BE-4 to replace RD-180: in the United States announced the solution of problems with turbopumps of rocket engines

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BE-4 to replace RD-180: in the United States announced the solution of problems with turbopumps of rocket engines

The American company Blue Origin has solved the problems with the turbo pumps of the BE-4 rocket engine, which is being developed to replace the Russian RD-180 engines. This is reported by Ars Technica with reference to the statement of the executive director of the United Launch Alliance Tori Bruno.

According to the report, after correcting the malfunction, the engine was returned for testing.



This is always a good point in the development program because it means that your important technical questions are over.

- said Tori Bruno, adding that now the company can focus not so much on the creation of the engine, but on increasing its production.

As it became known earlier, in early July of this year, Blue Origin delivered the first American BE-4 rocket engine to United Launch Alliance. At the same time, it was emphasized that the engine is not a serial one, it is planned to be used for testing together with the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle, the first flight of which is scheduled for 2021. The second BE-4 engine was also to be delivered in July this year.

Recall that the American BE-4 rocket engines are planned to be used in the first stage of the Vulkan launch vehicle, which should replace the Atlas family of rockets equipped with the Russian RD-180.

At the same time, it is noted that although the US Congress calls for a complete abandonment of the Russian RD-180, this is unlikely to be possible until 2024. The main reason is the high cost of the American analogue and the unpreparedness for its mass production.
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    1. +6
      28 October 2020 10: 12

      The American company Blue Origin has solved the problems with the turbo pumps of the BE-4 rocket engine, which is being developed to replace the Russian RD-180 engines.
      Sometime this should have happened. But the merikatos will have to pull on our eRDeshkas after 2025, at least.
      1. +13
        28 October 2020 10: 30
        Manned only.

        In general, Americans can live remarkably well without Atlases. This was shown for example in 2019:
        Atlas5 - with military satellite
        Atlas5 - with Starliner

        Все.

        This year a little more:
        Atlas5 - SolarOrbiter, where NASA is on withdrawal under the ESA AMC contract.
        2хAtlas5 - with the military
        Atlas5 - with rover

        And that’s all, by the end of the year the rocket might fly, or it might not. At the same time, all this could be replaced by the military mega-expensive Delta from the same manufacturer, AMC - Falcon.

        By the way, Beck is lucky enough to have 10 satellites of detailed photography. The main one is from Canon, and 9 Flokov4e. This is where progress has come, now such small satellites are able to take such pictures and live for three years. By the way, before Floki1-3 was taken out on the Soyuz with additional cargo.




        Well, the fireflies promise to fly firmly and clearly in December. We have already worked the table to launch readiness, burned the stage.
        1. +2
          28 October 2020 11: 18
          ... Firefly has signed a Launch Services Agreement with Spire Global (Spire) in connection with the launch of the Lemur spacecraft on the Alpha launch vehicle. The agreement provides for the launch of the Spire spacecraft on multiple flights of the Alpha launch vehicle during the contract term. Firefly also contracted Geometric Space Corporation to fully utilize the payload capacity of the Alpha launch vehicle.
          Robert Sproles, Senior Director of Satellite Planning and Operations at Spire, said: “The addition of the Firefly Alpha to the Spire launch program further expands our expansion opportunities for our world's leading nanosatellite constellation. We look forward to many successful flights with Firefly partners. ".

          Planned on December 22 with a possible transfer window until January 31.
          1. +4
            28 October 2020 11: 22
            Yes, well, to fly - I mean to roll out the rocket to the start. And then everything can happen. The weather will turn bad. Or something will break (the first start is the same). Therefore, yes a window of more than a month for transfers.
            1. +1
              28 October 2020 11: 47
              As far as I understand, the planned launch is 22.
              The rest is for quite possible and understandable transfers.
      2. -24
        28 October 2020 11: 01
        Where are Rogozin's paid commentators or does he pay extra for the locals?
        1. +8
          28 October 2020 11: 06
          Where are Rogozinsky paid commentators


          In your mind
          1. -16
            28 October 2020 11: 11
            Quote: Hermit21
            Where are Rogozinsky paid commentators


            In your mind

            Not local, we know locals. Time. The second minus from him but from a different account.
            1. +2
              28 October 2020 11: 12
              From Rogozin minus?
      3. -2
        28 October 2020 11: 40
        I propose to put a trampoline on one BE4 and send it into space
      4. +3
        28 October 2020 12: 06
        Musk does a great job without them.
    2. +16
      28 October 2020 10: 20
      A unique situation, of course.
      States on the Atlas launch vehicle are launching a military satellite, including spy satellites and satellites for the group's early warning missile strike.
      And Russia supplies engines for all this ...
      1. +9
        28 October 2020 10: 27
        Nothing personal, just business!
        1. +5
          28 October 2020 10: 32
          A unique situation, of course.
          States on the Atlas launch vehicle are launching a military satellite, including spy satellites and satellites for the group's early warning missile strike.
          And Russia supplies engines for all this ...

