RS-25
Sign in to saveThe RS-25, also known as the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), is a liquid-fuel cryogenic rocket engine that was used on NASA's Space Shuttle and is used on the Space Launch System.
Key facts
- Rocket engine.image_alt
- A rocket engine firing. A blue flame is projecting from a bell-shaped nozzle with several pipes wrapped around it. The top of the nozzle is attached to a complex collection of plumbing, with the whole assembly covered in steam and hanging from a ceiling-mounted attachment point. Various pieces of transient hardware are visible in the background.
- Rocket engine.caption
- RS-25 test firing. The bright area at the bottom of the picture is a shock diamond.
- Rocket engine.name
- RS-25
- Rocket engine.country_of_origin
- United States
- Rocket engine.designer
- Rocketdyne
- Rocket engine.predecessor
- HG-3
- Rocket engine.first_date
- (STS-1)
- Rocket engine.type
- liquid
- Rocket engine.oxidiser
- LOX
- Rocket engine.thrust_to_weight
- 73.1
- Rocket engine.cycle
- Fuel-rich dual-shaft staged combustion
- Rocket engine.nozzle_ratio
- 78:1
- Rocket engine.status
- In use
- Rocket engine.notes
- Data is for RS-25D at 109% of rated power level.
- Rocket engine.mixture_ratio
- 6.03:1
- Rocket engine.throttle_range
- 67–109%
- Rocket engine.image
- Shuttle Main Engine Test Firing.jpg
- Rocket engine.image_size
- 250
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
27 sectionsContents
- Components
- Turbopumps
- Oxidizer system
- Fuel system
- Powerhead
- Preburners
- Main combustion chamber
- Nozzle
- Controller
- Main valves
- Gimbal
- Helium system
- History
- Development
- Space Shuttle program
- Upgrades
- Engine throttle/output
- Incidents
- Constellation
- XS-1
- Present use
- Space Launch System
- Engine tests
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
The RS-25, also known as the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), is a liquid-fuel cryogenic rocket engine that was used on NASA's Space Shuttle and is used on the Space Launch System.
Designed and manufactured in the United States by Rocketdyne (later Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and Aerojet Rocketdyne), the RS-25 burns cryogenic (very low temperature) liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants, with each engine producing thrust at liftoff. Although RS-25 heritage traces back to the 1960s, its concerted development began in the 1970s with the first flight, STS-1, on April 12, 1981. The RS-25 has undergone upgrades over its operational history to improve the engine's thrust, reliability, safety, and maintenance load.