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Aerojet bought those engines from Russia - the original manufacturer - in 1990-s. No need for Orbital to scour museums. No, engines didn't explode. Were actual

by avmich 12y ago

Aerojet bought those engines from Russia - the original manufacturer - in 1990-s. No need for Orbital to scour museums. No, engines didn't explode. Were actually never flown before the first Antares lifted off. But performed pretty well on stands.

marze 12y ago
Are you were claiming that there were no failures of the NK-33 engine on any of the four N1 flights that exploded during first stage burn?
- avmich 12y ago
  Yes. NK-33 never flew on N-1. They were intended to fly on N-1 in its fifth flight - which never happened, because Glushko closed the program after becoming the head of the Energiya company.
  - marze 12y ago
    So before the engines were obtained by Orbital, the NK-33 had never even been flight tested?
    - avmich 12y ago
      Before the engines flew for the first time, yes they never flew before. And Antares is the first rocket where those engines have flied - though not the only one rocket already.