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To: KeyLargo

Rocket maker Blue Origin uses Russian tech, but Spacex does not.


12 posted on 03/25/2014 2:45:21 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: Vince Ferrer; KeyLargo

The RD-180 is a very efficient “kerosene-burning” engine; like all the world’s space programs, it grew out of Von Braun’s V-2 engine. The bio of Sergei Korolev includes a nice b&w photo of Korolev standing next to a captured V-2 engine. The Soviets copied and back-engineered that design, continuing to refine it, and any liquid-fueled rocket engines based on Soviet designs also descend from the V-2.

The RD-170 was four engines joined together and using common turbopump and gimballing, but (surprise surprise) often claimed to be the most powerful liquid fueled engine. It isn’t. The single bell F-1 is just under four times as powerful as the four-engined RD-170 design.

The RD-180 descends from the RD-170, and isn’t as powerful, but same layout, multiple engines joined to a single turbopump and gimballing.

Orbital Sciences (not Blue Origin) uses the NK-33, which is an archival Soviet product, the most efficient kerosene burner ever produced there.


24 posted on 03/25/2014 3:47:58 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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