LOX/Methane Advances
“This type of engine is a strong candidate for use in a launch vehicle propulsion system that is low cost, but offers the high operational responsiveness needed to pursue our aggressive space exploration goals,” said Robert L. Sackheim, assistant center director and chief engineer for space propulsion at the Marshall Center. “As we move forward, the technology offers the opportunity to fly more and learn more.”
CEV LOX/Methane Update: Is It In – Or Is It Out?, earlier post
Horowitz: “It’s just in the short term we looked at all of our propulsion needs and the ability to do a cost-effective run-out of our launch vehicles to support the lunar and then eventually the Mars programs and so in that cost and benefit trade, and technical trades, we came upon some trades that said we were gonna delay LOX/methane on the CEV until a later time.”
