Orbital Sciences tests Soviet NK-33 rocket engine

On Dec 21, 5:50*pm, Jochem Huhmann wrote:

1. since you can't really get a nice orbit insertion
with that, they need a third stage, fueled by hypergolic fuels.

2. What they've got is a rocket with three different engines and
fuels,


3. And two of such
engines, which doubles the probability of an engine failure with still
no engine-out capabilities.


4. the expertize right beside
the pad instead of two companies and four decades away.

1. No, it does need a third stage for ISS cargo. The spacecraft does
the orbital insertion corrections. OSC is working on a liquid
upperstage to replace the solid

2. See number #1
3. And when was the last time that happened? Engine out capability
is over rated. Most of the velocity increment is provided by the
Falcon 9 second stage and it has no engine out capability.
4. And your point is? Engine experts are not at the launch site,
they are at the factory. They have to travel no matter what company
they work for.