Assuming (and that is all it is so far) that the ORB-CRS-3 anomaly is ultimately due to an engine failure this gives NK-33 a failure rate of 1-in-4, as of now, including the two test stand failures. Am I correct?(Asked not to bash but because I genuinely want the information)
Pegging future hopes to another Russian engine that's already been used as a political asset once in a situation that shows no sign of being resolved. What could go wrong?
Американская компания Orbital Sciences некоторое время назад провела тендер среди мировых производителей двигателей для своей ракеты-носителя Antares. Газета «Известия» со ссылкой на свой источник в Роскосмосе сообщает, что тендер выиграло химкинское НПО «Энергомаш» с двигателем РД-193. По информации издания, официальные результаты конкурса пока не объявляются, так как руководство американской компании ведёт консультации относительно гарантий поставок этих двигателей в условиях введённых США санкций против России.Оригинал статьи: http://russian.rt.com/article/56923#ixzz3Hb71wgwk
American company Orbital Science organized a tender among world engine manufacturers for Antares rocket. "Izvestia" newspaper reports from their source in Roscosmos that NPO "Energomash" won this tender with its RD-193 engine. According to their source, official results are not yet publicized since company management is trying to secure guarantees that engines will be delivered despite US sanctions against Russia.
And someone in the government of Russia leaks that info on the day after a failure because without that engine, the Ukrainians (and Americans) have nothing to attach to the stage. The 1980s called....
Very slight tangential question. With all the discussion here about different engine possibilities for OSC, it occurred to me that the reality is, there aren't a huge number of different engines available in the modern world. It's not like the number of different kinds of cars. Or car engines for that matter. Is there a site that lists all of the engines in use today and what capabilities/characteristics they have? I'm going to guess that there are what, maybe 30 different engines in use today??? I'm not interested in older, historic engines (although, they ARE *interesting*, but not really germane to the issues of today)
Quote from: Antares on 10/30/2014 03:12 amAnd someone in the government of Russia leaks that info on the day after a failure because without that engine, the Ukrainians (and Americans) have nothing to attach to the stage. The 1980s called....Yea, but leaving politics aside this actually makes sense - since the engine has been specifically designed to replace NK-33, re-engining Antares to that engine should be the easiest way among other options.
It's designed to replace the NK-33A flying on the Soyuz-2.1v, this engine has a new Russian controller, for example. And since it uses the RD-0110 vernier engine, it doesn't need any TVC. The AJ-26 uses an AeroJet developed TVC, ECU, APU and they even moved around the piping a bit.
No other existing engines in the world are so close in thrust, isp, O/F, structure and nozzle numbers as those.If they are in a hurry, it is RD-180 or nothing. I don't know if I wrote about it here, but anything that needs a new export license from the Russian version of ITAR, i snot less than three years away, if you are lucky.
Hmm... QuoteAmerican company Orbital Science organized a tender among world engine manufacturers for Antares rocket. "Izvestia" newspaper reports from their source in Roscosmos that NPO "Energomash" won this tender with its RD-193 engine. According to their source, official results are not yet publicized since company management is trying to secure guarantees that engines will be delivered despite US sanctions against Russia. I would just add that RD-193 engine has been designed to be a drop-in replacement for NK-33 for Soyuz-2.1v LV, it's got fixed nozzle so it will have to rely on suspension for gimbal (just like original NK-33).
-snips- ... Athena 2cS with six boosters would lift 4.19 tonnes to a 500 km x 28.5 deg LEO ... It is a number that bumps up close to Delta 2 and Antares capability. ...
Would any Russian engines still need to be tested and handled by Aerojet? or can OrbitalATK do this themselves.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 11/05/2014 02:44 amWould any Russian engines still need to be tested and handled by Aerojet? or can OrbitalATK do this themselves.Given todays statement by Orbital this question is now moot.
I heard on the radio on the drive to work that Orbital announced (today?) that they will most likely NOT be using the AJ-26 engines for any further Antares flights. That says to me that they have no confidence in an ability to inspect/approve the AJ-26 with respect to the turbopumps. Due to whatever factors, the engine has been deemed unreliable and is shelved.So Antares is grounded for the foreseeable future. There will be no quick return to flight, they need a complete redesign with a whole new engine and a whole new test flight regime. Assuming they can just "drop in" the RD-180, what's the down time for that? A year?