TR-107 explained

TR-107
Purpose:low cost throttleable booster engine
Type:liquid
Fuel:RP-1 (kerosene)
Oxidiser:LOX
Thrust(Sl):4900kN
Chamber Pressure:177 bar
Dry Weight:0kg (00lb)

The TR-107 was a developmental rocket engine designed in 2002 by Northrop Grumman for the NASA and DoD-funded Space Launch Initiative. Operating on LOX/RP-1, the engine was throttleable and had a thrust of 4900kN at a chamber pressure of 177bar, making it one of the most powerful engines ever constructed.[1] [2]

History

The TR-107 was developed by TRW following the successful conclusion of the development program for the TR-106 engine, a similar throttleable engine of about half the thrust burning LOX/LH2 instead of LOX / RP-1. Tom Mueller, then VP of Propulsion Development at Northrop, was project manager for both the TR-106 and TR-107 engines.

In 2002, Mueller co-founded SpaceX with Elon Musk and became the VP of propulsion[3] after cancellation of the SLI program.

Status

Northrop Grumman development of the TR-107 engine permitted consideration for potential use on next-generation launch and space transportation systems.

, no flight models are known to exist.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Northrop Grumman Awarded NASA Contract for Next Generation Launch Technology . May 5, 2003 . May 22, 2014 . Primezone.
  2. Web site: TR-107 . Astronautix.com . March 12, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140805141204/http://astronautix.com/engines/tr107.htm . August 5, 2014 .
  3. Web site: Tom Mueller Bio . SpaceX . May 21, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140516101427/http://www.spacex.com/about/leadership . May 16, 2014 .