Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

The RL-10 was the world's first operational liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen high energy rocket engine and was restartable 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.

The first successful flight of the Atlas-Centaur took place on October 26, 1966, and was the first time the RL-10 made a full-thrust re-start in space. The Titan-Centaur made its first successful flight on December 10, 1974, and placed the Helios solar probe into an accurate solar orbit. The first Saturn 1 launch with RL-10s took place on January 29, 1964 and lifted a test payload into space, then on February 16, 1965 placed a Pegasus satellite into orbit.

The NASA - Marshall Space Flight Center transferred this RL-10 to the Smithsonian Institution in 1975.

 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: 70 in. tall x 38 1/2 in. diameter, 895 lb. (177.8 x 97.79cm, 406kg)
 Materials Chamber, 347 stainless steel brazed with silver; piping, polished stainless steel; aluminum casting pump; heat exchanger of nickel alloy. Pump, aluminum casting
 Inventory Number A19751433000 Credit Line Transferred from the NASA - Marshall Space Flight Center Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.