Rocketdyne S-3D


The Rocketdyne S-3D was an American liquid rocket engine produced by Rocketdyne between 1956 and 1961. It was a gas generator, pump-fed engine, using a liquid oxygen and RP-1 propellant combination, capable of producing 134,908 pounds of thrust at sea level.
The S-3 was based on the Redstone engine, and is part of the LR79 family, used on the PGM-19 Jupiter and PGM-17 Thor missiles, and on the Juno II rocket. Other members of the LR79 engine family include: XLR71-NA-1, B-2C, XLR83-NA-1, LR79-7, S-3D, XLR89-1, MB-3-1, X-1, LR83-NA-1, H-1, LR89-5, XLR89-5, S-3, LR89-7, MB-3-J, MB-3, MB-3-3, RZ.2, H-1c, H-1b, RS-27, RS-27A R, RS-56-OBA and RS-27C.
A second stage with four S-3 engines was considered for the Saturn A-2 study.
Its design was used later as the basis for the H-1 rocket engine of the Saturn I, and the Rolls-Royce RZ.2 of the Blue Streak.

Specifications

Rocketdyne S-3D:
Rocketdyne S-3:
  • First flight: 1958
  • Vehicles: Juno II, Saturn A-2
  • Thrust: 667.2 kN.
  • Specific impulse: 282 s.
  • Burn time: 182 s.
  • Diameter: 2.67 m.
  • Dry mass: 725 kg