Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!agate!pasteur!ucbvax!ulysses!smb
From: smb@ulysses.homer.nj.att.com (Steven M. Bellovin)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: New Shuttle engine
Message-ID: <11888@ulysses.homer.nj.att.com>
Date: 17 Jul 89 02:05:20 GMT
References: <3499@uokmax.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 11

In article <3499@uokmax.UUCP>, mflawson@uokmax.UUCP (Michael F Lawson) writes:
> I heard on CNN today that NASA had completed a test-firing of a new
> Shuttle engine.  Supposedly this was the third successful test.  Does
> anyone have more information?  Is this the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor,
> or is it a new design for the main engines?

The AP article strongly implied it was the main engine, since it spoke
of an earlier test's problem with nitrogen contamination of the liquid
hydrogen feed.  The new engine features an enlarged throat for the main
combustion chamber, to permit the engine to run at lower temperatures
and pressures.  The previous two tests were aborted.