          And we rivet anti-satellite missiles with the money raised)
      2. +2
        28 October 2020 10: 58
        Russia also supplies oil and gas to NATO countries .. which are about to attack us .. In any case, they sleep and see how to attack as soon as possible ..))
        1. +3
          28 October 2020 14: 38
          Quote: Roman070280
          Russia also supplies oil and gas to NATO countries .. which are about to attack us .. In any case, they sleep and see how to attack as soon as possible ..))

          If you don’t sell them to NATO countries, as you say, then who don’t need money?
    3. +5
      28 October 2020 10: 22
      Is this a breakout or negative growth ???
      1. Ren
        +2
        28 October 2020 10: 30
        Quote: From Tomsk
        Is this a breakout or negative growth ???

        This is definitely a breakthrough, because the American company Blue Origin has solved the problems with the turbo pumps of the BE-4 rocket engine. NPO Energomash solved these problems back in the 1990s.
        NPO Energomash has a miserable handicap in solving rocket engine problems for more than a quarter of a century (practically one human generation). wink
        1. +12
          28 October 2020 10: 41
          Well, BE4 is still methane LNG. And this is still difficult in Russia. Dmitry Olegovich speaks:
          The repayment of the debts of the "Khrunichev Center" limits the capabilities of "Roscosmos", in particular, to create promising rocket engines, RIA Novosti reports a statement by the state corporation's general director Dmitry Rogozin.

          «While we are paying off our debts, we are losing invaluable time that could be used for promising projects. Such promising projects are the creation of a methane engine, hydrogen theme", - said the manager during his visit to the Khrunichev Center.

          According to the head of Roscosmos, "the methane engine will enable us to reuse carrier rockets." Rogozin is sure that it is possible to create such a power unit for “a couple of years, but this requires funds that are not yet available"As they are invested in the financial recovery program of the" Khrunichev Center ".


          So, while Rogozin is looking for money, the Americans are already approaching the second launch, and on the horizon is an innovative third, which is 96% done without people, in a robotic complex and on 3D printers.
          1. Ren
            0
            28 October 2020 11: 12
            Quote: donavi49
            projects are the creation of a methane engine, hydrogen theme

            LRE, for hydrogen + oxygen:
            RD-0120, RD-0146, RD-0146D, RD-0146DM.
            The methane + oxygen pair, in my opinion, has less thrust, with greater fuel requirements, than hydrogen + oxygen.
            Although for output to LEO it is quite possible to consider. hi
            1. +8
              28 October 2020 11: 19
              Hydrogen is expensive. It is the hydrogen Delta Heavy that is now the most expensive rocket in the world. And a simple medium is twice as expensive as Atlas and 9k without reuz.


              LNG provides a cost-thrust balance, while providing a high resource with a minimum of inter-flight maintenance. That is, an ideal option at the current technological level for a cheap, mass-produced rocket with a reuse for 10-15 flights.

              1. +2
                28 October 2020 21: 08
                LNG provides a cost-thrust balance, while providing a high resource with a minimum of inter-flight maintenance.
                That is, LNG is only needed for a reusable stage (kerosene slags the engine).
          2. +3
            28 October 2020 17: 10
            Quote: donavi49
            Well, BE4 is still methane LNG. And this is still difficult in Russia. Dmitry Olegovich speaks:


            All this was already a long time ago, you somehow call it when he spoke laughing , and since that time:

            1. KBKhA is developing the RD-0177 engine, a prototype of the RD-0169 aircraft. Earlier in KBKhA the engine-demonstrator RD-0162D2A was created and passed firing bench tests.



            2. A state contract has been concluded with the Progress RCC for a preliminary design of a carrier for the Amur-LNG development project, which will use the RD-0169 engines.

            Quote: donavi49
            in a robotic complex and on 3D printers.


            Additive technologies are also used in Russia. Previously, elements of the demonstrator motors were also printed.
            1. +1
              28 October 2020 17: 27
              1) Well, let's take a demonstrator from BlueOrigin 2015 (and at the end of the year there was an accident there with the explosion of the stand), prototype burns March 2018


              2) There is a fundamental difference. The traditional approach is to adjust components to innovative / modern technological processes. Relivity's approach is to make a rocket for a robotic process technology with minimal human involvement in production. They have the whole economy of the project on this. Minimum people (about 500 at the stage of mass production) - a new rocket every 60 days.

              Also the engine, they originally made the engine and made compromises in favor of maximizing 3D printing and robot assembly. There is no guarantee that it will shoot - but nevertheless, it is a small step towards something new. This is how progress moves.

