Russia supplies U.S. with four space rocket engines

[SpArK]

Russia supplies U.S. with four space rocket engines




MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia delivered four heavy rocket booster engines to the U.S. Wednesday, Interfax news agency reported.

The engines RD-180 made in Khimki Energomash plant near Moscow, were shipped by the world largest cargo plane Ruslan.

RD-180 weighted over 5.5 tons. These engines have been used for 28 American Atlas space rockets produced by the Lockheed Martin since 1950s.

The next launch of the Atlas has been planned on Sept. 20.

Russia supplies U.S. with four space rocket engines

 

[SpArK]

Russia ships RD-180 engines for American Atlas space programme



Moscow, Sept 15 (PTI) Russia today shipped four RD-180 booster engines for the US Atlas space launch vehicles under a long-term contract with manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

"Four five-ton engines in special containers were loaded on trailers and ferried to the Sheremetyevo international airport, from where they will be loaded on board an An-124-100 cargo aircraft," an official of Russian manufacturer Energomash told Rossiya 24 channel.

Energomash has produced 46 RD-180 engines for the American Atlas rockets so far.

The RD-180 liquid-fuel engine is considered to be the best in its class.

After a global tender in 1990s, the US General Dynamics Space Systems Division (later purchased by Lockheed Martin) chose the RD-180 for use in the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) and the Atlas programme.

The RD-180 was first deployed on the Atlas III carrier rocket in May 2000 and powered 28 Atlas-family delivery vehicles since then, RIA Novosti said.

According to earlier reports, another US Aerojet company is negotiating the deal on the purchase of the Russian NK-33 engines developed for the Soviet lunar programme in 1960s.

The new deal is being contemplated for the new space launch vehicle Taurus II under development by Orbital, which has contract with NASA for eight cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS) from 2011 through 2015. PTI VS


Russia ships RD-180 engines for American Atlas space programme -  International News ? News ? MSN India

 

[somebozo]

Russia US space cooperations is an old story despite american animosity with soviet union.

 

[gowthamraj]

Still russian lots of cryogenic engines stored in their warehouse but it no more interested to give that to India

 

[SpArK]

Still russian lots of cryogenic engines stored in their warehouse but it no more interested to give that to India

Why should we ask when we can make it ourselves??

India to join elite club of nations using cryogenic engine | Asian Tribune

 

[gowthamraj]

^ without a succesful launch it take lot time to mature man