Also known as
  • RS-24
The Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) are the three main engines on the Space Shuttle orbiter. They are constructed by Pratt & Whitney's Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Division. The SSME is also designated as the RS-24 for engineering purposes. The Space Shuttle main engines burn liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen from the Space Shuttle external tank. They are used for propulsion during its ascent, in addition to the two more powerful Solid Rocket Boosters and sometimes the Orbital Maneuvering... full article at wikipedia
Used in rocket stages
Government designation
Design period
Use period
start
  • 1981
Diameter
Height
Thrust (vacuum)
  • 2,170,000.0N
Thrust (sea level)
  • 1,750,000.0N
Isp (vacuum)
  • 452.5s
Isp (sea level)
  • 363.0s
Dry mass
Throttle ratio
  • 0.64
Wet mass
Oxidizer
Oxidizer/fuel ratio
Expansion ratio
  • 77.8
Chamber pressure
  • 189.4bar
Number of chambers
  • 1
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The original description for this topic was automatically generated from the Wikipedia article "Space Shuttle main engine" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License .
Created by Metaweb Oct 22, 2006
Last edited by mwcl_images Oct 29, 2008
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