TR-107

TR-107
Country of originUnited States
ManufacturerNorthrop Grumman
Applicationlow cost throttleable booster engine
Liquid-fuel engine
PropellantLOX / RP-1 (kerosene)
Performance
Thrust, sea-level4,900 kN (1,100,000 lbf)
Chamber pressure177 bar
Dimensions
Dry mass00 kg (0 lb)

The TR-107 was a developmental rocket engine designed in 2002 by Northrop Grumman for the NASA and DoD-funded Space Launch Initiative (SLI). Operating on LOX/RP-1, the engine was throttleable and had a thrust of 4,900 kN (1,100,000 lbf) at a chamber pressure of 17.7 megapascals (177 bar), making it one of the most powerful engines ever constructed.[1] [2]

History

The TR-107 was developed by TRW following the successful conclusion of the development program for the TR-106 engine, a similar throttleable engine of about half the thrust burning LOX/LH2 instead of LOX / RP-1. Tom Mueller, then VP of Propulsion Development at Northrop, was project manager for both the TR-106 and TR-107 engines.

In 2002, Mueller co-founded SpaceX with Elon Musk and became the VP of propulsion[3] after cancellation of the SLI program.[citation needed]

Status

Northrop Grumman development of the TR-107 engine permitted consideration for potential use on next-generation launch and space transportation systems.[1]

As of 2023, no flight models are known to exist.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Northrop Grumman Awarded NASA Contract for Next Generation Launch Technology". Primezone. May 5, 2003. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  2. ^ "TR-107". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  3. ^ "Tom Mueller Bio". SpaceX. Archived from the original on May 16, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.