![\"2014-11-07](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2014-11-07-01_10_39-Atlas-V-launch-ULA-GPS-Google-Search-350x228.jpg\")
Having conducted 49 flights to date, every single mission of the Atlas V has either been a complete success or been deemed to be a success by the payload customer.<\/p>\nATK has provided additional details about its domestic alternative to the Russian-built RD-180 engine currently in use on the venerable Atlas V rocket of United Launch Alliance (ULA). While ULA has aligned with Blue Origin\u2019s BE-4 engine, ATK proposal of a solid-fueled first stage \u2013 as a reliable, cost-effective, and commercial alternative to the RD-180 \u2013 provides insight into the wealth of American-built engine options.<\/p>\n
The Atlas V rocket:<\/p>\n
Since its maiden flight on 21 August 2002, the Atlas V rocket has quickly risen to the top of the U.S. commercial launch system and is routinely called upon for commercial and government launches, missions of national security, and short-launch-window interplanetary missions for NASA.<\/p>\n
Having conducted 49 flights to date, every single mission of the Atlas V has either been a complete success or been deemed to be a success by the payload customer.<\/p>\n
Thus, the Atlas V rocket is the current, most-reliable vehicle in the U.S. rocket fleet.<\/p>\n
Owing to the Atlas V\u2019s high success is the core design and adaptability of its first stage.<\/p>\n
Utilizing the Atlas Common Core Booster (CCB), the first stage operates across all variants of the Atlas V with a single engine, dual nozzle RD-180 engine built by the RD AMROSS company.<\/p>\n
The RD-180 has provided exceptional performance to the Atlas V and was chosen to be the engine of the first stage in no small part because of its safety record and reliable performance track record.<\/p>\n
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n
During first stage flight, the RD-180 engine burns a mixture of kerosene and liquid oxygen.<\/p>\n
This has been the unchanged configuration of the Atlas V for 12 years.<\/p>\n
Geopolitical pressures:<\/p>\n
However, the RD-180 is built by RD AMROSS, a U.S. joint venture of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne located in West Palm Beach, Florida, and NPO Energomash of Khimki, Russia.<\/p>\n
![\"2014-11-07](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2014-11-07-01_09_01-Atlas_V_RD180.jpg-700%C3%97459-350x242.jpg\")
Under the original joint-venture contract, Energomash was contracted to deliver 101 RD-180 engines, enough for 101 missions of the Atlas V, for the fixed price of $1 billion USD.<\/p>\n
Originally, Pratt & Whitney were licensed to produce the RD-180 engine domestically beginning in 2008.<\/p>\n
Eventually, that date moved to 2012 and is now considered unfeasible due to a new understanding that it would cost an additional $1 billion USD and five years to begin producing the engine in the U.S.<\/p>\n
At this point, it was agreed to continue importing the engine from Russia.<\/p>\n
![\"2014-11-07](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2014-11-07-01_43_06-No-habr%C3%A1-motores-rusos-para-los-cohetes-norteamericanos...-%C2%BFo-s%C3%AD_-310x350.jpg\")
However, due to the various geopolitical and U.S. political considerations that have come to the fore in 2014, the SpaceX corporation filed a complaint in U.S. Federal court in April 2014 stating that the continued import of the RD-180 engine from Russia would violate the newly-imposed U.S. sanctions against Russia.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Federal Court of Appeals agreed with the complaint and ordered an injunction on the engine\u2019s import.<\/p>\n
Following this decision, United Launch Alliance (ULA) began considering a replacement for the RD-180 engine on the first stage of the Atlas V.<\/p>\n
Specifically, ULA began looking for a domestically produced engine alternative to the RD-180, one that would not be subject to various geopolitical tensions.<\/p>\n
The formal study contracts for this initiative were issued by ULA in June 2014 to a select group of United States rocket engine suppliers.<\/p>\n
![\"2014-11-07](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2014-11-07-01_46_11-Blue_Origin_BE4_Large_Banner_LowRes-1.pdf-270x350.jpg\")
By September 2014, United launch alliance had entered into a contract with Blue origin to develop the BE-4 LOX\/methane engine as the replacement for the RD-180.<\/p>\n
Under the terms of the development contract, Blue Origin will complete development of the BE-4 engine for use on the Atlas V rocket beginning no earlier than 2019.<\/p>\n
Two BE-4 engines, each producing 550,000 lbf thrust at lift-off will be necessary on the Atlas V rocket\u2019s first stage.<\/p>\n
ULA currently has enough RD-180 engines in stock, already imported from Russia, to meet the Atlas V rocket launch schedule and demand until the BE-4 engines can enter service.<\/p>\n
*Click here to read an extensive Q&A between ULA\u2019s Dr. George Sowers and NASASpaceFlight.com members on the ULA\/Blue Origin Deal*<\/p>\n
ATK\u2019s solid fuel first stage alternative:<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, while ULA has entered into contract with the Blue Origin company, ATK has announced their plan to offer a solid fuel first stage alternative for the RD-180 engine of the Atlas V.<\/p>\n
![\"2014-11-07](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2014-11-07-01_49_31-Atlas-V-RD-180-Google-Search-350x228.jpg\")
Initial information came via the Request For Information (RFI) as part of the first step toward the Air Force funding alternative propulsion solutions to the RD-180.<\/p>\n
According to a press release from late September, \u201cATK\u2019s solid rocket propulsion solution provides a cost-effective, reliable solution based on advanced technology,\u201d said Blake Larson, President of ATK\u2019s Aerospace Group.<\/p>\n
For ATK, the development of new technologies in the previous years has led to innovative design improvements with solid rocket motors, resulting in higher performance and increased reliability and affordability.<\/p>\n
