// PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGY TERM
Liquid Rocket Engine
A liquid rocket engine is a type of jet engine that propels spacecraft and missiles by burning liquid fuels and oxidizers to create hot, expanding gases. These gases are then expelled through a nozzle to generate powerful thrust.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A liquid rocket engine is a chemical propulsion system that generates thrust by combusting precisely metered liquid propellants, typically a fuel and an oxidizer, within a combustion chamber and expelling the high-velocity exhaust gases through a de Laval nozzle, offering high specific impulse, throttleability, and re-start capabilities crucial for space launch vehicles and in-space propulsion.
BACKGROUND
The pressure-fed engine is a class of rocket engine designs. A separate gas supply, usually helium, pressurizes the propellant tanks to force fuel and oxidizer to the combustion chamber. To maintain adequate flow, the tank pressures must exceed the combustion chamber pressure.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Liquid-propellant rocket engine
- LRE
- Liquid engine
- Liquid-fueled rocket
USAGE NOTE
They are widely used in space launch vehicles and orbital maneuvers due to their ability to be throttled, restarted, and offer high specific impulse.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Liquid Rocket Engine.
Designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. They develop liquid rocket engines like Merlin (Kerosene/LOX) and Raptor (Methane/LOX) for their Falcon and Starship vehicles.
Develops a range of liquid rocket engines including the BE-3 (LH2/LOX) for New Shepard and the BE-4 (Methane/LOX) for New Glenn and ULA's Vulcan Centaur.
A long-standing developer of liquid rocket propulsion systems, including the RS-25 (Space Shuttle Main Engine, now for SLS) and the RL10 engine (LH2/LOX).
A joint venture between Airbus and Safran, responsible for the development of liquid rocket engines such as Vulcain, Vinci, and the next-generation Prometheus for the Ariane launch vehicles.
Known for its Electron rocket, which uses the Rutherford engine (Kerosene/LOX) with unique electric turbopumps. They are also developing the larger Archimedes engine for their Neutron rocket.
Pioneering the use of 3D printing for entire rockets, they develop the Aeon engine (Methane/LOX) for their Terran 1 and Terran R launch vehicles.
The primary contractor for Japan's H-IIA/B and H3 rockets, MHI develops the liquid rocket engines used in these vehicles, such as the LE-7A and LE-5B.
A leading Russian developer and manufacturer of liquid-propellant rocket engines, including the powerful RD-170, RD-180, and RD-191 series.
A European new-space company developing the Spectrum launch vehicle. They design and produce their own liquid rocket engines, named Aquila, which use methane and liquid oxygen propellants.