Rocketdyne F-1
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2009) |
Gas-generator (Open Cycle) | |
Performance | |
---|---|
Thrust, vacuum | 1,746,000 lbf (7,770 kN) |
Thrust, sea-level | 1,522,000 lbf (6,770 kN) |
Thrust-to-weight ratio | 94.1 |
Chamber pressure | 70 bars (1,015 psi; 7 MPa) |
Specific impulse, vacuum | 304 s (2.98 km/s) |
Specific impulse, sea-level | 263 s (2.58 km/s) |
Mass flow |
|
Burn time | 150-163 s |
Dimensions | |
Length | 18.5 feet (5.6 m) |
Diameter | 12.2 feet (3.7 m) |
Dry weight | 18,500 lb (8,400 kg) |
Used in | |
Saturn V |
The F-1, commonly known as Rocketdyne F-1, is a rocket engine developed by Rocketdyne. This engine uses a gas-generator cycle developed in the United States in the late 1950s and was used in the Saturn V rocket in the 1960s and early 1970s. Five F-1 engines were used in the S-IC first stage of each Saturn V, which served as the main launch vehicle of the Apollo program. The F-1 remains the most powerful single combustion chamber liquid-propellant rocket engine ever developed.[1]
History
Rocketdyne developed the F-1 and the
Early development tests revealed serious
Design
The F-1 engine is the most powerful single-nozzle
One notable challenge in the construction of the F-1 was
The heart of the engine was the thrust chamber, which mixed and burned the fuel and oxidizer to produce thrust. A domed chamber at the top of the engine served as a
A gas generator was used to drive a turbine which drove separate fuel and oxygen pumps, each feeding the thrust chamber assembly. The turbine was driven at 5,500 RPM, producing 55,000 brake horsepower (41 MW). The fuel pump delivered 15,471 US gallons (58,560 litres) of RP-1 per minute while the oxidizer pump delivered 24,811 US gal (93,920 L) of liquid oxygen per minute. Environmentally, the turbopump was required to withstand temperatures ranging from input gas at 1,500 °F (820 °C) to liquid oxygen at −300 °F (−184 °C). Structurally, fuel was used to lubricate and cool the turbine bearings.
Below the thrust chamber was the nozzle extension, roughly half the length of the engine. This extension increased the expansion ratio of the engine from 10:1 to 16:1. The exhaust from the turbine was fed into the nozzle extension by a large, tapered manifold; this relatively cool gas formed a film which protected the nozzle extension from the hot (5,800 °F (3,200 °C)) exhaust gas.[5]
Each second, a single F-1 burned 5,683 pounds (2,578 kg) of oxidizer and fuel: 3,945 lb (1,789 kg) of liquid oxygen and 1,738 lb (788 kg) of RP-1, generating 1,500,000 lbf (6.7 MN; 680 tf) of thrust. This equated to a flow rate of 671.4 US gal (2,542 L) per second; 413.5 US gal (1,565 L) of LOX and 257.9 US gal (976 L) of RP-1. During their two and a half minutes of operation, the five F-1s propelled the Saturn V vehicle to a height of 42 miles (222,000 ft; 68 km) and a speed of 6,164 mph (9,920 km/h). The combined flow rate of the five F-1s in the Saturn V was 3,357 US gal (12,710 L)
Pre and post ignition procedures
During static test firing, the kerosene-based RP-1 fuel left
Specifications
Apollo 4, 6, and 8 | Apollo 9–17 | |
---|---|---|
Thrust, sea level | 1,500,000 lbf (6.7 MN) | 1,522,000 lbf (6.77 MN) |
Burn time | 150 seconds | 165 seconds |
Specific impulse | 260 s (2.5 km/s) | 263 s (2.58 km/s) |
Chamber pressure | 70 bar (1,015 psi; 7 MPa) | 70 bar (1,015 psi; 7 MPa) |
Engine weight dry | 18,416 lb (8,353 kg) | 18,500 lb (8,400 kg) |
Engine weight burnout | 20,096 lb (9,115 kg) | 20,180 lb (9,150 kg) |
Height | 19 ft (5.8 m) | |
Diameter | 12.3 ft (3.7 m) | |
Exit to throat ratio | 16:1 | |
Propellants | LOX and RP-1
| |
Mixture mass ratio | 2.27:1 oxidizer to fuel | |
Contractor | NAA/Rocketdyne | |
Vehicle application | Saturn V / S-IC 1st stage - 5 engines |
F-1 improvements
F-1 thrust and efficiency were improved between
- Thrust (average, per engine, sea level liftoff): 1,553,200 lbf (6.909 MN)
- Burn time: 159 seconds
- Specific impulse: 264.72 s (2.5960 km/s)[citation needed]
- Mixture ratio: 2.2674
- S-IC total sea level liftoff thrust: 7,766,000 lbf (34.54 MN)
Measuring and making comparisons of rocket engine thrust is more complicated[why?] than it may first appear.[according to whom?] Based on actual measurement the liftoff thrust of Apollo 15 was 7,823,000 lbf (34.80 MN), which equates to an average F-1 thrust of 1,565,000 lbf (6.96 MN) – slightly more than the specified value.[citation needed]
