For Release: July 10, 1995

Steve Roy
Office of Media Services
(205) 544-0034

NOTE TO EDITORS: 95-45N

ENGINE TEST SCHEDULED AT MARSHALL CENTER FRIDAY

NASA engineers are scheduled to test fire an instrumented modified Space Shuttle Main Engine for 170 seconds, tomorrow, at 2:00 p.m. in the Advanced Engine Test Facility at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

The test focuses on evaluation of a start sequence and design changes of the alternate high pressure fuel turbopump for the Block II Space Shuttle Main Engine development program.

New technologies to be demonstrated include testing an improved laser liquid-level sensing system for measuring liquid hydrogen levels in the fuel tank and evaluation of a new automated engine monitoring system.

The engine will be operated at between 90 and 109 percent power levels during the run. The test will be the fifty-ninth test firing of a modified Space Shuttle engine in the former Saturn V engine test facility.