Cold Calibration Test Stand

The Cold Calibration Test Stand in Marshall's East Test Area was the common name for a test stand (or, actually, two test stands built together, the "Propellant Systems Test Stand, Cold Flow" [Building 4588] and the "Propulsion Systems Components Test Facility [F-1 Turbopump Test Facility]" [Building 4548]). The stand was used to conduct turbopump R&D and acceptance tests to verify that both propellant tanks emptied simultaneously during flight and to calibrate flowmeters.

The shorter, north, side of the stand was used during the Saturn program to test H-1 turbopumps and the taller, south, side was used to test F-1 turbopumps, but this test stand underwent numerous modifications over the years. It was demolished in the late-2012 to mid-2013 timeframe as part of the Obama administration's effort to divest NASA of formerly-used facilities.

The Cold Calibration Test Stand was one of the three original test stands erected for the Redstone program, built in 1954 to perform cold flow tests of missile propulsion systems. Initially constructed as a single-position test stand, the Army added a second test position in 1957 for the S-3D rocket engine (used in the Jupiter missile). It was modified again in 1959 for the H-1 engine, in support of the Saturn I program, including the addition of larger tanks. MSFC technicians completed a design for and executed the construction of another facility update, this time for the 200,000 pound version of the H-1 in the October 1964 to February 1965 timeframe.

Construction began of a major addition to the test stand on June 17, 1963, creating the taller tower attached to the south of the current structure, for the F-1 Turbopump Test Facility. This facility was used primarily for testing the propellant handling components of the S-IC stage and was operative prior to F-1 static firings at the F-1 Engine Test Stand. This facility provided the capability to perform checkout calibration, qualification, and development test on S-IC/F-1 turbopump propellant feed systems. Full size true configuration LOX and fuel lines with a gas generator driven F-l turbopump mounted on a thrust chamber simulated the S-IC flow system from the suction line to the main shutoff valve at the engine. Testing included flow and surge testing of the S-IC LOX suction components (suction lines, prevalves, and PVC), turbopump mapping, gas injection, fuel pump cavitation, and "pogo" testing.

One source states that NASA modified the stand again in the 1980s for work on the Space Shuttle program. However, I couldn't find any additional information regarding its use for Shuttle, and since the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) uses a staged combustion, rather than gas generator, cycle and that the bulk of the SSME development took place in the 1970s (NASA was originally aiming for a first Shuttle flight in 1979, and a flight which actually took place in April 1981), it seems unlikely to me that Cold Calibration would have been suited for such tests.

Prior to its destruction, it had earned a place in the Historic American Engineering Record. Be certain to click the "photos" icon in the upper left of the page; included are pictures of H-1 turbopumps installed in the test stand, as well as the interior of the test stand's blockhouse. There's additional information on this test stand in the Historic American Engineering Record's East Test Area page (under both the "photos" and "drawings" icons, the latter of which includes additional history about the test stand).

Here are links to the Cold Calibration demolition solicitation and a news article on its planned demolition.

Additionally, I have annotated the this test stand's location on the aerial overview, have a photo of the general area, and also present the Google Maps link.