This is a cutaway of the RL-10 rocket engine, the world's first operational liquid-hydrogen/liquid oxygen high energy rocket engine that was re-startable in space. Two RL-10 engines, each producing 15,000 pounds of thrust, made up the Centaur upper stage used with the Atlas and Titan launch vehicles.
A cluster of six RL-10 engines also powered the second stage of the Saturn 1 vehicle, a precursor to the Saturn V that sent the first astronauts to the Moon under Project Apollo. The first successful operational flight of the Atlas-Centaur took place in 1966 and this was also the first time the RL-10 made a full-thrust re-start in space. The engine was donated to the Smithsonian in 1976 by the NASA Lewis Research Center.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PROPULSION-Rocket Engines
Manufacturer
Pratt & Whitney
Dimensions
Overall: 5ft 9in. x 2ft 9in. x 2ft 7in. (175.26 x 83.82 x 78.74cm)
Storage (Artex Crate): 121 × 214 × 121cm, 367.4kg (47 5/8 × 84 1/4 × 47 5/8 in., 810lb.)
Materials
Chamber, 347 stainless steel brazed with silver; piping, polished stainless steel; aluminum casting pump; heat exchanger of nickel alloy
Pump, aluminum casting
Nozzle ring, upper, plastic
Inventory Number
A19761286000
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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