J-2X (Engine)

The J-2X is a modern expander cycle, bi-propellant rocket engine, planned for use in the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles. It consumes liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. It has its origin in the J-2 rocket engines used by the Saturn Ib and Saturn V launchers. It is produced by Rocketdyne.

Differences to the J-2

While the J-2 was a gas-generator cycle or open cycle rocket engine, the J-2X uses an expander cycle (also called closed cycle) for powering its turbopumps. In this engine cycle, the propellant, which gets used for regenerative cooling of chamber and nozzle gets also used for driving a turbine, which drives the turbopumps.

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