On Friday, June 26, 2020, second phase of the final development testing of the single-chamber liquid propellant rocket engine RD-861К, developed by Yuzhnoye SDO and manufactured by PA Yuzhmash, was completed at the PA Yuzhmash’s test bench №1.

These final development tests (3 series of 5 burns each, with total burning time of 1601,6 sec) completed the full cycle of engine ground development test campaign and finalized the confirmation of the performance of the selected design, engine systems and units within the whole range of operating conditions and compliance of the RD-861K basic performance to that specified in the Requirement Specifications. This was final and the most important ground testing, which proved that RD-861K is fit for flight tests integrated with launcher stage.

As a recap, RD-861K is the upper stage rocket engine with a turbo-pump-feed system, with no afterburning of the generator gas and its injection into the nozzle exit. Engine is capable of multiple restarts and pitch and yaw control of the thrust vector in space during payload placement into the task trajectory.

Liquid propellant rocket engine RD-861K, developed for the third stage of Cyclone-4, develops thrust and provides maneuvering. Engine is intended as the Stage 2 main engine of the new Cyclone-4М launcher.

BASIC SPECIFICATIONS