AMPAC In-Space Propulsion (ISP) serves domestic and international customers through our facilities in Niagara Falls, New York, Dublin, Ireland, and Cheltenham and Westcott, UK.

Niagara Falls Facility
AMPAC-ISP’s Niagara Falls facility includes four vacuum test cells capable of simulating 120,000 to 140,000 feet of altitude, for the testing of monopropellant and bipropellant engines and systems with hydrazine, monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) propellants. Vacuum conditions can be maintained during steady-state firings of engines up to 300 lbf thrust. 

Each test cell is outfitted with more than 60 instrumentation channels, to capture temperature, pressure, flow and event data. Instrumentation channels are hard-wired to the data acquisition system, which converts all data channels to engineering units for real-time review. A parallel data analysis system allows for reduction of test data during testing.

Each test cell is also outfitted with propellant temperature conditioning equipment, and we have upgraded our temperature measurement capabilities. A state-of-the-art thermal imaging system, customized to our specifications, displays and records temperatures for the duration of the thruster firing. Temperatures from 1,100 to 5,400°F can be measured, independent of emissivity.

A specialized vacuum test cell provides the ability to mount and test complete propulsion systems through simulated mission duty cycles, and our sea level test facility provides the ability to test engines to a thrust level of 1,000 lbf. Engines can be tested in both steady state and pulsing modes, with smaller bellows-type tanks for accurate pulse performance measurements.

We also maintain explosion-rated vibration facilities capable of testing engines, engine modules and complete propulsion systems loaded with propellants. Two exciters are available, one with a force output of 10,000 lbf and the other with a force output of 1,200 lbf, both at a frequency range of 5 to 3,000 Hz.

For information on our European Facilities, please visit our Dublin, Cheltenham and Westcott websites for more specific information.