ABOUT RD-170
The RD-170 is the most powerful liquid-fuel rocket engine ever built, featuring four combustion chambers fed by a single turbopump. Developed by NPO Energomash for the Energia-Buran program, it produces over 7,900 kN of thrust using an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle. The RD-170 family has spawned derivatives including the RD-180 (two chambers) and RD-191 (one chamber).
Image: NPO Energomash
PERFORMANCE
| Thrust (Sea Level) | 7,257 kN (1,631,000 lbf) kN |
| Thrust (Vacuum) | 7,904 kN (1,777,000 lbf) kN |
| ISP (Sea Level) | 309 s s |
| ISP (Vacuum) | 337 s s |
| Chamber Pressure | 24.5 MPa (3,553 psi) bar |
| Mass | 9 kg |
| Thrust-to-Weight | 83 |
| Throttle Range | 56–100% |
| Restart Capable | No |
THRUST CONVERSIONS (VACUUM)
| Kilonewtons | 7.0 kN |
| Pounds-force | 1,574 lbf |
ENGINE CYCLE
Oxygen-Rich Staged Combustion
PROPULSION
| Propellant | RP-1 |
| Oxidizer | LOX |
| Engine Cycle | Oxygen-Rich Staged Combustion |
| Mixture Ratio | 2.63:1 |
| Flow Rate | ~2,393 kg/s kg/s |
PHYSICAL
| Dimensions | 4.0 m diameter × 3.78 m length |
| Combustion Chambers | 4 |
| Nozzle Expansion Ratio | 36.87:1:1 |
GENERAL
| Manufacturer | NPO Energomash |
| Country | Russia / USSR |
| Status | Retired |
| First Flight | April 22, 1985 |
VARIANTS (3)
- RD-170
- RD-171
- RD-171M
VEHICLES USING RD-170 (3)
- Energia
- Zenit-2
- Zenit-3SL
ENGINE LINEAGE
RD-170→RD-171M, RD-180, RD-191
⚖ PROPELLANTS
