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Photos of Rocket Engines

F-1 Engine

Developed by Rocketdyne, the F-1 engine generated nearly 1.5 million pounds of thrust. F-1 engines were clustered in groups of five in the first stage (S-IC stage) of Saturn V rockets. As a group, the five engines gulped 15 tons of kerosene and Liquid oxygen per second.

F-1 at the Michigan Space and Science Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2002)

F1 Engine F1 Engine F1 Engine F1 Engine F1 Engine F-1 Engine F=1 Engine
 

F-1 engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket F1 Rocket
 

F-1 engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

F-1 Rocket F-1 Rocket F-1 Rocket F-1 Rocket F-1 Rocket F-1 Rocket F-1 Rocket F-1 Rocket F-1 Rocket F 1 Rocket F 1 Rocket
 

F-1 engine on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

F-1 Rocket at Udvar-Hazy Center F-1 Rocket at Udvar-Hazy Center F-1 Rocket at Udvar-Hazy Center F-1 Rocket at Udvar-Hazy Center F-1 Rocket at Udvar-Hazy Center
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H-1 Engine

The H-1 was developed by Rocketdyne and used kerosene and liquid oxygen as propellents. Eight H-1 engines were used on the first stage of Saturn I and IB rockets.

H-1 engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket power head H1 Rocket engine fuel pump H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket thrust chamber H1 Rocket engine injection plate
 

H-1 engine on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

H1 Rocket engine side view H1 Rocket engine thrust chamber H1 Rocket engine power head
 

H-1 engine on display at the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket H1 Rocket

J-2 Engine

The J-2 was developed by Rocketdyne and used liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellents. The Saturn 5 second stage (S-II) used five J-2 engines, while the third stage (SIV-B) used a single J-2.

J-2 photos were taken at the Michigan Space and Science Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2002)

J2 Rocket J2 Rocket J2 Rocket J2 Rocket J2 Rocket J2 Rocket J2 Rocket
 

A J-2 engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

J2 Rocket J2 Rocket J2 Rocket J2 Rocket J-2 Rocket J-2 Rocket

LR-87 Engine

The LR-87 rocket was used on Titan missiles and space launchers.

LR-87 engine on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

LR-87 LR-87 LR-87 LR-87 LR-87 LR-87 LR-87 LR-87 LR-87 LR-87 LR-87 LR-87
 

LR-87 engine on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

LR-87 LR-87 LR-87 LR-87

LR-87 thrust chamber in storage at the Michigan Space Science Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

LR-87 Thrust Chamber LR-87 Thrust Chamber LR-87 Thrust Chamber LR-87 Thrust Chamber LR-87 Thrust Chamber

Navaho Rocket Engine on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Navaho rocket engine at Udvar-Hazy Center Navaho rocket engine at Udvar-Hazy Center Navaho rocket engine at Udvar-Hazy Center Navaho rocket engine at Udvar-Hazy Center Navaho rocket engine at Udvar-Hazy Center

Redstone Engine

Redstone engine on display at the Michigan Space and Science Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2002)

Redstone Rocket Redstone Rocket Redstone Rocket Redstone Rocket
 

Redstone engine on display at the Michigan Space Science Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Redstone Motor at Michigan Space Science Center Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor
 

Redstone engine on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Redstone Motor overview Redstone Motor thrust chamber Redstone Motor side detail Redstone Motor fuel pumps Redstone Motor side view
 

Redstone engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor Redstone Motor
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RL-10 Engine

RL-10 on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

RL-10 Rocket RL-10 Rocket RL-10 Rocket RL-10 Rocket RL-10 Rocket RL-10 Rocket RL-10 Rocket RL-10 Rocket
 

RL-10 Rocket Motor on Display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

RL-10 Rocket Motor RL-10 Rocket Motor RL-10 Rocket Motor RL-10 Rocket Motor RL-10 Rocket Motor

S-3 (LR-79) Rocket Engine

The S-3 rocket was used on the Thor and Jupiter rockets. The military designation for the S-3 was LR-79.

S-3 engine on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

LR-79 Engine LR-79 Engine LR-79 LR-79 LR-79 Motor LR-79 LR-79 LR-79 Rocket
 

S-3 on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

S-3 Rocket overview S-3 Rocket thrust chamber S-3 Rocket side view S-3 Rocket fuel pumps S-3 Rocket

Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME)

The Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) was developed in Huntsville, Alabama at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The SSME uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellents. The Space Shuttle uses three SSME.

