[AR] Re: Saturns (was Re: APCP ...)
- From: Henry Spencer <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Arocket List <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2023 19:28:08 -0400 (EDT)
On Mon, 1 May 2023, Troy Prideaux wrote:
...Korolev wanted larger & better engines but was involved in a colossal
spat with the chief engine developer (Valentin Glushko) ... so he was
forced to effectively build up that capability with a new shop.
Not exactly new, but a jet-engine builder, new to rockets (like P&W when
they did the RL10). They actually did a fairly good job, including staged
combustion, but on a modest scale -- they didn't have the resources to
tackle a really big engine immediately.
Hence a large first-stage cluster, run by an *analog-electronics* master
controller because that looked quicker. (Sadder but wiser, they did
eventually switch to a digital system, too late.)
The spat with Glushko also figured in the decision to cut corners by not
doing full ground tests of the first stage: Glushko controlled most of
the big test facilities.
Henry
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