Photos of Rocket Engines

Developed by Rocketdyne, the F-1 engine generated nearly 1.5 million pounds of thrust. F-1 engines were clustered in groups of five in the first stage (S-IC stage) of Saturn V rockets. As a group, the five engines gulped 15 tons of kerosene and Liquid oxygen per second.

F-1 at the Michigan Space and Science Center

(Photos were taken by Richard Kruse in 2002)

F-1 engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

Another F-1 engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

The H-1 was developed by Rocketdyne and used kerosene and liquid oxygen as propellents. Eight H-1 engines were used on the first stage of the Saturn I and IB rockets.

H-1 engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

Another H-1 engine on display at the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2008)

The J-2 was developed by Rocketdyne and used liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellents. The Saturn 5 second stage (S-II) used five J-2 engines, while the third stage (SIV-B) used a single J-2.

J-2 photos were taken at the Michigan Space and Science Center

(These photos were taken by Richard Kruse in 2002)

A J-2 engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

The LR-79 rocket was used on the Thor and Jupiter rockets.

LR-79 engine on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

(These photos were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

The LR-87 rocket was used on Titan missiles and space launchers.

LR-87 engine on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

(These photos were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

Redstone engine on display at the Michigan Space and Science Center

(These photos were taken by Richard Kruse in 2002)

A Redstone engine on display at the Michigan Space Science Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2008)

A Redstone engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

RL-10 on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

RL-10 Rocket Motor on Display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2008)

The Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) was developed in Huntsville, Alabama at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The SSME uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellents. The Space Shuttle uses three SSME.

Photos of an SSME on display at the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry, Kennedy Space Center

(These images were taken by Kevin Reynolds in 2000)

SSME on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

SSME Powerhead on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

Thiokol TE-M-364 Solid Rocket Motor on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

V-2 engine on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton, Ohio

(These photos were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

V-2 engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

V-2 engine on display at the Michigan Space Science Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2008)

The XLR-11 was developed to propel manned rocketplanes. This four-chambered rocket engine used alcohol and liquid oxygen as propellent.

Here are some photos of the XLR-11 displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

The XLR-99 was used in the X-15 hypersonic rocketplane. The XLR-99 used ammonia and liquid oxygen as propellent.

XLR-99 rocket engine displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

Lunar Module Descent Engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

Lunar Module Ascent Engine on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

Lunar Module Ascent Engine in Storage at the Michigan Space Science Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2008)

Bell Model 8048 Rocket Engine on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

Photos of a NERVA rocket nozzle on display at the Michigan Space and Science Center

(These photos were taken by Richard Kruse in 2002)

Photos of a Solid Rocket Motor on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

This rocket is part of an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS). (These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2007)

Photos of an Atlas Sustainer Motor currently being restored at the Michigan Space Science Center

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2008)

Photos of a Surveyor Solid Rocket Motor on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2008)

Photos of Apollo Launch Escape Tower Jettison Solid Rocket Motor on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry

(These images were taken by Richard Kruse in 2008)