Space Shuttle Main Engine turbopump bearing assessment program

Abstract

This paper documents the work done on the bearing assessment program over the past two and a half years. The objective of the program is to develop a nondestructive evaluation system for the space shuttle main engine high pressure oxidizer turbopumps which would be used to detect anomalies in installed bearings without component disassembly. Databases of various signatures are obtained by slowly turning the pump shafts before and after an engine firing. These signatures are then analyzed and compared to the original signatures to more accurately predict bearing wear.