The Block I is the standard
of the Semyorka launcher since 1960 in function as second stage, but with
some changes over time. That concerns the used fuel kerosene, the mixing
ratio with the oxygen oxidizer and the architecture of the engines.
The current four-chamber RD-0124 engine developed
for the Block-I of the Soyuz-2 launcher have the basic design of the veteran
RD-0110 of the previous Soyuz rockets.
The RD-0110 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygene in a gas generator
combustion cycle. It has four fixed nozzles and the output of the gas
generator is directed to four secondary steering nozzles to supply vector
control of the stage.
The main difference between RD-0110 and RD-0124 is the introduction of
the so-called closed-cycle system for the RD-0124, where oxidizer gas,
after drive the engines-pump, then directed into the combustion chamber,
because the steering nozzles are absent.
The first version of the engine series, was already
born as Kosberg RD-0106 for the second stage of the R-9 missile. The following
versions, RD-0107 and RD-0108, were then used for the Block I of the early
Semyorka launchers until 1967 and (unconfirmed) 1976 . The more effective
RD-0110 was already available in mid-1965 for the Block-I, but was initially
used mainly for the launch of reconnaissance satellites of the type "Zenit".
Unlike the current RD-0124 engine, all predecessors had four additional
control engines. Finally, were changed the tank architecture and the mixing
ratio of oxygen / kerosene from 2.22 to 2.34 (and this already for the
version of Block-I with the engine RD-0110).
The Angara launcher use an adapted RD-0124A engine, which has been
currently further modified, as evidenced by a photo from early 2019. Details
are unknown. An engine RD-0124DR for the Soyuz-2-3 should be as well as
the launcher itself out of date. For the new Irtysh launcher (former Sunkar),
a totally new single RD-0124M engine with its own turbopump is being developed,
which will be bundled four or two times . The thrust is significantly
higher.
1. Operational Status
Launch
vehicle
|
Block-I design
|
Main engine
|
Operational
10.10.1960 - 15.09.2023 |
Molniya
|
8K78
|
|
RD-0107
|
31 (+2 before) |
Molniya-M,
Voskhod
|
8K78M,
11A57
|
RD-0108
|
35 |
190 |
Voskhod
|
11A57 |
155 |
Molniya
|
8K78
|
RD-0110
|
10 |
1370 |
Molniya-M
|
8K78M
|
244 |
Voskhod
|
11A57
|
144 |
Voskhod-L
& -M
|
11A511
(L,M)
|
11 |
Voshod-U
|
11A511
(U)
|
432 |
Soyuz
|
11A511
|
32 |
Soyuz-U
|
11A511U
|
356 |
Soyuz-U2
|
11A511U2
|
71 |
Soyuz-FG
|
|
70 |
Soyuz-2.1a
|
|
changed tank
design
|
RD-0110
|
72 |
72 |
Soyuz-2.1b
|
|
changed tank
design
without verniers
|
RD-0124
|
83 |
93 |
Soyuz-2.1v
|
|
10 |
2. Engines
|