The United Engine Corporation, a subsidiary of Rostec, is set to display a full-scale model of the NK-33 rocket engine. The exhibition will take place on October 10 and 11 at the Nauka 0+ festival in Moscow's Zaryadye Park.
The NK-33 engine was originally developed under the guidance of designer Nikolai Kuznetsov for the Soviet N-1 super-heavy launch vehicle. The project was intended to support manned lunar missions as part of the Soviet space program.
The engine utilizes liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellant. It was notable for its high efficiency and a high thrust-to-weight ratio. The design also incorporated features for potential reusability, which was an unconventional approach for that era.
Following the cancellation of the Soviet lunar program and the N-1 project, the engine was not used for its initial purpose. However, the technology remained relevant, eventually serving as the basis for the modernized NK-33A engine used in the Soyuz-2.1v launch vehicle.
