KHIMKI, Moscow Region. Nov 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Repairs have been completed at the firing bench of the Energomash Glushko research and production association in Moscow, Energomash Director General and Constructor General Boris Katorgin said on Monday.
The bench is fully prepared for the next series of tests of the promising RD-191 rocket engine, intended for the Angara booster rocket, Katorgin told Interfax-Military News Agency. Before the repairs four tests of the engine were made on the bench, which showed that the RD-191 fully corresponds to required specifications. Katorgin denied that suspension of the tests in late October was related to problems in the bench's functioning or implementation of the experimental liquid-propellant rocket engine program.
The bench has been in operation for over 25 years, and its equipment and control devices became worn-out and outdated some 10 years ago. Besides, the bench was affected by fire in the early 1990s. Cooperation with the Lockheed Martin corporation of the United States in production of RD-180 liquid-propellant rocket engines for the modernized U.S. rocket Atlas III allowed to raise USD5m for restructuring of Energomash's research and testing centre. The repaired and upgraded bench started functioning in 2000. Its equipment is capable of withstanding the load equal to the rocket engine's thrust of up to 1,000t, while the thrust of the most powerful RD-170 engine installed in the Energia booster rocket makes 400t.