Joseph J Daileda

US Patent:

40916650, May 30, 1978

Filed:

Feb 11, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/767911

Inventors:

James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Fletcher
Henry S. Dresser - La Mirada CA
Joseph J. Daileda - Torrance CA

International Classification:

G01M 900

US Classification:

73147

Abstract:

A reaction control system nozzle block is provided for testing the response characteristics of space vehicles to a variety of reaction control thruster configurations. A pressurized air system is connected with the supply lines which lead to the individual jet nozzles. Each supply line terminates in a compact cylindrical plenum volume, axially perpendicular and adjacent the throat of the jet nozzle. The volume of the cylindrical plenum is sized to provide uniform thrust characteristics from each jet nozzle irrespective of the angle of approach of the supply line to the plenum. Each supply line may be plugged or capped to stop the air supply to selected jet nozzles, thereby enabling a variety of nozzle configurations to be obtained from a single model nozzle block.