AJ26
AJ26 is Aerojet's modified Russian NK-33 configuration used as a pair on the retired Antares 100-series first stage. NASA documents the conversion boundary for U.S. launch-vehicle use and lists approximately 338,000 lbf (1,505 kN) thrust for the Antares application; the existing direct-derivative lineage and retired status are preserved.
Identity
- Domains
- spaceflight
- Identity Level
- model
- Kind
- liquid-rocket-engine
- Name
- AJ26
- Status
- retired
Details
- Description
- AJ26 is Aerojet's modified Russian NK-33 configuration used as a pair on the retired Antares 100-series first stage. NASA documents the conversion boundary for U.S. launch-vehicle use and lists approximately 338,000 lbf (1,505 kN) thrust for the Antares application; the existing direct-derivative lineage and retired status are preserved.
- Developers
- Lineage
- Note
- NASA's investigation identifies AJ26 as an NK-33 core modified by Aerojet for U.S. launch-vehicle use.
- Related Propulsion System
- Relationship
- direct-derivative-of
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Publisher
- NASA
- Title
- Orb-3 Accident Investigation Report: Executive Summary
- Manufacturers
- Propellants
- RP-1liquid oxygen
- Rocket Specs
- Sea Level Thrust Kn
- 1,505
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 29, 2026 at 08:15:51 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 22, 2026 at 07:00:23 UTC
- Image
- Download
Other
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- NASA's Orb-3 accident-investigation executive summary identifies AJ26 as a Russian NK-33 core modified by Aerojet for U.S. launch vehicles and documents the Antares first-stage turbopump failure context.
- Publisher
- NASA
- Title
- Orb-3 Accident Investigation Report: Executive Summary
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- NASA's partnership report lists the Aerojet Rocketdyne AJ26 at approximately 1,505 kN (338,000 lbf) and identifies its Antares first-stage application in 2013.
- Publisher
- NASA
- Title
- NASA Partnership Report
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- NASA documents hot-fire testing of AJ26 engines for Orbital Sciences' Antares first stage and identifies the paired-engine launch-vehicle application.
- Publisher
- NASA Stennis Space Center
- Title
- NASA Continues Support of Commercial Spaceflight With Test of AJ26 Engine at Stennis