RD-180 Rocket Engine Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has pitched a new US made commercial solid rocket engine to replace the Russian made RD-1...
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| RD-180 Rocket Engine |
Even though ATK didnt divulge details about the engine, ATK said it has incorporated new technologies in the development of six new solid rocket motors – some developed in less than two years.
The RD-180 is the main engine of Atlas V, delivering more than 860,000 lbs of thrust at liftoff.
Designed and manufactured by Russian NPO Energomash, the liquid oxygen/liquid kerosene, two-thrust-chamber RD-180 engine is a complete propulsion unit equipped with hydraulics for control valve actuation and thrust vector gimbaling, pneumatics for valve actuation and system purging, and a thrust frame to distribute loads.
The supply of engine became uncertain after Russia threatened to halt sales of the RD-180 for military use following US sanctions against key Russian officials over the Ukraine crisis.
RD-180 is currently an unmatchable engine in terms of power, performance and reliability in the world. Currently no engine can match it in terms of weight-to-power ratio and performance. Development of such an engine in short time is the major hurdle as it is estimated to take atleast 5 years.
ATK says solid rocket motors are optimal for first-stage performance as they provide high lift-off thrust, allowing for more payload margin and also require less ground and launch infrastructure, resulting in fewer launch scrubs. ATK sited the reliability by pointing the US strategic missile arsenal, which uses solid rocket engines in every stage.
ULA has recently agreed with Blue Origin to fund the development BE-4 liquid natural gas-fueled rocket engine as a replacement to RD-180.
