[Satellite TODAY 03-16-10] Orbital Sciences and Aerojet have conducted a series of AJ26/NK-33 rocket engine tests in support of the development of Orbital’s Taurus 2 space launch vehicle, the companies announced March. 13. 
    The tests, conducted in Samara, Russia, demonstrated a hot-fire duration equal to two times a normal Taurus 2 acceptance testing and launch profile duty cycle. Over the last two weeks, three tests were conducted with a cumulative duration of more than 600 seconds. 
    Aerojet is the provider of the AJ26/NK-33 rocket engine for the first stage of the Taurus 2 launcher. The basic NK-33 engine was originally designed and produced in Russia for the N1 lunar launch vehicle.
    “With the performance of the heritage engine now confirmed and well understood, we can move forward with confidence to configuration verification and acceptance testing of AJ26 engines at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi beginning in April,” Ron Grabe, Orbital’s executive vice president and general manager of launch services, said in a statement.
    Orbital expects the Taurus 2 rocket to begin its first missions in 2011, following the design verification tests completed at Stennis.