RS-88

RS-88
	An RS-88 is fired at Stennis Space Center
Country of origin	United States
Designer	Rocketdyne
Manufacturer	Rocketdyne (1997–2005); Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (2005–2013); Aerojet Rocketdyne (2013–present);
Status	Active
Liquid-fuel engine
Propellant	LOX / Ethanol; MMH / NTO (LAE variant)
Cycle	Gas-generator
Performance
Thrust, sea-level	220 kN (49,000 lbf) (ethanol); 176.6 kN (39,700 lbf) (hypergolic)
Used in
	CST-100 Starliner

The RS-88 (Rocket System-88) is a liquid-fueled rocket engine designed and built in the United States by Rocketdyne (later Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and then Aerojet Rocketdyne). Originally developed for NASA's Bantam System Technology program in 1997, the RS-88 burned ethanol fuel with liquid oxygen (LOX) as the oxidizer. It offered 220 kN (49,000 lb_f) of thrust at sea level.

A hypergolic derivative of the RS-88, fueled by monomethylhydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, was chosen as the launch escape motor for the Boeing Starliner capsule.

Origins and Testing

The RS-88 stemmed from NASA's Bantam System Technology Project, part of the Low-Cost Technologies effort of the larger Advanced Space Transportation Program.^[1] This project aimed to research and demonstrate technologies for a new, affordable launch system. While the program envisioned a technology demonstration flight in late 1999, it ultimately focused on engine development.^[2]

NASA tested the RS-88 in a series of 14 hot-fire tests, resulting in 55 seconds of successful engine operation in November and December 2003.

In 2003, Lockheed Martin selected the RS-88 for their pad abort demonstration vehicle. NASA successfully tested the engine in a series of hot-fire tests, demonstrating its reliability.

Starliner Launch Escape System

A hypergolic derivative of the RS-88, fueled by monomethylhydrazine (MMH) and nitrogen tetroxide, was chosen as the launch escape motor for the Boeing Starliner capsule.^[3] This variant, called the Launch Abort Engine (LAE), provides 176.6 kN (39,700 lb_f) of thrust.^[4] Four LAE engines are used in Starliner's abort system to propel the capsule away from the launch vehicle in case of an emergency.^[5]

References

^ "NASA Selects Four Companies to Demonstrate Low Cost Launch System Technologies" (Press release). NASA. June 9, 1997. Release C97. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011.
^ "Low Cost Technologies" (Press release). NASA. June 1997. Archived from the original on 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
^ theworacle (15 March 2011). "Test of Rocketdyne abort motor for Boeing crew capsule". YouTube. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
^ Clark, Stephen (November 27, 2015). "Aerojet Rocketdyne wins propulsion contracts worth nearly $1.4 billion". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
^ "PWR Analyzing Hot-Fire Tests For CST-100 Launch Abort Engine". Beyond Earth. Mar 22, 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.

External links

[1] "NASA Selects Four Companies to Demonstrate Low Cost Launch System Technologies" (Press release). NASA. June 9, 1997. Release C97. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011.

[2] "Low Cost Technologies" (Press release). NASA. June 1997. Archived from the original on 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2012-06-01.

[3] theworacle (15 March 2011). "Test of Rocketdyne abort motor for Boeing crew capsule". YouTube. Retrieved 24 November 2011.

[4] Clark, Stephen (November 27, 2015). "Aerojet Rocketdyne wins propulsion contracts worth nearly $1.4 billion". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 2019-12-19.

[5] "PWR Analyzing Hot-Fire Tests For CST-100 Launch Abort Engine". Beyond Earth. Mar 22, 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Origins and Testing

Starliner Launch Escape System

See also

References

External links