              1. +4
                28 October 2020 17: 39
                Quote: donavi49
                1) Well, let's take a demonstrator from BlueOrigin 2015 (and at the end of the year there was an accident there with the explosion of the stand), prototype burns March 2018


                OSI RD-0162D2A took place in October 2017. The engine was created as part of the second phase of a Russian LNG engine for a launch vehicle. Based on the test results, the engine was disassembled and its fault detection was carried out.

                The third stage of the creation of an LNG engine is proceeding successfully - a series of firing tests of a model gas generator have been carried out, experts have studied the processes of mixture formation with various options for the nozzle head. Now they are working on the combustion chamber. Next year, they will assemble and start the HSI of the ready-made RD-0177.

                Quote: donavi49
                2) There is a fundamental difference.


                The result, in any case, is the criteria of reliability and cost, and if the cost can still be somehow calculated in advance, then reliability is developed by launches.
        2. -4
          28 October 2020 11: 42
          I am very glad that you are glad to whom you will sell rd 180?
          1. -2
            28 October 2020 12: 14
            to anyone. production will stop
            1. +2
              28 October 2020 17: 13
              Quote: Nastia Makarova
              to anyone. production will stop


              No, don't stop. On the basis of the RD-180, the RD-180MV engine will be made for the Soyuz-6 and Yenisei carriers. The engine will be cheaper and more technologically advanced.
        3. 0
          28 October 2020 17: 37
          "These problems were solved by NPO Energomash back in the 1990s."
          If you think that a turbo pump can pump any liquid or gas, then you are mistaken. In addition, the difference in pressure in 1990 and now.
      2. 0
        28 October 2020 11: 03
        Is this a breakout or negative growth ???


        Growth is negative .. but a positive pace ..
      3. +3
        28 October 2020 17: 19
        Quote: From Tomsk
        Is this a breakout or negative growth ???


        It is difficult to say that all RD-180 engines for the United States have long been paid for by them, including future deliveries.
    4. +3
      28 October 2020 10: 24
      although the US Congress calls for a complete abandonment of the Russian RD-180, this is unlikely to be done until 2024
      Therefore, Congress not to plan or carry out flights into space and calls for abandoning Russian engines. If that asks NASA. It would be much better, incl. and for the United States, if Congress called for the abandonment of unfair competition (in the sale of hydrocarbons, weapons, etc.), unilateral and illegal sanctions, non-deployment of weapons in space and much more than the Americans are now doing.
    5. +1
      28 October 2020 10: 25
      Nu..nu ... wait and see .... a statement is a statement, but what will life show?
    6. 0
      28 October 2020 10: 27
      They do, they do. Not as before, as it should be done, but calmly, without haste.
      The main thing is to get a breakthrough result.
      However, it is still necessary to carefully look at what they did.
    7. +4
      28 October 2020 10: 27
      developed to replace Russian RD-180 engines
      But didn't Musk rid the states of this addiction?
      At the same time, it is noted that although the US Congress calls for a complete abandonment of the Russian RD-180, this is unlikely to be done until 2024.
      Against the background of past "victorious" reports, I thought that by 2024 they would already fly to Mars, but it turns out that it’s like ... It turns out that there is still little choice: either RD-180, or trampolines ...
      1. +8
        28 October 2020 10: 39
        The Lockheed-Boeing Alliance is a direct competitor to Space X. Musk doesn't want to supply his competitor with engines.
        Therefore, the Alliance turned to another billionaire for help - Bezos, the owner of Amazon. Bezos has more mundane plans - he is not interested in the Moon and Mars.
        He needs engines and rockets to power his beloved Amazon and for space tourism.
      2. +12
        28 October 2020 10: 49
        Well, there is an obvious misunderstanding of the general situation.

        The US has several tough competitors. ULA - through lobbying, holds 2/3 of the state order. Boeing + Lockheed has 3 missiles - Atlas5 (the cheapest), Delta4 (horse price tag under 200 lam), DeltaHavi (380-400). They are holding their cake with their teeth and do not want to give it back. New ULA rocket - methane Vulcan on BE4.

        There is Northrop - but while their OmegaA is still not flying, Antares (also with Russian engines) is not needed by anyone. A total of 1 launch per year under the supply program with a swan. And NASA is exploring the possibility of dropping Antares into the graveyard by transferring Swan to Atlas5. This will increase the carrying capacity, and the cost of the rocket has already become equal, due to the piece assembly.

        There is Musk, who makes 2/3 of the launches under commercial contracts. And they don't really want to let him into the state order.

        There is Bezos - who has everything very leisurely. DoD even canceled the certification launch contract. For the dates are at 23. Engines are the same BE-4. There are shoals on the rocket.