F-1A after Apollo
During the 1960s, Rocketdyne undertook uprating development of the F-1 resulting in the new engine specification F-1A. While outwardly very similar to the F-1, the F-1A produced about 20% greater thrust, 1,800,000 lbf (8 MN) in tests, and would have been used on future Saturn V vehicles in the post-
There were proposals to use eight F-1 engines on the first stage of the
The F-1 is the largest, highest-thrust single-chamber, single-nozzle liquid-fuel engine flown. Larger
F-1B booster
As part of the Space Launch System (SLS) program, NASA had been running the Advanced Booster Competition, which was scheduled to end with the selection of a winning booster configuration in 2015. In 2013, engineers at the Marshall Space Flight Center began tests with an original F-1, serial number F-6049, which was removed from Apollo 11 due to a glitch. The engine was never used, and for many years it was at the Smithsonian Institution. The tests are designed to refamiliarize NASA with the design and propellants of the F-1 in anticipation of using an evolved version of the engine in future deep-space flight applications.[12]
In 2012, Pratt & Whitney, Rocketdyne, and Dynetics, Inc. presented a competitor known as Pyrios, a liquid rocket booster, in NASA's Advanced Booster Program, which aims to find a more powerful successor to the five-segment Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters intended for early versions of the Space Launch System. Pyrios uses two increased-thrust and heavily modified F-1B engines per booster.[13][14] Due to the engine's potential advantage in specific impulse, if this F-1B configuration (using four F-1Bs in total) were integrated with the SLS Block 2, the vehicle could deliver 150 tonnes (330,000 lb) to low Earth orbit,[15] while 130 tonnes (290,000 lb) is what is regarded as achievable with the planned solid boosters combined with a four-engine RS-25 core stage.[16]
The F-1B engine has a design goal to be at least as powerful as the unflown F-1A, while also being more cost effective. The design incorporates a greatly simplified combustion chamber, a reduced number of engine parts, and the removal of the F-1 exhaust recycling system, including the turbine exhaust mid-nozzle and the "curtain" cooling manifold, with the turbine exhaust having a separate outlet passage[17] beside the shortened main nozzle on the F-1B. The reduction in parts costs is aided by using selective laser melting in the production of some metallic parts.[13][18] The resulting F-1B engine is intended to produce 1,800,000 lbf (8.0 MN) of thrust at sea level, a 15% increase over the approximate 1,550,000 lbf (6.9 MN) of thrust that the mature Apollo 15 F-1 engines produced.[13] [needs update]
Locations of F-1 engines
Sixty-five F-1 engines were launched aboard thirteen Saturn Vs, and each first stage landed in the Atlantic Ocean. Ten of these followed approximately the same flight azimuth of 72 degrees, but Apollo 15 and Apollo 17 followed significantly more southerly azimuths (80.088 degrees and 91.503 degrees, respectively). The Skylab launch vehicle flew at a more northerly azimuth to reach a higher inclination orbit (50 degrees versus the usual 32.5 degrees).[19]
Ten F-1 engines were installed on two production Saturn Vs that never flew. The first stage from SA-514 is on display at the
Another ten engines were installed on two ground-test Saturn Vs never intended to fly. The
A test engine is on display at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia. It was the 25th out of 114 research and development engines built by Rocketdyne and it was fired 35 times. The engine is on loan to the museum from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. It is the only F-1 on display outside the United States.[21]
An F-1 engine, on loan from the National Air and Space Museum, is on display at the Air Zoo in Portage, Michigan.[22]
An F-1 engine is on a horizontal display stand at Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.[citation needed]
F-1 engine F-6049 is displayed vertically at the
An F-1 engine is installed vertically as a memorial to the Rocketdyne builders on De Soto Avenue, across the street from the former Rocketdyne plant in Canoga Park, California. It was installed in 1979, and moved from the parking lot across the street some time after 1980.[23]
