NASA tests commercial AJ26 engine

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - Engineers at NASA's Stennis Space Center conducted a test of an Aerojet AJ26 flight engine Sept. 28 that will power the first stage of Orbital Sciences Corp's Taurus II space launch vehicle. The AJ26 engine test supports Orbital's development activities to provide commercial cargo resupply flights to the International Space Station that are scheduled to begin in 2012. The company is scheduled to demonstrate its Taurus II rocket and its Cygnus cargo transportation system in a mission scheduled for later this year under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) research and development initiative. The test on the E-1 Test Stand was performed by a team of Orbital, Aerojet and Stennis engineers. Data from the test will be reviewed and verified before the engine is delivered to the Wallops Flight Facility launch site in Virginia for installation on the Taurus II rocket's first-stage core. (Source: NASA, 09/28/11)