After RD-180: is there a future for Russian engine builders?
Last week we toldwhat problems the Russian space industry will soon face. The American private company Blue Origin, owned by the founder of the Amazon online store, received the first contract to install its BE-4 engine on new Vulcan rockets.
Given the fact that Vulcan will subsequently replace the Atlas V launch vehicles on which the domestic RD-180s are mounted, the future for Russian engines is unenviable. Moreover, experts believe that by saturating the US domestic market, American rocket engines can begin expansion around the world, displacing the RD-180 from it.
The United States of America declares its readiness to completely abandon Russian rocket engines in five years. Now it is time to breathe out and calmly think about how Russia will be able to answer this most serious challenge for this very five-year period.
On the side of the domestic rocket engine is its incredible, time-tested reliability. But the American BE-4 is a more modern engine than the RD-180. It uses methane as a fuel, which makes its operation and repair easier, because gas does not leave soot after combustion, and at the same time is economically viable. Moreover, Blue Origin specifically developed the BE-4, taking into account the possibility of its reuse after returning to the spent first stage.
Therefore, in order not to be on the sidelines of space of technologies, it is necessary to accelerate the development of its own version of the methane engine. Belatedly, but NPO Energomash announced in July this year that it had begun to create a methane-powered rocket engine. It received the name RD-169. The first tests can begin in 3-4 years. It is assumed that a rocket using RD-169 will be created in 5-6 years, moreover, its first stage will be reusable.
Given the compact size and low thrust of such engines, most likely, several RD-169 will be installed at once. It is also interesting that when using the modular principle it will be possible to launch heavy rockets on "small" engines. Six RD-169 are combined into one unit called RD-190, and they, in turn, are formed into a single "package" of several RD-190 of the required power.
Thus, there are achievements, and prospects, but the desire of the authorities and sufficient financial resources are needed.
As for the directly deserved RD-180. One of its developers, Boris Katorgin, believes that such a reliable engine can be used on new Russian heavy and even superheavy missiles. If they are not useful in Russia, then with great pleasure China can acquire a license for their production. True, this decision is very ambiguous, and it is only possible to go to it, having achieved a real technological breakthrough in new directions.
Given the fact that Vulcan will subsequently replace the Atlas V launch vehicles on which the domestic RD-180s are mounted, the future for Russian engines is unenviable. Moreover, experts believe that by saturating the US domestic market, American rocket engines can begin expansion around the world, displacing the RD-180 from it.
The United States of America declares its readiness to completely abandon Russian rocket engines in five years. Now it is time to breathe out and calmly think about how Russia will be able to answer this most serious challenge for this very five-year period.
On the side of the domestic rocket engine is its incredible, time-tested reliability. But the American BE-4 is a more modern engine than the RD-180. It uses methane as a fuel, which makes its operation and repair easier, because gas does not leave soot after combustion, and at the same time is economically viable. Moreover, Blue Origin specifically developed the BE-4, taking into account the possibility of its reuse after returning to the spent first stage.
Therefore, in order not to be on the sidelines of space of technologies, it is necessary to accelerate the development of its own version of the methane engine. Belatedly, but NPO Energomash announced in July this year that it had begun to create a methane-powered rocket engine. It received the name RD-169. The first tests can begin in 3-4 years. It is assumed that a rocket using RD-169 will be created in 5-6 years, moreover, its first stage will be reusable.
Given the compact size and low thrust of such engines, most likely, several RD-169 will be installed at once. It is also interesting that when using the modular principle it will be possible to launch heavy rockets on "small" engines. Six RD-169 are combined into one unit called RD-190, and they, in turn, are formed into a single "package" of several RD-190 of the required power.
Thus, there are achievements, and prospects, but the desire of the authorities and sufficient financial resources are needed.
As for the directly deserved RD-180. One of its developers, Boris Katorgin, believes that such a reliable engine can be used on new Russian heavy and even superheavy missiles. If they are not useful in Russia, then with great pleasure China can acquire a license for their production. True, this decision is very ambiguous, and it is only possible to go to it, having achieved a real technological breakthrough in new directions.
- Sergey Marzhetsky
- https://engineeringinsider.org/
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