Because of tension between the United States and Russia over the Russian invasion of Crimea, the storied Rocketdyne plant in Canoga Park that once built engines to take rockets to the moon may be revived, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Rocketdyne, which merged with Aerojet to form Aerojet Rocketdyne last year, may be the beneficiary of Russia’s announcement last month that it might cut off U.S. from using its launch vehicles and might use the International Space Station without American participation.
The U.S. currently uses the Russian-made RD-180 engine for the U.S. United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket, made by Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp.
After Russia took over Crimea, the Pentagon decided to have the Air Force decide whether to keep using the RD-180 engine. There would be a two-year window if the U.S. cannot use the RD-180 because United Launch Alliance has stockpiled a two-year supply.
Engineers at Aerojet Rocketdyne in Canoga Park have been at work creating a new liquid-fuel rocket engine. If the Russian threat materializes and the U.S. government funds an American replacement, the Canoga Park facility would be a thriving area once again, the Times reports.
Warren M. Boley, the president of Aerojet Rocketdyne, told the Times‘ W.J. Hannigan, “It’s a potential game-changer on many fronts. It would build on our ongoing legacy.”
In the 1960’s Rocketdyne made the chief engines for the Saturn V rocket, which powered men to the moon. The company’s F-1 engines were used for the Saturn V and the Space Shuttle.
Aerojet Rocketdyne’s new engine, the AR-1, gives 500,000 pounds of thrust, and could be used in place of the RD-180, although it wouldn’t be ready until 2019.
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