OPTICAL THRUST CHAMBER CALIBRATION AND ALIGNMENT

The precise, instantaneous attitude control of a rocket in flight requires absolute alignment of both the true axis of thrust and the gimbal center relative to each other and to the vehicle axis. This necessitates checkout procedures on the completed rocket engine which accurately define and adjust the true axis of thrust in relation to the pivot center of the supporting gimbal.

Optical metrological and alignment methods currently in use at Rocketdyne make possible fast, as well as accurate, thrust chamber alignment checkouts.