RD-0169

The RD-0169 (Russian: Ракетный Двигатель-0169, romanized: Raketnyy Dvigatel-0169, lit. 'Rocket Engine 0169') is a Russian oxygen-methane fueled rocket engine being developed by KBKhA. Liquefied natural gas (methane) is used as fuel, while liquid oxygen is used as an oxidizer. Designed for use in reusable launch vehicles (like Soyuz-7). The advantages of the configuration are: ease of use, environmental friendliness, and the possibility of reusable use. It was planned to achieve a thrust of 200 tons. In the standard version, the pressure in the combustion chamber is planned at 175 kgf/cm2. It is being developed on the basis of RD-0162 with an intermediate and smaller version in the form of RD-0177; two modifications are known: RD-0169A (the engine of the first stage of the Soyuz-7) and RD-0169V (a four-chamber engine of the second stage of the Soyuz-7). The chief designer is Viktor Gorokhov.