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I am not a rocket expert or anything, but my understanding is that Russian engines back in the early 1990s were more efficient. I remember seeing some kind of d
by throwawayffffas 5y ago
I am not a rocket expert or anything, but my understanding is that Russian engines back in the early 1990s were more efficient. I remember seeing some kind of documentary on it. I think that it was also cheaper than building American engines, because there was a large stockpile of unused engines in Russia.
- jasonwatkinspdx 5y agoThe documentary was likely "The Engines that Came in from the Cold." And yeah, those RD-180 engines were a bit shocking to US engineers at first. I suspect there were several reasons that attracted the US to buying them, price being a big one.
- throwawayffffas 5y agoThat was the documentary indeed!
- gameswithgo 5y agoThe RD-180 is still by many measures the best engine that has been to orbit. SpaceX Raptor is putting up better numbers but so far has only flown short hops and test stands.