Rocketdyne Archives

COCA

Three test stands were initially constructed at the Coca area in 1956 to support the development of the Navaho and Atlas engines. In 1963, two of the original stands were demolished and replaced by two large engine test stands for testing the second stage of the Saturn-V launch vehicle. In 1974, further test stand modifications were made to accommodate Space Shuttle main Engine component development. Later modifications enabled testing the SSME engine system. The Coca RFI Site, located within Area II of the SSFL, is owned by the National Aeronauticsand Space Administration (NASA). It was previously operated by the Rocketdyne division
of Rockwell (Rocketdyne), on behalf of NASA, and the site is currently maintained by The Boeing Company (Boeing). Area II was undeveloped prior to 1954, when the land was purchased by North American Aviation (NAA), a predecessor company to Rockwell who owned the land from 1954 to 1958. In December 1958, the property was deeded from Rocketdyne to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and was operated as USAF Plant 57. In 1973, the property transferred ownership from the USAF to NASA, who currently owns the property.

History & Accomplishments

• Activated in 1956

• Saturn-V Battleship Tank stage testing with 5 J2

engine configuration

• SSME engine 320 second duration tests

• Large, high pressure LOX/LH2 component

Testing at more than 10,000 psi

Programs

• Navaho, Atlas, J-2, Saturn V second Stage

Battleship (five J-2s) SSME, and Delta IV

Expendable Launch Vehicle Tanks

Test Stand Activity

• COCA 1 Activated 7/56 244 Tests

• COCA 2 Activated 11/56 127 Tests

• COCA 3 Activated 10/56 102 Tests

• COCA 1 NEW Activated 1963 320 Tests

• COCA 4 Activated 1963 Records n/a