Photos of an SSME on display at the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry, Kennedy Space Center

(Photos: Kevin Reynolds, 2000)

SSME SSME SSME SSME
 

SSME on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

Space Shuttle Rocket Space Shuttle Rocket Space Shuttle Rocket Space Shuttle Rocket Space Shuttle Rocket Space Shuttle Rocket Space Shuttle Rocket Space Shuttle Rocket Space Shuttle Rocket Space Shuttle Rocket Space Shuttle Rocket
 

SSME Powerhead on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

Space Shuttle Engine Space Shuttle Engine Space Shuttle Engine Space Shuttle Engine Space Shuttle Engine
 

SSME engine on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Space Shuttle Engine at Udvar-Hazy Space Shuttle Engine at Udvar-Hazy Space Shuttle Engine at Udvar-Hazy Space Shuttle Engine at Udvar-Hazy Space Shuttle Engine at Udvar-Hazy Space Shuttle Engine at Udvar-Hazy Space Shuttle Engine at Udvar-Hazy
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V-2 Engine

V-2 engine on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

V2 Engine V2 Engine V2 Engine V2 Engine V2 Engine V2 Engine V2 Engine V2 Engine V2 Engine V2 Engine V2 Engine
 

V-2 engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

V2 Motor V2 Motor V2 Motor V2 Motor V2 Motor V2 Motor V2 Motor V2 Motor V2 Motor V2 Motor
 

V-2 engine on display at the Air Force Space and Missile Museum

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

V2 Motor at Cape Canaveral V2 Motor at Cape Canaveral V2 Motor at Cape Canaveral V2 Motor at Cape Canaveral
 

V-2 Thrust Chamber on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

V-2 combustion chamber V-2 combustion chamber V-2 combustion chamber
 

V-2 Thrust Chamber on display at the Michigan Space Science Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

V2 Motor V2 Motor V2 Motor

XLR-11 Engine

The XLR-11 was developed to propel manned rocketplanes. This four-chambered rocket engine used alcohol and liquid oxygen as propellent.

XLR-11 displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

XLR-11 Motor XLR-11 Rocket XLR-11 Rocket XLR-11 Rocket XLR 11 Rocket XLR 11 Rocket

XLR-99 Engine

The XLR-99 was used in the X-15 hypersonic rocketplane. The XLR-99 used ammonia and liquid oxygen as propellent.

XLR-99 rocket engine displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

XLR-99 Rocket XLR-99 Rocket XLR 99 Rocket XLR 99 Motor XLR 99 Rocket XLR99 Rocket XLR99 Rocket XLR99 Motor

Apollo Lunar Module Descent Engine

Lunar Module Descent Engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

Apollo Lunar Module Decent Engine Apollo Lunar Module Decent Engine Apollo Lunar Module Decent Engine Apollo Lunar Module Decent Engine Apollo Lunar Module Decent Engine Apollo Lunar Module Decent Engine

Apollo Lunar Module Ascent Engine

Lunar Module Ascent Engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

Apollo Lunar Module Ascent Engine Apollo Lunar Module Ascent Engine Apollo Lunar Module Ascent Engine Apollo Lunar Module Ascent Engine Apollo Lunar Module Ascent Engine Apollo Lunar Module Ascent Engine
 

Lunar Module Ascent Engine in Storage at the Michigan Space Science Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Ascent Engine Lunar Module Ascent Engine

Apollo Service Module Engine

Apollo Service Module Engine (without nozzle extension) on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Apollo Service Propulsion Engine Apollo Service Propulsion Engine Apollo Service Propulsion Engine Apollo Service Propulsion Engine

Agena Engine

Bell Model 8048 Rocket Engine on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

Agena Engine Agena Engine Agena Engine Agena Engine Agena Engine Agena Engine Agena Motor

NERVA Engine

Photos of a NERVA rocket nozzle on display at the Michigan Space and Science Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2002)

NERVA Rocket NERVA Rocket

Atlas Sustainer Rocket Motor

Photos of an Atlas Sustainer Motor currently being restored at the Michigan Space Science Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Atlas Sustainer Rocket Motor Atlas Sustainer Rocket Motor Front Atlas Sustainer Rocket Motor Atlas Sustainer Rocket Motor Atlas Sustainer Rocket Motor Thrust Chamber Atlas Sustainer Rocket Motor Data Plate Atlas Sustainer Rocket Motor Closeup Atlas Sustainer Rocket Motor Power Head Atlas Sustainer Rocket Motor Power Head
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Viking Engine

Photos of a Viking rocket engine on display at the Udvar-Hazy center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Viking Rocket Viking Rocket Viking Rocket Viking Rocket closeup
Creative Commons License Images by Richard Kruse are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.