Designer KBKhA Design Bureau Propellant LOX / LH2 | Date 2001 Manufacturer TsSKB Progress | |
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Application engine for KVTK upper stage | ||
The RD-0146 is a Russian cryogenic rocket engine. The RD-0146 engine was developed by KBKhA design bureau in Voronezh, Russia, in cooperation with the American Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne company. In 2009, it came into prominence, as Russian space agency chose it for the second-stage of the proposed Rus-M launch vehicle designed to carry the future Russian PPTS manned spacecraft. After the cancellation of Rus-M rocket, the RD-0146D variant is selected as the powerplant for the KVTK upperstage.
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Development
In 1999, Khrunichev requested KBKhA to develop RD-0146U version of the engine for Proton and Angara rockets. The development of the engine was partially financed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. Pratt & Whitney signed a preliminary marketing agreement on April 7, 2000 with Russia’s Chemical Automatics Design Bureau giving Pratt & Whitney exclusive international marketing rights to the RD-0146.
Description
The RD-0146 is the first Russian rocket engine not to feature a gas generator and to be equipped with extendable nozzle extension without a cooling system. The engine is capable of five firings and thrust control in two planes. According to the developer, the lack of generator ensures high reliability of the engine for multiple firings.