"Racescort666" (Racescort666)
08/11/2015 at 13:15 • Filed to: Space, NASA, RS-25
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"Racescort666" (Racescort666)
08/11/2015 at 13:15 • Filed to: Space, NASA, RS-25 | 1
| 9 |
I came across this graphic of the new RS-25 rocket engine as compared to a Fiat 500, excellent choice by NASA or whomever made this infographic, btw. For those that don’t know, the RS-25 will be the engine that the new SLS (Space Launch System) uses to lift new, exciting, heavy payloads into space in the upcoming years. It was originally developed for the Space Shuttle Program where 3 of which powered the Space Shuttle Orbiters into space. Despite some of the short comings of the Shuttle Program, there was definitely some impressive hardware on it.
The engine itself is a cryogenic Liquid Hydrogen/Liquid Oxygen staged combustion engine. Staged combustion is where the fuel and oxidizer are pumps driven by a partial combustion of each then the entirety of the fuel and oxidizer is then pumped into the main combustion chamber. This is different from other engines like the Rocketdyne J-2 which uses a gas generator cycle where the partial combustion of the fuel and oxidizer are just exhausted after the turbopump rather than rejoining the bulk of the propellant in the combustion chamber.
RS-25 Schematic
J-2 Schematic
The RS-25 has a number of other notable features like it’s large ±10.5° gimbaling range, high specific impulse (a measure of efficiency), dual redundant dual-processor engine control computers per engine, and 65%-109% throttling capability.
The gimbaling is necessary for keeping the center of thrust through the launch system’s center of mass. With the SRB’s jettisoning and the drain of the main tank, the center of mass on the Space Shuttle moves a considerable amount and keeping the center of thrust focused on the center of mass keeps the shuttle from flipping out of control. The throttling capability allows the Space Shuttle to conserve fuel by dialing back thrust deep in the atmosphere to reduce air drag then increasing thrust to minimize gravity loss.
The graphic itself is actually part of a larger one below:
And a Fiat for fun.
Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
> Racescort666
08/11/2015 at 13:21 |
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My avatar appreciates this picture on a deeper level that you could ever know.
DoYouEvenShift
> Racescort666
08/11/2015 at 13:27 |
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Love the RS25! Cant wait to watch it on the SLS! Gonna be a beast!
Patrick Nichols
> Racescort666
08/11/2015 at 13:35 |
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Did someone say boss?
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Racescort666
> DoYouEvenShift
08/11/2015 at 13:42 |
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SLS Block 1 still has less payload to LEO than Saturn V, even Block 2 is only 10% more payload than S-V. If they’re really serious about going to Mars, they’re going to need stuff that’s even bigger. I think bigger stuff is to come but SLS will definitely be a sight to see especially since it’s a return to heavy launch vehicles.
Sam
> Racescort666
08/11/2015 at 13:45 |
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I wonder if the drag racing guys have ever tried fuel turbos. Because more turbos = better.
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DoYouEvenShift
> Racescort666
08/11/2015 at 13:47 |
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Saturn V was a monster for sure. I cant wait to what they have up their sleeve for a Mars launch. Will be a sight to see. I live 1 hour from KSC, so I cant wait to watch it.
TheOnelectronic
> DoYouEvenShift
08/11/2015 at 19:52 |
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I really thought you meant Kerbal Space Center for a while there.
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TheOnelectronic
> Racescort666
08/11/2015 at 19:52 |
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Wasn’t the SSME the most efficient rocket engine ever taken to space? I recall reading that a while ago, but I don’t know if it’s still the case.
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Racescort666
> TheOnelectronic
08/12/2015 at 01:12 |
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In terms of specific impulse, the ion thruster on the Dawn spacecraft holds that record. Something like 8,000s Isp and a total delta-v of over 10 km/s. However, that’s a special case since it produces like 1 Newton of thrust.
The SSME has a vacuum Isp of around 460 which is pretty damn good for a liquid fuel engine. I know the Russians had some really efficient engines as well. They focused a lot of their efforts on liquid fuel rocket engines while Americans split between liquid and solid fuel rockets which gave them a bit of an edge. I'd have to look them up to see if they had any that were more efficient than the SSME, I don't think so though.