 The RL-10 engine, developed by Pratt & Whitney of West Palm
Beach, FL in the late 1950's, was the first LOX / hydrogen rocket engine to be operated in
space. Since then, the RL-10 powered Centaur has launched numerous satellites and
space probes on a variety of commercial, government, and science missions.
Since its development, the RL-10 line of
engines has been continually expanded as well as upgraded and now includes the RL-10A-3-3A
(Titan Centaur), RL-10A-4 (Atlas II), RL-10A-4-1 (Atlas IIAS, III & V) and the
RL-10B-2 (Delta III & V). A cut-away of the RL-10B-2 is pictured at right.
RL-10 Milestones:
| October 1958 |
Began design |
| July 1959 |
First Engine Run |
| September 1962 |
Full-scale engine throttle ability demonstrated |
| November 1963 |
First Centaur Flight |
| January 1964 |
First Saturn flight with six RL-10A-3 engines |
October 1966
|
First completely successful restart of a liquid
hydrogen fueled rocket engine in space |
| December 1974 |
First operational Titan / Centaur flight |
| January 1995 |
First flight with RL10A-4-1 engines |
| Spring 1998 |
First flight with RL10B-2 engines |
|
|
| Prime Contractor: |
Pratt & Whitney
P.O. Box 109600
West Palm Beach, FL 33410-9600
Tel: 561.796.2000 |
| Point of Contact |
Patrick Louden (Pratt
& Whitney)
Tel: 561.796.6793 |
| Web Links: |
Pratt & Whitney RL-10 Web Site |
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