        There is also a wagon of private traders, from Astra and Rocketlab to Fireflies and Relativity (these are the ones that will print methane rockets on 3D printers).
      3. -4
        28 October 2020 12: 10
        Musk delivered the US, not ULA.
        A big and important difference
    8. +13
      28 October 2020 10: 31
      Import substitution is in trend now.
    9. -3
      28 October 2020 11: 24
      Recently I read an article on rocket engines, submission of material "for those who are on an armored train", these turbo pumps are one of the main units in a rocket engine! With their "wild" performance and rpm. Maybe the Americans did something, well, shmogli! Launches will show! Minutemans fly with them, do not explode at the start. hi
      1. -5
        28 October 2020 11: 32
        They explode very much.
        1. -1
          28 October 2020 11: 37
          I haven't seen something for a long time. But during the electronic launch of the Minuteman, the long-range missile on the shaft lid pinned it! hi
        2. +7
          28 October 2020 11: 40
          Not a single accident at the start since 1970 until now. With two regular tests every year (over 100 tests)
    10. +1
      28 October 2020 11: 25
      Only the testing of such a rocket engine has been going on for years, the failure-free operating time should be several thousand hours. And then bam, and the Americans have their own engine!
      1. +1
        28 October 2020 17: 28
        Quote: APASUS
        Only the testing of such a rocket engine has been going on for years, the failure-free operating time should be several thousand hours. And then bam, and the Americans have their own engine!

        so far, they have solved the problem with turbo pumps, the tests will go from the beginning, at least a year, or even two. Turbo pumps on Russian (USSR) engines even Kuznetsov decided, in the 60s of the twentieth century
    11. +2
      28 October 2020 11: 30
      At the same time, it is noted that although the US Congress calls for a complete abandonment of the Russian RD-180, this is unlikely to be possible until 2024. The main reason is the high cost of the American analogue and the unpreparedness for its mass production.


      Everything that has been written before these lines does not matter.
    12. -3
      28 October 2020 11: 30
      Is it possible that "the most advanced state" has reached the level of the USSR 50 years ago! ???
      It's just a ride ... on.
    13. +1
      28 October 2020 11: 42
      Well, we have to come to terms with the fact that the Yankees will still replace the RD-180. And this is normal, although it is unpleasant for us economically and politically.
    14. +1
      28 October 2020 15: 19
      Quote: Roman070280
      Russia also supplies oil and gas to NATO countries .. which are about to attack us .. In any case, they sleep and see how to attack as soon as possible ..))

      As soon as they attack, supplies will immediately stop and the economies of these countries will sag by at least a third. And in this case, the situation is not entirely clear.
      There is no longer such an urgent need to sell these engines against the background of an extremely unfriendly policy towards Russia.
    15. 0
      28 October 2020 17: 23
      Meanwhile, the engines developed by the Russian NPO Energomash have successfully completed 15 launches in the world for 3 quarters of 2020.

      Forty-five RD-107A / 108A, four RD-180, six RD-276 and two RD-181 (on 9 Soyuz 2 launch vehicles, 4 Atlas 5 launch vehicles, 1 Proton-M launch vehicle and 1 launch vehicle "Antares").
      1. +2
        28 October 2020 18: 32
        Sorry, already in 16 launches.



        I wonder why in the news on VO about the launch of Glonass from Plesetsk - not a word.
    16. 0
      28 October 2020 17: 51
      Quote: zwlad
      Well, we have to come to terms with the fact that the Yankees will still replace the RD-180. And this is normal, although it is unpleasant for us economically and politically.

      The worst thing will be for the hurray-patriots, who for several years have been broadcasting that only thanks to us, Americans fly into space. Without giving yourself the trouble to calculate what is the percentage of "Atlases" with RD-180 from the total. This year - 14,8%, last year - 9,5% of the total number of launches
      1. +1
        28 October 2020 19: 45
        Quote: Old26
        The worst


        Straight horror? Or horror-horror? laughing

        Quote: Old26
        will be for hurray-patriots, who have been broadcasting for several years that only thanks to us, Americans fly into space.


        Nice fun for a few years then! laughing You can say a little more and the bellies would tear with laughter. Now calm down and exhale? laughing

        Quote: Old26
        Without giving yourself the trouble to calculate what is the percentage of "Atlases" with RD-180 from the total. This year - 14,8%, last year - 9,5% of the total number of launches


        What difference does it make if everything has already been paid for? We will finish supplying them with what we will do for our missiles. Development of new engines based on the RD-180 is underway. At one time they were even burned with methane, there are still many opportunities where to move.
    17. +1
      29 October 2020 18: 19
      All that remains is to congratulate our American colleagues on their success. THA is still a capricious little thing, and "to defeat" it is a great engineering victory.

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