Girish Mahajan (Editor)

RD 215

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Country of origin
  
USSR

Designer
  
OKB-456, V.Glushko

Propellant
  
AK-27I / UDMH

Date
  
1958-1960

Status
  
Retired

RD-215

Associated L/V
  
R-14, Kosmos-3 and Kosmos-3M

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). 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.

Contents

Versions

This engine many versions:

  • RD-215: GRAU Index 8D513. Original design for the R-14 (8K65). Used also on the Kosmos-1 and Kosmos-3
  • RD-215U: GRAU Index 8D513U. Improved engine for the R-14U (8K65U).
  • RD-215M: GRAU Index 8D513M. Improved version used on the Kosmos-3M.

    • Modules

    These engines were bundled into modules of pairs of engines. The serial production modules were:

  • RD-216: GRAU Index 8D514. Bundle of two RD-215, used on the R-14 (8K65), Kosmos-1 and Kosmos-3 first stage.
  • RD-216U: GRAU Index 8D514U. Bundle of two RD-215U, used on the R-14U (8K65U) first stage.
  • RD-216M: GRAU Index 8D514M. Bundle of two RD-215M, used on the Kosmos-3M first stage.

    • References

    RD-215 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA