RTG
Rocket Test Group

To enhance rocket ground test operational effort, reduce ground test costs and facilitate activation of new facilities.

RTG is an entirely volunteer organization of rocket test facility operators.

Lessons Learned from RTG

Rocket Test Group members come together for technical discussions, test facilities tours, and professional networking. This group has provided the backbone for the sharing of experiences and lessons learned between operators and users of rocket test facilities for over 15 years. Visit the Experiences section of this site to find out how RTG has made a difference in the propulsion industry.

RTG was originally formed as a response to a congressional demand for an ongoing working group crossing agency and company boundaries. It is intended to allow rocket test facility operators to come together to recommend solutions for difficult testing problems; reduce testing costs by reducing time spent on solving critical issues and eliminating duplicate programs; facilitate the activation of new facilities; learn from each other by viewing different methods and touring various facilities; provide a networking opportunity for testing advice and problem solving support; and allow test facility operators to stay informed on the newest developments.

RTG continues to not charge any membership or attendance fees. RTG is an entirely volunteer organization.

RTG #48 at AFRL, Edwards AFB, April 9-10, 2017!

Updated March 2017

The next Rocket Test Group meeting will be hosted by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards AFB, CA. AFRL is excited about hosting us Arpil 9 - 11 and showing off their test sites. There will be some excellent presentations and facility tours lined up. Please return the standard planning form and provide your security paperwork to Phil Rice ASAP. As always, please consider preparing a presentation. Lessons learned, site upgrades, completed projects, process improvements or even bring a presentation on a topic that you would like the group's thoughts on. Let us know if you have any questions and thank you for your participation. Please note that U.S. citizenship is required for this meeting, and all security information must be processed in advance.

Updates of YOUR Test Facility's Data Needed!

ONGOING

The JHU ERG maintains the Rocket Propulsion Test Facilities Database (RPTF) for the National Rocket Propulsion Test Alliance (NRPTA) and the Rocket Propulsion Test Management Board (RPTMB). At the numerous RTG meetings, NASA's Rocket Propulsion Test Program Office and JHU ERG make requests that ALL RTG members provide updates to their test facility data whenever the facilities undergo any changes, upgrades, or changes in status, and whenever facilities are built or demolished. We also seek data on new facilities and new test cells. This data has been used to determining where to send test programs, state of the industry reports, and much more. The database's users are limited to those who qualify for DoD Distribution Statement C: U.S. citizens working for the U.S. Government and their U.S. Government Contractors. Access to the database is now through the JANNAF Portal at www.JANNAF.org! Access can be obtained from ERG by signing up for a JANNAF Portal account. After obtaining your JANNAF Portal account, contact David Owen; RTG members have complementary access in exchange for annual reviewing and updating of your facility's data. Please send RPTF updates to David Owen or upload them to the secure RTG file transfer server. The data form can be downloaded from the RPTF database homepage or from the RTG Server. Please contact David if you have any questions, need instructions to access to RPTF Database, for additional information, or with any additional data or features you'd like to see added to the database. Thank you for your continued assistance in this ongoing task!