's commercial aircraft," said Dr. Mike Benzakein, manager of advanced technology programs at GEAE. "If successful, the product will feature minimal ground time as opposed to today's space shuttle and will allow the aircraft to take off from a runway, instead of a launch pad."
The RTA features an augmentor/ramburner, a key technology to be developed for the Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) engine. During take-off and transition to supersonic flight, this device will serve as a conventional augmentor boosting the turbine engine thrust approximately 50%. Between Mach 2 and 3, the augmentor transitions to a ramburner, accelerating the vehicle to speeds above Mach 4. In addition, GEAE is constructing a fan to demonstrate the performance and efficiency of the new augmentor/ramburner.
The RTA is planned for use on the first stage of a 2-stage vehicle capable of hypersonic flight. At Mach 4, the second stage takes over and propels the vehicle into orbit. The two combined propulsion systems are a candidate to help NASA meet the agency's goal of developing safe, cost-effective access to space.
Advanced technologies from NASA's Ultra Efficient Engine Technology (UEET) Program and the DOD's Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology (IHPTET) programs will be leveraged in the RTA project.
GEAE has a long history of developing high-speed jet engines including the development of the world's first Mach 2 and Mach 3 engines. The GE J79-powered F-104 Starfighter was the first aircraft to achieve Mach 2 flight in 1958. The GE J93-powered XB-70 bomber was the first aircraft to achieve Mach 3 flight in October 1965.
GEAE, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) is the world's leading manufacturer of jet engines for civil and military aircraft, including engines produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of Snecma of France and GE. GEAE also manufactures gas turbines, derived from its highly successful jet engine programs, for marine and industrial applications. In addition, GEAE provides comprehensive maintenance support, through its GE Engine Services operation, for GE and non-GE jet engines in service throughout the world. Visit GEAE online at: http://www.geae.com.