About Kistel K-1

[sammie]

I know a lot has been said and done about the Kistel K-1. But I have a specific question I don't think has been mentioned yet in the the discussion. The K-1 is supposed to use NK-33 and NK-43 engines designed by Kuznetsov. Kistler received 46 Russian NK-33 and NK-43 engines from Aerojet and obtained a Right of First Refusal for all remaining Russian NK-33 and NK-43 engines. The engines were modified to include modern U.S. electronic controllers, ignition systems, control valves, and thrust vector control (TVC) systems.

Developed in the seventies, Kuznetsov used to be a succesful turbine engine designer and their selection for the N-1 programme was a bit of a surprise. The NK-33 has a couple of failures during their test programme and only after a redesign (after the Moon programme was shutdown) it was designed to be re-usable.

I was wondering how Kistler can be sure that the NK-33 engines will perform after being stored for a couple of decades and after it had been rejected and even criticised in the Soviet Union. Have they been test fired and how checked possible refurbishment?

Thanks in advance

[Danderman]

http://aerojet.com/capabilities/nk3343_01.php

I believe this answers your question.

[Jim]

Do you mean Kistler?

Aeojet has refurbed and hot fired all the engines assigned to Kistler