An F-1 Engine is on display outside of The New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, New Mexico.[citation needed]
The thrust chamber of an F-1 is on display at the Cosmosphere.[24]
Recovery
On March 28, 2012, a team funded by
On March 20, 2013, Bezos announced he had succeeded in bringing parts of an F-1 engine to the surface, and released photographs. Bezos noted, "Many of the original serial numbers are missing or partially missing, which is going to make mission identification difficult. We might see more during restoration."
In August 2014, it was revealed that parts of two different F-1 engines were recovered, one from Apollo 11 and one from another Apollo flight, while a photograph of a cleaned-up engine was released. Bezos plans to put the engines on display at various places, including the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.[29]
On May 20, 2017, the Apollo permanent exhibit opened at the
See also
References
- Notes
- ISBN 978-0-387-71675-6, p. 19
- ^ "NASA Rocketdyne document" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- ^ Ellison, Renea; Moser, Marlow, Combustion Instability Analysis and the Effects of Drop Size on Acoustic Driving Rocket Flow (PDF), Huntsville, Alabama: Propulsion Research Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville, archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-07
- ISBN 978-0-387-09629-2. Archivedfrom the original on 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
- ^ a b c Saturn V News Reference: F-1 Engine Fact Sheet (PDF), National Aeronautics and Space Administration, December 1968, pp. 3–3, 3–4, archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-12-21, retrieved 2008-06-01
- ^ NSTS 1988 News Reference Manual, NASA, archived from the original on 2019-11-30, retrieved 2008-07-03
- ^ "The Use of Trichloroethylene at NASA's SSFL Sites" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- ^ a b "F-1 Rocket Engine Operating Instructions". Ntrs.nasa.gov. 2013-03-01. Archived from the original on 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- ^ F-1 Engine (chart), NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, MSFC-9801771, archived from the original on 2014-12-26, retrieved 2008-06-01
- ^ a b Hutchinson, Lee (2013-04-14). "New F-1B rocket engine upgrades Apollo-era design with 1.8M lbs of thrust". ARS technica. Archived from the original on 2017-12-02. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
- ^ "First Lunar Outpost". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
- ^ Jay Reeves (2013-01-24). "NASA testing vintage engine from Apollo 11 rocket". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
- ^ a b c Lee Hutchinson (2013-04-15). "New F-1B rocket engine upgrades Apollo-era design with 1.8M lbs of thrust". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2017-12-02. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
- ^ "Rocket companies hope to repurpose Saturn 5 engines". Archived from the original on 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
- ^ Chris Bergin (2012-11-09). "Dynetics and PWR aiming to liquidize SLS booster competition with F-1 power". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- ^ "Table 2. ATK Advanced Booster Satisfies NASA Exploration Lift Requirements". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
- ^ Hutchinson, Lee (2013-04-15). "New F-1B rocket engine upgrades Apollo-era design with 1.8M lbs of thrust". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Dynetics reporting "outstanding" progress on F-1B rocket engine". Ars Technica. 2013-08-13. Archived from the original on 2013-08-15. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
- ^ Orloff, Richard (September 2004). NASA, Apollo By the Numbers, "Earth Orbit Data" Archived 2017-12-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Wright, Mike. "Three Saturn Vs on Display Teach Lessons in Space History". NASA. Archived from the original on November 15, 2005. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- ^ Doherty, Kerry (November 2009). Powerhouse Museum "Inside the Collection" Archived 2014-11-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Air Zoo web site". Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ Preston. Jay W., CSP, PE. Plaque at the memorial and observations.
