Rocket Engines from the USA

The USA has produced many types of rocket engines using various propellant types from kerosene/Liquid Oxygen (Lox), liquid hydrogen/LOX types, solid fuels for rocket boosters to hypergols for orbital manoeuvring.

F-1 (Saturn-V): Used Kerosene and Liquid Oxygen. It was used to power the first stage.
SSME: Used on the Space Shuttle Orbiter as the main shuttle engines.
RS-68: Boeing Rocketdyne - Used for the Delta IV launch vehicle family.

Others:

RL10: America's first liquid hydrogen fuelled rocket engine
RL10B-02: cryogenic upper stage engine
RL60:
RD-0146:
Cobra:

Rocket Engine News:

In June 2002, Boeing Company is creating a new design for a new reusable rocket engine (RS-84) that will generate more than one million pounds of thrust (at sea level) and could be the first-ever multi-mission booster to use oxygen-rich gases in combination with kerosene fuel. It is being designed for NASA's Space Launch Initiative (SLI).

Did you know?

* American engineer Robert Goddard launched the world's first rocket propelled by a liquid fuel in 1926. Before this all rockets were propelled by using a solid fuel.

* The USA developed the Nerva engine for a nuclear rocket.

* Pratt & Whitney have develped various Electric Propulsion systems using Hall Effect Thrusters.

Links:

Boeing Designing First Large Reusable Hydrocarbon Rocket Engine

The First Liquid Fuel Rocket

Goto Propulsion Guide Home Page

Goto Space Projects and Info Home Page