ALFA Area Test Stands as they Looked when first Built - Simi Valley in Background
ALFA
Three test stands were constructed in the Alfa area and activated in 1955. The stands were initially constructed to conduct engine testing in support of the Navaho, Thor, RS-27 and Atlas programs. Over the years, the facilities have been continuously modified and modernized, and are currently being used for ongoing reliability & verification testing, and acceptance testing of the Delta launch vehicle RS-27A engine.
History & Accomplishments
Activated in 1955
Supported first manned orbital flight of Atlas-Mercury in 1962
MA-3 first launch, 10-11-1960 and last launch 3-24-1995
Programs
Navaho, Atlas, Thor, Jupiter and Delta
Test Stand Activity
ALFA 1Activated 7/551080+ Tests
ALFA 2Activated 6/55370 Tests
ALFA 3Activated 11/551385+ Tests
MA-5 Test at the ALFA Area of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory
ALFA 3 Test Stand Engine Hot Fire in 1988
ALFA 3 Test Stand Engine Hot Fire in 1989
ALFA Test Stand in the 1970's
ALFA Area Test Stand Engine Hot Fire 1956
Alfa & Bravo Test Stands
The RS-27 was proven at the SSFL’s ALFA Test Area and has achieved 100% reliability powering the Delta Program launch vehicles. The 200th RS-27 launch occurred in July of 2004 with NASA’s Aura spacecraft aboard.
RS 27 Engine Nozzle Test - Delta Space Program
The RS 27 was also used in the ATLAS ICBM
The RS 27 Engine Blanketed for Storage
RS 27 Engine Booster Gimbal - Delta Space Program
RS 27 Engine Hot Fire Test - Delta Space Program
RS 27 Engine - Delta Space Program
ALFA Area Test Stand in 1972
ALFA Area Test CREW Circa 1970's
ALFA Area as seen from a Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter in 1985
ALFA Area as seen from a HUEY UH 1B Helicopter in 1988
ALFA Hot Fire Circa 1960's
ALFA RS 27 Engine Cluster
ALFA Test Stand in 1993.
This
website and its contents are not associated with or sponsored by Pratt &
Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
