RD-215

Last updated
RD-215 (РД-215)
RD-216 sheme.svg
Country of origin USSR
Date1958-1960
Designer OKB-456, V.Glushko
Associated LV R-14, Kosmos-3 and Kosmos-3M
StatusRetired
Liquid-fuel engine
Propellant AK-27I / UDMH
Mixture ratio2.5
Configuration
Chamber2
Nozzle ratio18.8
Performance
Thrust, vacuum887 kN (199,000 lbf)
Thrust, sea-level740 kN (170,000 lbf)
Chamber pressure 7.355 MPa (1,066.8 psi)
Specific impulse, vacuum289 s (2.83 km/s)
Specific impulse, sea-level246 s (2.41 km/s)
Dimensions
Length2,205 mm (86.8 in)
Diameter2,260 mm (89 in)
Dry weight575 kg (1,268 lb)
Used in
R-14, Kosmos-3 and Kosmos-3M first stage
References
References [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

The RD-215 (GRAU Index 8D513) was a dual nozzle liquid rocket engine, burning AK-27 (a mixture of 73% nitric acid and 27% N2O4 + iodine passivant) and UDMH. It was used in a module of two engines (four nozzles) known as the RD-216 (GRAU Index 8D514). [2] The RD-215 was developed by OKB-456 for Yangel's Yuzhmash R-14 (8K65) ballistic missile. Its variations were also used on the Kosmos-1, Kosmos-3 and Kosmos-3M launch vehicles. [1]

Contents

Versions

The family incorporate many versions: [1] [7]

Modules

These engines were bundled into modules of pairs of engines. The serial production modules were: [1] [3]

RD-215 Family of Engines [1]
EngineRD-215RD-215URD-215M
GRAU 8D5148D514U8D514M
Development1958-19601960-19611966-1968
PropellantAK-27I (73% nitric acid, 27% N2O4, and iodine passivant) / UDMH [2]
Combustion chamber pressure7.355 MPa (1,066.8 psi)
Thrust, vacuum887 kN (199,000 lbf)887 kN (199,000 lbf)890 kN (200,000 lbf)
Thrust, sea level740 kN (170,000 lbf)740 kN (170,000 lbf)742.8 kN (167,000 lbf)
Isp, vacuum289 s (2.83 km/s)289 s (2.83 km/s)291.3 s (2.857 km/s)
Isp, sea level246 s (2.41 km/s)246 s (2.41 km/s)248 s (2.43 km/s)
Burn time146sN/AN/A
Length2,205 mm (86.8 in)2,205 mm (86.8 in)2,205 mm (86.8 in)
Diameter2,260 mm (89 in)2,260 mm (89 in)2,260 mm (89 in)
Dry weight575 kg (1,268 lb)575 kg (1,268 lb)570 kg (1,260 lb)
Use R-14 (8K65), Kosmos-1 and Kosmos-3 R-14U (8K65U) Kosmos-3M

See also

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This page is an incomplete list of orbital rocket engine data.

The RD-0214 (GRAU Index: 8D811) is a rocket vernier engine burning N2O4 and UDMH in a gas generator cycle. It has four nozzles that can each gimbal 45 in plane to provide TVC to the RD-0212 propulsion module of Proton third stage. It is a revised version of the RD-0207.

RD-0210

The RD-0210 (GRAU Index: 8D411K) is also known as the RD-465. It and its twin, the RD-0211, are rocket engines burning N2O4 and UDMH in an oxidizer rich staged combustion cycle. They have single nozzle, possess TVC and are the latest evolution in the RD-0203/4 lineage. They are the engines used on the Proton second stage. The RD-0213 is a fixed nozzle variation that is used on the RD-0212 module of the Proton third stage.

The RD-263 (GRAU Index 15D117) is a liquid rocket engine, burning N2O4 and UDMH in the oxidizer rich staged combustion cycle. Four RD-263 engines form a propulsion module RD-264 (GRAU Index 15D119). For the R-36M KB Yuzhnoye only ordered the first stage propulsion to Energomash, instead of both stages, arguing that they were overworked with the RD-270 development. By April 1970 Yuzhnoye was getting the engine documentation. By the end of 1972 Energomash started to test fire the engines in its own test stand. And by September 1973 the engine was certified for flight. While the engine is out of production, the ICBM as well as the Dnepr remain operational as of 2015.

RD-119

The RD-119 was a liquid rocket engine, burning liquid oxygen and UDMH in the gas-generator cycle. It has a huge expansion ratio on the nozzle and uses a unique propellant combination to achieve an extremely high isp of 352 s for a semi-cryogenic gas-generator engine. It also has a unique steering mechanism. The engine main nozzle is fixed, and the output of the gas generator is fed into four nozzles on the side of the engine. Instead of using gimbaled verniers to supply vector control, the combustion gases are distributed by an electrically driven system that can control the thrust among the nozzles.

RD-214 Rocket engine

The RD-214 (GRAU Index 8D59) was a liquid rocket engine, burning AK-27I (a mixture of 73% nitric acid and 27% N2O4 + iodine passivant and TM-185 (a kerosene and gasoline mix) in the gas generator cycle. As was the case with many V-2 influenced engines, the single turbine was driven by steam generated by catalytic decomposition of H2O2. It also had four combustion chambers and vector control was achieved by refractory vanes protruding into the nozzle's exhaust.

RD-250 Rocket engine

The RD-250 (GRAU Index 8D518) is the base version of a dual-nozzle family of liquid rocket engines, burning N2O4 and UDMH in the oxidizer rich staged combustion cycle. The RD-250 was developed by OKB-456 for Yangel's PA Yuzhmash ICBM, the R-36 (8K67). Its variations were also used on the Tsyklon-2 and Tsyklon-3 launch vehicles. It was supposed to be used on the Tsyklon-4, but since the cancellation of the project it should be considered as out of production.

The RD-861 is a Soviet liquid propellant rocket engine burning UDMH and nitrogen tetroxide in a gas generator combustion cycle. It has a main combustion chamber, with four vernier nozzles fed by the gas generator output. It can be reignited a single time.

The RD-0255 is a propulsion module composed of an RD-0256 main engine and a RD-0257 vernier engine. Both are liquid rocket engine, burning UDMH in N2O4. The RD-0256 main engine operates in the oxidizer rich staged combustion cycle, while the vernier RD-0257 uses the simpler gas generator cycle. It was used on the R-36MUTTKh (GRAU:15A18) and R-36M2 (GRAU:15A18M). Subsequently, it has been in the Dnepr second stage and as of 2016 it is still in active service.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "NPO Energomash list of engines". NPO Energomash. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "RD-216". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on June 26, 2002. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  3. 1 2 "R-14". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on March 9, 2003. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  4. Zak, Anatoly. "Cosmos-1, 3, 3M and 3MU". RussianSpaceWeb.com. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
  5. Krebs, Gunter Dirk (2016-04-22). "Kosmos-1/-3/-3M". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
  6. Nicolas, Pillet (2013-07-20). "Cosmos-3 Description du lanceur" [Kosmos 3 Launcher Description] (in French). Kosmonavtika. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
  7. Article title