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RD-263

The RD-263 (, GRAU index: 15D117) is a liquid-fuel rocket engine, burning a hypergolic mixture of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) fuel with dinitrogen tetroxide oxidizer 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.

Versions

The basic engine has been used for the

  • RD-263 (GRAU index: 15D117): Initial version used on the R-36M and R-36MUTTKh first stage (15А14 and 15A18).
  • RD-268 (GRAU index: 15D168): Variation used on the MR-UR-100 (15А15) and MR-UR-100UTTKh (15A16) first stage.
  • RD-273 (AKA RD-263F): Improved version based on the RD-263F upgrade project. Version used on the R-36M2 (15A18M) and (15A18M2) first stage.

Modules

Some of these engines were bundled into modules of multiple engines. The relevant modules and auxiliary engines are:

  • RD-264 (GRAU Index 15D119): A module comprising four RD-263. Propulsion module of the R-36M and R-36MUTTKh first stage (15А14 and 15A18).
  • RD-274 (GRAU Index ): A module comprising four RD-273. Propulsion module of the R-36M2 (15A18M) and (15A18M2) first stage.

See also

  • R-36M - ICBM for which this engine was originally developed.
  • Dnepr - launch vehicle that is a repurposed R-36MUTTKh.
  • LR-87, twin-chamber American rocket engine family used on the Titan series of US launch vehicles.
  • Rocket engine using liquid fuel

External links

References

  1. RD-263 Encyclopedia Astronautica, retrieved 2015-06-20^
  2. RD-263F Encyclopedia Astronautica, retrieved 2015-07-24^
  3. RD-264 Encyclopedia Astronautica, retrieved 2015-06-20^
  4. RD-268 Encyclopedia Astronautica, retrieved 2015-07-24^
  5. RD-273 Encyclopedia Astronautica, retrieved 2015-07-24^
  6. RD-274 Encyclopedia Astronautica, retrieved 2015-07-24^
  7. Christian Lardier. Liquid Propellant Engines in the Soviet Union Thirty-third IAA History Simposia, American Astronautical Society^
  8. Ballistic Missiles missilethreat.com, Missile Threat, retrieved 2015-07-24^
  9. Kazakhstan Missiles Nuclear Threat Initiative, August 2012, retrieved 2015-07-24^
  10. NPO Energomash list of engines NPO Energomash^
  11. History NPO Energomash^
  12. Jonathan McDowell. Russian engines Jonathan's Space Report, retrieved 2015-07-24^
  13. Anatoly Zak. R-36M/15A14/SS-18/Satan/RS-20 RussianSpaceWeb.com, retrieved 2015-06-20^
  14. Anatoly Zak. The Dnepr launcher RussianSpaceWeb.com, retrieved 2015-06-20^