ULA orders more Russian-built RD-180 rocket engines

Jason Rhian

United Launch Alliance (more commonly known as ULA) announced on Wednesday, Dec. 23, that it had placed an order for more of the Russian-made RD-180 rocket engines used on the Atlas V family of rockets fielded by the Colorado-based firm. While these engines might aid ULA in delivering civil and commercial payloads to orbit, it is also likely to cause controversy.

A statement issued by ULA noted that these engines will be used in the interim as U.S.- based Blue Origin and Aerojet Rocketdyne produce their respective BE-4 and AR-1 rocket engines.

The BE-4 is currently planned to be the engine of choice for ULA’s Next Generation Launch System “Vulcan” rocket with the AR-1 being developed as a possible backup for the new launch vehicle.

According to ULA, this current batch of engines will help in what has been referred to as a “bridge contract” to help the firm, formed from elements of Boeing and Lockheed Martin in 2006, bring new launch systems online.

The RD-180 was integrated into the Atlas booster through the engines’ manufacturer, Khimky, Russia-based NPO Energomash, and what was, at that time, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (now Aerojet Rocketdyne).

In terms of the BE-4 and AR-1, each of these rocket engines must be properly developed and certified prior to their integration onto the Vulcan booster.

ULA has stated that the company wants to work toward a “smooth transition” from the Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles toward the new Vulcan system.

In the meantime, ULA is forced to rely on the RD-180, a liquid oxygen and RP-1 (a highly refined version of kerosene) fueled engine that is derived from the RD-170 engine. Given their Russian origin, the nation’s 2014 military actions in Ukraine, and the fact that a spending bill – meant to increase NASA’s budget – included a measure to allow the RD-180 to once again be imported has not met with universal appeal.