Object Details
Manufacturer
Rocketdyne Division, Rockwell International (CA)
Summary
The J-2 liquid propellant rocket engine, using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, was the powerplant for the second and third stages of the Saturn V launch vehicle that took astronauts to the Moon in the Apollo program. The engine shown here was an early developmental model and produced 200,000 pounds of vacuum thrust. It made three tests for a total duration firing time of 291 seconds.
The Saturn V's second stage used a cluster of five J-2s, while the third stage had one J-2 that was gimballed, or steerable, so that this stage could be steered on its way to the Moon. The J-2 was developed and built by the Rocketddyne Division of the Rockwell International Corporation. NASA transferred this J-2 engine to the Smithsonian in 1970.
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Date
1964
Inventory Number
A19700261000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
PROPULSION-Rocket Engines
Materials
Stainless steel and other metals.
Dimensions
Overall: 11 ft. × 6 ft. 8 3/8 in., 5740lb. (335.3 × 204.2cm, 2603.6kg)
3-D (Dimensions on stand): 365.8 × 205.7 × 243.8cm (12 ft. × 6 ft. 9 in. × 8 ft.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19700261000