NK-43
UEC-Kuznetsov NK-43 tested upper-stage LOX/kerosene liquid rocket engine, an oxygen-rich staged-combustion modification of NK-15V developed for the N1 second stage. NASA records about 395,000 lbf (about 1,757 kN) vacuum thrust and restart capability; UEC distinguishes the NK-43 second-stage boundary from the NK-33 first-stage engine. Historical status is preserved and no flight installation is asserted.
Identity
- Aliases
- NK-43Kuznetsov NK-43N1 second-stage NK-43UEC NK-43
- Domains
- spaceflight
- Identity Level
- variant
- Kind
- liquid-rocket-engine
- Name
- NK-43
- Status
- historical
Details
- Description
- UEC-Kuznetsov NK-43 tested upper-stage LOX/kerosene liquid rocket engine, an oxygen-rich staged-combustion modification of NK-15V developed for the N1 second stage. NASA records about 395,000 lbf (about 1,757 kN) vacuum thrust and restart capability; UEC distinguishes the NK-43 second-stage boundary from the NK-33 first-stage engine. Historical status is preserved and no flight installation is asserted.
- Developers
- Lineage
- Note
- Rostec identifies NK-43 as the modification developed from the N1 second-stage NK-15V.
- Related Propulsion System
- Relationship
- direct-derivative-of
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Publisher
- Rostec
- Title
- Moving upward: Kuznetsov space engines
- Manufacturers
- Propellants
- keroseneliquid oxygen
- Rocket Specs
- Cycle
- oxygen-rich staged combustion
- Restartable
- Yes
- Vacuum Thrust Kn
- 1,757
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 29, 2026 at 11:49:28 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 22, 2026 at 07:52:29 UTC
Other
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Publisher
- Rostec
- Title
- Moving upward: Kuznetsov space engines
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Publisher
- Rostec
- Title
- Nikolai Kuznetsov and his engines, part II
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- UEC-Kuznetsov identifies NK-43 alongside NK-33 as an N1 lunar-program engine for the first and second stages, preserving the distinct upper-stage model boundary.
- Publisher
- UEC-Kuznetsov
- Title
- Liquid rocket engine NK-33 for a space launch vehicle
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- NASA records NK-43 as an oxygen-rich staged-combustion LOX/kerosene engine with approximately 395,000 lbf vacuum thrust and restart capability.
- Publisher
- NASA
- Title
- Liquid Engine Test Facilities Assessment