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Non-Russian Rocket Engine Alternatives for Atlas and Antares
By September 2014, United launch alliance had entered into a contract with Blue origin to develop the BE-4 LOX/methane engine as the replacement for the RD-180. Under the terms of the development contract, Blue Origin will complete development of the BE-4 engine for use on the Atlas V rocket beginning no earlier than 2019.Two BE-4 engines, each producing 550,000 lbf thrust at lift-off will be necessary on the Atlas V rocket's first stage. ULA currently has enough RD-180 engines in stock, already imported from Russia, to meet the Atlas V rocket launch schedule and demand until the BE-4 engines can enter service. Nevertheless, while ULA has entered into contract with the Blue Origin company, ATK has announced their plan to offer a solid fuel first stage alternative for the RD-180 engine of the Atlas V. Initial information came via the Request For Information (RFI) as part of the first step toward the Air Force funding alternative propulsion solutions to the RD-180. According to a press release from late September, "ATK's solid rocket propulsion solution provides a cost-effective, reliable solution based on advanced technology," said Blake Larson, President of ATK's Aerospace Group. By using a similar approach as those used in the past, ATK would be able to provide a solid fuel alternative to the RD-180 engine by the deadline of 2019 as set by United Launch Alliance. According to ATK, manufacturing and testing of the solid fueled solution for the RD-180 replacement would take place within the United States using tooling and infrastructure already in place across the country. The solid fueled first stage could also be designed to specifically meet the Atlas V launch vehicle and payload requirements, including the upcoming requirement to ferry crew aboard Boeing's CST-100 capsule. At the same time that ATK submitted its proposal for the U.S. Air Force, the company also put forward – as part of a request from Orbital Sciences Corporation – a proposal for a solid-fueled, domestically-produced first stage for Orbital's Antares rocket. Currently, Antares' first stage uses two Soviet-built NK-33 engines modified by Aerojet Rocketdyne into the AJ-26 engines. Posted by: 3dc 2014-11-07 |
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