![\"2014-11-07](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2014-11-07-01_50_30-81634-400%C3%97500-335x350.jpg\")
According to Larson, \u201cBy combining our extensive experience with new technologies, we have provided commercial customers with low-cost solutions that progressed from design to flight qualification within months.\u201d<\/p>\n
By using a similar approach as those used in the past, ATK would be able to provide a solid fuel alternative to the RD-180 engine by the deadline of 2019 as set by United Launch Alliance.<\/p>\n
According to ATK, manufacturing and testing of the solid fueled solution for the RD-180 replacement would take place within the United States using tooling and infrastructure already in place across the country.<\/p>\n
In a response to NASASpaceflight.com regarding this initial release of information, ATK added that testing on the RD-180 solid fueled boost phase replacement would take place in addition to, not in replacement of, the various other commercial, civil, and government contracts ATK is already responsible for fulfilling.<\/p>\n
In fact, ATK further stated that adding the RD-180 replacement to ATK\u2019s roster would fit within the existing scope and capabilities of the company.<\/p>\n
Over the last seven years, ATK noted that they have designed six new motors that have all provided insight into increasing efficiency in the motor development and implementation process.<\/p>\n
![\"ATK](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Z54.jpg\")
A prime example noted by the company is the CASTOR 30 XL program for the Antares rocket for commercial resupply efforts with the International Space Station.<\/p>\n
In the case of CASTOR 30 XL, ATK noted that they successfully developed and tested the motor in 22 months.<\/p>\n
This type of development process would be used for the RD-180 solid propellant replacement solution.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the solid fueled boost phase replacement option for the Atlas V rocket could be designed by ATK in such a way as to maintain the current height of the Atlas V, thereby maintaining most of the current pad infrastructure for the rocket without radical redesign.<\/p>\n
The solid fueled first stage could also be designed to specifically meet the Atlas V launch vehicle and payload requirements, including the upcoming requirement to ferry crew aboard Boeing\u2019s CST-100 capsule.<\/p>\n
Application of ATK first stage for Antares: <\/p>\n
At the same time that ATK submitted its proposal for the U.S. Air Force, the company also put forward \u2013 as part of a request from Orbital Sciences Corporation \u2013 a proposal for a solid-fueled, domestically-produced first stage for Orbital\u2019s Antares rocket.<\/p>\n
![\"Z38-350x225\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/Z38-350x225.jpg\")
The proposal stemmed from Orbital Sciences\u2019 plan to perform an Antares propulsion system upgrade. This upgrade would change the first stage engines of Antares away from the decades-old AJ-26 engines used on the opening Antares core stage variant.<\/p>\n
Currently, Antares\u2019 first stage uses two Soviet-built NK-33 engines modified by Aerojet Rocketdyne into the AJ-26 engines.<\/p>\n
These engines successfully lofted a test Antares vehicle in April 2013, a Cygnus demonstration flight in September 2013, and the first two ISS resupply missions of Cygnus in January and June 2014.<\/p>\n
Following these four missions, Antares\u2019 third Cygnus resupply mission (CRS Orb-3) \u2013 the fifth overall flight of Antares \u2013 experienced a mission-ending engine failure 15 seconds after liftoff.<\/p>\n
![\"2014-11-07](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2014-11-07-01_52_53-NASA-Antares-Rocket-Launch-Failure-Huge-Explosion-Live-HD-Full-YouTube-350x234.jpg\")
This failure has put added need to accelerating the Antares propulsion system upgrade.<\/p>\n
In a statement released by Orbital, the company said that they were looking to introduce the new upgraded Antares propulsion system by 2016.<\/p>\n
Although Orbital won\u2019t be drawn on what engine will release the AJ-26 \u2013 which is now under a stop work order, per L2 information \u2013 the company might be leaning toward Russian-built RD-193 (known as the RD-181 once exported) engine as the replacement for the AJ-26 engines.<\/p>\n
That leaning might be complicated by the current geopolitical situation between the United States and Russia.<\/p>\n
As such, a domestic engine alternative might be in consideration for Antares.<\/p>\n
If a domestic engine alternative is pursued, however, ATK\u2019s proposal to provide a solid-fueled first stage for Antares would provide an almost-completely solid-fueled system for Antares. ATK already manufactures Antares\u2019 upper stage, the CASTOR-30XL.<\/p>\n
Regardless of whether or not Orbital accepts and proceeds with ATK\u2019s option for Antares\u2019s first stage, ATK\u2019s proposal furthers the company\u2019s commitment toward providing domestic, reliable, solid-fueled motors for America\u2019s spaceflight programs.<\/p>\n
(Images: via ULA, NASA, ATK, NPO Energomash and L2).<\/p>\n
(Click here: http:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/l2\/ \u2013 to view how you can support NSF and access the best space flight content on the entire internet).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ATK has provided additional details about its domestic alternative to the Russian-built RD-180 engine currently in use on the venerable Atlas V rocket of United Launch Alliance (ULA). While ULA has aligned with Blue Origin\u2019s BE-4 engine, ATK proposal of a solid-fueled first stage \u2013 as a reliable, cost-effective, and commercial alternative to the RD-180 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29990,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1871,4144,7758,3788],"class_list":["post-39465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-antares","tag-atk","tag-atlas-v","tag-rd-180"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39465"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39465\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}