RD-214

RD-214 (РД-214)

Museum of Space and Missile Technology (Saint Petersburg). RD-214 rocket engine for Cosmos LV first stage.
Country of origin	USSR
Date	1955-1959
Designer	Energomash, V.Glushko
Manufacturer	Plant No. 19 named after I. V. Stalin
Associated LV	R-12 and Kosmos-2
Status	Retired
Liquid-fuel engine
Propellant	AK-27I / TM-185
Mixture ratio	3.97
Cycle	Gas Generator
Configuration
Chamber	4
Nozzle ratio	9.42
Performance
Thrust, vacuum	730.2 kilonewtons (164,200 lbf)
Thrust, sea-level	635.2 kilonewtons (142,800 lbf)
Chamber pressure	4.36 megapascals (632 psi)
Specific impulse, vacuum	264 s (2.59 km/s)
Specific impulse, sea-level	230 s (2.3 km/s)
Burn time	140 s
Dimensions
Length	2,380 millimetres (94 in)
Diameter	1,480 millimetres (58 in)
Dry weight	655 kilograms (1,444 lb)
Used in
R-12 and Kosmos-2
References
References	[1][2]

The RD-214 (GRAU Index 8D59) was a liquid rocket engine, burning AK-27I (a mixture of 73% nitric acid and 27% N₂O₄ + iodine passivant and TM-185 (a kerosene and gasoline mix) in the gas generator cycle.^[2][3] As was the case with many V-2 influenced engines, the single turbine was driven by steam generated by catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂. It also had four combustion chambers and vector control was achieved by refractory vanes protruding into the nozzle's exhaust.^[4]

Development[edit]

For the requirements to have storable propellants and higher thrust, Glushko's OKB-456 developed the RD-211, which had four combustion chambers, each having twice the thrust of the RD-100, a Russian adaptation of the V-2 A-4 engine.^[5] The four chambers were fed from a single turbopump powered by steam generated from catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂.^[6] When then came the requirement for the Buran cruise missile project, a version for that application was developed in the RD-212.^[7] Both RD-211 and RD-212 proved too weak for the application and the project were abandoned for the RD-213 for Buran.^[8] When Yangel's OKB-586 was tasked with developing the first storable propellant ballistic missile in the Soviet arsenal, the RD-211 proved too weak. Thus, the project was definitely abandoned and the more powerful RD-214 was developed.^[2] While Korolev's refusal to use toxic propellants basically left him out of the ballistic missile development race, the basic design of the RD-211 also served as basis for the RD-107/RD-108 engine, which went to be the most flown rocket engines in history.^[5]

The initial R-12 was a pad launched missile. It had significant operative issues on readiness and vulnerability. Thus, the silo launched R-12U was developed. For this development the RD-214U was developed. When Yangel used the R-12U as the basis for the Kosmos-2 63S1, the RD-214F was developed and fire tested, but in the end the stock R-12U was used as first stage. So it was for all subsequent 63S1M and 11K63.^[1][5][9]

Versions[edit]

This engine many versions:

• RD-211: GRAU Index 8D57. Original design for the R-12. Based on the RD-100, itself an adaptation of the V-2 A4 engine. This engine already had four separate combustion chambers, an H₂O₂ steam driven turbine and required vanes in the exhaust to control the rocket.^[1][6]
• RD-212: GRAU Index 8D41. Originally developed from the RD-211 for the Buran cruise missile project. Project drop in favor of RD-213 due to insufficient thrust.^[1][7]
• RD-213: GRAU Index 8D13. Similar to the RD-214. Developed for the Buran cruise missile project. Cancelled with the project.^[1][8]
• RD-214: GRAU Index 8D59. Original version of the engine designed for the R-12 (8K63).^[1]
• RD-214U: GRAU Index 8D59. Improved version of the engine. Flew on the R-12U (8K63S) and Kosmos-2 (11K63) launch vehicle.^[1]
• RD-214F: GRAU Index 11D45. Project for the initial version of Kosmos-2 (63S1).^[1]

See also[edit]

• R-12 Dvina - Ballistic missile for which this engine was originally developed for.
• Kosmos-2 - launch vehicle that uses an R-12 as first stage.
• Rocket engine using liquid fuel

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• NPO Energomash official site.