Whats newsworthy about this? Isn't every RD-180 static fired before delivery as it is? And why a picture of the Atlas III demo unit being tested?
Also, I am not sure if the RD180s are tested before delivery. are they?
Очередная партия жидкостных ракетных двигателей РД-180, изготовленных НПО Энергомаш, готовится к отправке — https://www.roscosmos.ru/26455/
The next batch of RD-180 is being prepared for shipment.The acceptance commission on the customer’s acceptance of the next batch of RD-180 engines manufactured by NPO Energomash has successfully completed its work. In June 2019, representatives of the companies Pratt & Whitney, United Launch Alliance, and RD AMROSS signed the forms for three product engines.Within two weeks, representatives of the above companies conducted an external inspection of the engines, spare parts, inspection of the accompanying documentation. This acceptance is the first in 2019, now they are being prepared for shipment.Liquid rocket engine RD-180 is designed and manufactured by NPO Energomash. It is intended for use in the US Atlas family of launch vehicles.
10/31/2019 13:44Three RD-180 engines shipped to the USA...In mid-October, representatives of the companies Pratt & Whitney, United Launch Alliance, and AMROSS EP signed forms for three commodity engines. After acceptance, the RD-180 engines were prepared for shipment and sent to the customer on October 29 at 06:15 Moscow time.
Are the Atlas engines bought in bulk, or are they built to order per each rocket being built? How far in advance do you need to order?
RD180s are fabricated in batches of 4. We currently have several years of inventory in hand
Is that close to enough for the rest of the Atlas V program? I assume once Vulcan is well established you will be mostly launching those.
Yes
116 RD-180s were delivered to USA, 89 were used, the last 6 will be delivered this year: it is not difficult to count how much RD-180s ULA has till Atlas 5 retire.
I heard slightly different count:1. The original contract was for 101 engine - done.2. The first extension (of early 2016 IIRC) for 20 engines - done.3. The second extension (of 2019) for 6 more engines - to be delivered in 2020.However, the first contract covered some non-flight units which were supposed for ground testing only.They told me that there were three non-flight engines in total.If this info correct, then currently 118 RD-180 were delivered
Had not they developed some human-rated Rd-180 for the Starliner launches? How are those counted?
Strange explanation m.lenta.ru/news/2020/04/1… It turns out that the American company buys our RD-180 engines not because they are the most efficient and reliable in their class (about 90 accident-free launches on the Atlas rocket), but in order "so that they will not go to the Iranians and North Koreans"
The RD180 is a technological marvel, ideally suited for Atlas' mission.
Thank you Mr. Bruno! This engine is truly efficient and reliable. We are pleased with our cooperation and are ready to continue it. I confirm our invitation to you to visit Moscow for negotiations. With respect to you and your company
Well that explanation sound like some kind of threat.. "Hey United States.. Better buy the RD180 engines in the future as well, even if you just put them in a storehouse, otherwise we give them to Iran and North Korea. You don't want that, do you?"
It's just pointing out the argument of 'we bought RD-180 to stop missile technology going to NK' is nonsense. If the US wanted to prevent migration of missile workers, they should've bought things that would actually come from missile workers and not engines only suitable for space launch. It did nothing to prevent workers at e.g. Makayev from going broke and looking at other options.
A batch of six #RD180 engines will be delivered to USA this year, said the head of Energomash Igor Arbuzov. These are the last engines to be delivered under the current contract; they are ready, but the delivery has been postponed due to the pandemic. https://ria.ru/amp/20210408/dvigateli-1727294942.html
