PROGRAMS:

COMPANIES:

• North American Aviation
• Rocketdyne

LOCATIONS:

Rocketdyne division North American Aviation, Canoga Park, CA

POSITIONS:

Program Manager J-2 rocket engine, Vice President and Program Manager Space Shuttle Main Engine

COMMENTS:

Paul Castenholz was the Program Manager for the J-2 rocket engine.  Five J-2s were used on the Apollo Saturn launch vehicle second stage (S-II) and one was used on the third stage (S-IVB).  The J-2 was the second U.S. engine to use liquid hydrogen fuel (the much smaller RL-10 was the first).  The J-2 had to restart in space to place the Apollo capsule on the trajectory to the moon a first for a cryogenic fueled pump fed engine.  Paul was the Vice President and Program Manager for the development of the hydrogen fueled Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) the first reusable rocket engine and the highest performing U.S. rocket engine.  The SSME is computer controlled and is capable of extremely deep throttling.  Three SSMEs were used on each Space Shuttle flight.  Four of the SSMEs currently in NASA inventory will be used on each flight of the Space Launch System (SLS).  When the inventory of reusable engines is used up, Aerojet Rocketdyne will provide a single use version for all subsequent flights.