Equinox
The Engines that Came in from the Cold
2001 • E1 Mar 4, 2001 60m
Engines are the key to successful rockets.
Ever since Robert Goddard flew the first liquid-fuelled rocket
in 1926, scientists and engineers have been striving to make
more powerful and more efficient rocket engines.
The US approach was to deal with design issues on the drawing
board, and test only when they thought the design was the best
they could get.
The Russians had a much more experimental, hands-on philosophy,
building rockets and using full test flights to find out how
to improve their designs.
Surprisingly, it's the hands-on Russian technology that will
power a new generation of US rockets into space.
Ever since Robert Goddard flew the first liquid-fuelled rocket
in 1926, scientists and engineers have been striving to make
more powerful and more efficient rocket engines.
The US approach was to deal with design issues on the drawing
board, and test only when they thought the design was the best
they could get.
The Russians had a much more experimental, hands-on philosophy,
building rockets and using full test flights to find out how
to improve their designs.
Surprisingly, it's the hands-on Russian technology that will
power a new generation of US rockets into space.