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This is the Redstone missile engine. Developed from 1950, it served as the powerplant for the Redstone missile, this country's first large-scale operational liquid propellant missile. On 31 January 1958, a modified version of the engine propelled the Jupiter-C launch vehicle that orbited the U.S.'s first artificial satellite, Explorer 1. The engine also launched the first American into space, Alan B. Shepard, aboard the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) on 5 May 1961.

In the Redstone missile the engine had a thrust of 78,000 pounds and used liquid oxygen and alcohol. As a booster for MR-3, it used Hydyne propellant, a hydrazine derivative, and produced 83,000 lbs of thrust.

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

Rocketdyne Div., North American Rockwell

Dimensions

Diameter, nozzle, 31.5 in. ; overall diameter, approx. 33 in. x 100 in. long (83.82 x 254cm)
Other (combustion chamber, outside): 33 in. (83.82cm); length, combustion chamber, 65.5 in.

Materials

Combustion chamber and injectors, 4130 steel; propellant lines and valves, aluminum allows; pumps and impellers, aluminum alloys; heat exchanger, non-ferrous metal; steam generator, steel

Inventory Number

A19750292000

Credit Line

Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

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