Abstract
Liquid propellant rocket engines are extreme power density devices that produce incredible amounts of power in extreme environments. The thrust produced by a single Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) is more than 20 F-15 fighter jet turbofan engine thrust combined; the total power output of the three SSMEs used on the Space Shuttle is equivalent to the power of 23 Hoover dams; operating temperatures are greater than any mechanical system known to man – from 6000˚ F in the combustion chamber to - 423˚ F just a few inches away.
Developing these engines requires hardware knowledge, experience, access to unique and costly test facilities, state-of-the-art tools and technologies, highly capable well-educated staff, and good engineering and financial acumen.
In this lecture, the speaker will cover the highlights of the engine development process from the perspective of a chief engineer who, with his/her team, is responsible from concept definition to flight hardware production. In addition, engineering challenges and technology needs of current and future direction of the space propulsion industry and the emerging global competition will be given.
About the speaker
Dr Munir Sindir received his BS from University of Central Florida, MS from University of Florida and PhD from University of California at Davis. He worked for Science Applications International as a Senior Scientist since and eventually moved to Rocketdyne in 1984. In 2014, Dr Sindir retired from Rocketdyne as a Senior Director of Engineering and started his own technical and management consulting company, MuKaSe.
Dr Sindir’s direct responsibilities in his career included leading Engineering Organizations of over 1400 engineers and scientists specializing in Design, Analysis, Test, Materials, Product Support, Software Engineering, Component Product Engineering, and Systems Engineering. He also led the Fellows Programs, University Relations, and new technology development projects and investment. Programs supported include Space Shuttle, Delta, and Atlas launch systems as well as new engines developed for the NASA space exploration initiatives: X-33, RS-68, J-2X, and others. He was also involved in the development of terrestrial and space-based power systems, altitude and control propulsion systems for missile defense applications, and new hypersonic and combined cycle engines.
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