Innovating in rocket engine development must be completed with rigorous testing, as “Zero Failure” is required. For that purpose, a reliable testing infrastructure is required—one that will withstand extreme test conditions, assuring test reliability.
A leading European aerospace company is doing exactly that. Building the next-generation Integrated Engine Testing Facility. When it comes to valve selection for their system, these High-Pressure cryogenic valves must meet the highest standards of performance, safety, and responsiveness. Selecting Habonim HP Cryogenic valves was a natural choice for the engineering team.
This Blog outlines how Habonim cryogenic, control cryogenic, and high-pressure cryogenic valves play a part in the high-stakes aerospace testing environment, supporting the development of a two-stage orbital launch vehicle using liquid oxygen (LOX) and sub-cooled propane, with notable success.
At the core of the rocket launch engine development project was the Integrated Engine Testing Facility—a purpose-built installation designed to replicate real-world launch conditions. The system was engineered to manage:
To support these conditions, the facility requires a diverse mix of manual valves, automated on/off valves, and precision control valves—each capable of maintaining consistent performance under extreme and variable loads.
The engineering team chose Habonim valves to be used across the Integrated Engine Testing Facility's main gas lines, based on more than a single key factor:
This combination of deep technical know-how and operational reliability made Habonim a trusted partner in the project’s execution.
The rocket engine test facility has a range of cryogenic valves that fit perfectly to the application:
These valves played a central role in managing cryogenic and high-pressure flows to the test article, enabling safe, repeatable engine firings under extreme conditions.
All Habonim valves are designed and manufactured in accordance with key industry standards, including:
These certifications ensured full compliance with the safety and performance requirements for aerospace launching testing environments.
Over a 12-month period, the Integrated Engine Testing Facility successfully executed hundreds of test sequences, including numerous hot-fire events. The cryogenic valve systems supported consistent ignition and chamber pressure performance, enabling parallel progress in engine testing and design refinement.
The valves delivered reliable performance throughout repeated thermal and pressure cycling, enhancing system integrity and ensuring consistent test results. This allowed the engineering team to maintain precise control over fluid dynamics, even under rapidly changing conditions.
This project demonstrates the importance of selecting valves that are compliant with aerospace launching standards, reliable, and of the required quality. Such that are supplied alongside the technical know-how and support to optimally suit the specific demands of the specific system, such as high-pressure, low temperatures, and high-frequency test repetitions. Key factors for the valve performance in such a demanding application:
By focusing on these parameters, the project team ensured that the fluid control infrastructure could support both immediate testing objectives and future scalability.
Our experts are here to help you find the right cryogenic valve solution, designed for performance, safety, and reliability in the most demanding environments.
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