In the early 1960's, the United States and U.S.S.R. took different paths in developing launch vehicle propulsion. The United States focused on the lower performance gas generator cycle rocket engine because of the less demanding technology involved and the resulting easier development process. The U.S.S.R. adopted the high performance staged combustion cycle with oxygen rich turbine drive gases and have since striven to perfect that system. The RD-170 is the culmination of over 30 years of staged combustion cycle propulsion system development. This paper discusses the evolution of high pressure turbomachinery and combustion chamber designs from the RD-253 (the first operational high pressure staged combustion rocket engine, introduced in 1965) to the RD-170. The operating characteristics of the RD-170 will be explained along with the operability features included as part of the engine system. The quality approach used in the manufacturing, component test, and assembly process will be described and the unique health monitoring and life prediction system will be unveiled. Potential application of the RD-170 to U S. launch vehicle needs has been studied and these results will also be presented.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.