- ^ https://cosmospheretour.com/exhibit.php?exhibit_no=55
- ^ Kluger, Jeffrey (April 29, 2012). "Has Bezos Really Found the Apollo 11 Engines?". Time.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012.
- ^ Clark, Stephen (April 29, 2012). "NASA sees no problem recovering Apollo engines". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012.
- ^ Weaver, David (April 30, 2012). "NASA Administrator Supports Apollo Engine Recovery". NASA.gov. Release 12-102. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012.
- ^ Walker, Brian (March 20, 2013). "Apollo Mission Rocket Engines Recovered" Archived 2013-03-23 at the Wayback Machine, CNN Light Years blog
- ^ a b c Clash, Jim (2014-08-01). "Billionaire Jeff Bezos Talks About His Secret Passion: Space Travel". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
- ^ a b "Updates: 19 July 2013" Archived 20 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Bezos Expeditions, 19 July 2013, accessed 21 July 2013.
- Bibliography
- Apollo 15 Press Kit
- Saturn V Launch Vehicle, Flight Evaluation Report, AS-510, MPR-SAT-FE-71-2, October 28, 1971.
- Manuals
- Technical Manual R-3896-1: Engine Data F-1 Rocket Engine
- Technical Manual R-3896-3 Volume I: Maintenance and Repair F-1 Rocket Engine
- Technical Manual R-3896-3 Volume II: Maintenance and Repair F-1 Rocket Engine
- Technical Manual R-3896-4: Illustrated Parts Breakdown F-1 Rocket Engine
- Technical Manual R-3896-5 Volume I: Ground Support Equipment and Repair F-1 Rocket Engine
- Technical Manual R-3896-5 Volume II: Ground Support Equipment Maintenance and Repair F-1 Rocket Engine
- Technical Manual R-3896-6: Installation and Repair of Thermal Insulation F-1 Rocket Engine
- Technical Manual R-3896-9: Transportation F-1 Rocket Engine
- Technical Manual R-3896-11: F-1 Rocket Engine Operating Instructions
External links
- E-1 at the Encyclopedia Astronautica
- F-1 at the Encyclopedia Astronautica
- F-1A at the Encyclopedia Astronautica
- NASA SP-4206 Stages to Saturn - the official NASA history of the Saturn launch vehicle
- F-1 Engine Operating Instructions (310MB)
- The Saturn V F-1 Engine: Powering Apollo into History at Springer.com
- Remembering The Giants: Apollo Rocket Propulsion Development, 2009, John C. Stennis Space Center. Monograph in Aerospace History No. 45 NASA
- How NASA brought the monstrous F-1 “moon rocket” engine back to life
- New F-1B rocket engine upgrades Apollo-era design with 1.8M lbs of thrust
- MSFC History office F-1 Fact sheet
- Anthony Young Collection, The University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives and Special Collections Research material on the development of the F-1 engine.
- U.S. Space & Rocket Center: The FIRST test of all five F-1 Engines in 1965 on YouTube.