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#1
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Future of the RL60?
Is the RL60 a 'done deal' for some variants of the Delta 4 and Atlas
5? If so what effects will it have on payloads - presumably to GTO but also on interplanetary trajectories? Phil |
#2
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Future of the RL60?
(Phil Paisley) wrote in
om: Is the RL60 a 'done deal' for some variants of the Delta 4 and Atlas 5? If so what effects will it have on payloads - presumably to GTO but also on interplanetary trajectories? The RL60 is in advanced development and should already have undergone its first full-up test firing. Boeing will likely go with its own MB-60. http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/...opul/mb60.html The increased thrust and slightly improved Isp should help with gravity losses on the existing underpowered upper stages. Mostly it would avoid having to mount two RL10s to achieve similar results. I have yet to find any figures on upper stage performance with the new engines; Boeing plans to top off the Delta IV with a Star-series solid motor third stage for planetary launches. This would probably offer better performance than increasing the second stage tankage for longer burns, since less mass is involved. (I'd like to see their solar-thermal upper stage developed for that purpose.) http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/...opul/ISUS.html Pratt & Whitney is apparently retiring the RL10 and is offering a Russian-built engine of similar design. There won't be that much US-built content in the RL60 either. :/ http://www.pratt-whitney.com/prod_space_rd0146.asp --Damon |
#3
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Future of the RL60?
(Phil Paisley) wrote in
om: Is the RL60 a 'done deal' for some variants of the Delta 4 and Atlas 5? If so what effects will it have on payloads - presumably to GTO but also on interplanetary trajectories? The RL60 is in advanced development and should already have undergone its first full-up test firing. Boeing will likely go with its own MB-60. http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/...opul/mb60.html The increased thrust and slightly improved Isp should help with gravity losses on the existing underpowered upper stages. Mostly it would avoid having to mount two RL10s to achieve similar results. I have yet to find any figures on upper stage performance with the new engines; Boeing plans to top off the Delta IV with a Star-series solid motor third stage for planetary launches. This would probably offer better performance than increasing the second stage tankage for longer burns, since less mass is involved. (I'd like to see their solar-thermal upper stage developed for that purpose.) http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/...opul/ISUS.html Pratt & Whitney is apparently retiring the RL10 and is offering a Russian-built engine of similar design. There won't be that much US-built content in the RL60 either. :/ http://www.pratt-whitney.com/prod_space_rd0146.asp --Damon |
#4
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Future of the RL60?
Damon Hill wrote in message 32...
Pratt & Whitney is apparently retiring the RL10 and is offering a Russian-built engine of similar design. There won't be that much US-built content in the RL60 either. :/ http://www.pratt-whitney.com/prod_space_rd0146.asp Pratt has retired the RL10A-3-3A, and will soon retire the RL10 models used by Atlas II and III, but there's been no word that the RL10 models used by Atlas V and Delta IV are to be discontinued soon. I would expect these to eventually be replaced by the RL-60 and MB-60, respectively, which makes me wonder who will buy the 22,000 pound thrust Russian engine. As for RL-60, it is a bit of a shock to see that both turbopumps, the regenerative nozzle, the fuel inlet, and the main LOX valve come from non-U.S. companies. That leaves, what, some pipes and engine controls to be manufactured by Pratt & Whitney? Is that all that U.S. aerospace industry is now capable of - unwraping components and plugging them together? - Ed Kyle |
#5
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Future of the RL60?
Damon Hill wrote in message 32...
Pratt & Whitney is apparently retiring the RL10 and is offering a Russian-built engine of similar design. There won't be that much US-built content in the RL60 either. :/ http://www.pratt-whitney.com/prod_space_rd0146.asp Pratt has retired the RL10A-3-3A, and will soon retire the RL10 models used by Atlas II and III, but there's been no word that the RL10 models used by Atlas V and Delta IV are to be discontinued soon. I would expect these to eventually be replaced by the RL-60 and MB-60, respectively, which makes me wonder who will buy the 22,000 pound thrust Russian engine. As for RL-60, it is a bit of a shock to see that both turbopumps, the regenerative nozzle, the fuel inlet, and the main LOX valve come from non-U.S. companies. That leaves, what, some pipes and engine controls to be manufactured by Pratt & Whitney? Is that all that U.S. aerospace industry is now capable of - unwraping components and plugging them together? - Ed Kyle |
#6
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Future of the RL60?
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#7
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Future of the RL60?
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#8
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Future of the RL60?
Damon Hill wrote in message 32...
(Phil Paisley) wrote in om: Is the RL60 a 'done deal' for some variants of the Delta 4 and Atlas 5? If so what effects will it have on payloads - presumably to GTO but also on interplanetary trajectories? The RL60 is in advanced development and should already have undergone its first full-up test firing. The test were scheduled to sept, 2003, according to P&W latest press release ( http://www.pw.utc.com/prod_space_rl60.asp) Wonder how well it did, or are the tests still ongoing ? What raised my interest, was the mention of expander cycle engines, RL60 in particular, in the latest chapter of "the Rocket Company" novel, http://www.hobbyspace.com/AAdmin/arc...ap11page1.html -kert |
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