RD-120
NPO Energomash RD-120 is a single-chamber oxidizer-rich staged-combustion liquid-oxygen/kerosene engine developed for the Zenit second stage. NASA propulsion data lists 187,400 lbf (833.6 kN) vacuum thrust, 350 s vacuum specific impulse, and no restart capability; the related shorter-nozzle RD-120K was studied for first-stage use.
Identity
- Aliases
- RD-120РД-120NPO Energomash RD-120Zenit RD-120
- Domains
- spaceflight
- Identity Level
- model
- Kind
- liquid-rocket-engine
- Name
- RD-120
- Status
- retired
Details
- Description
- NPO Energomash RD-120 is a single-chamber oxidizer-rich staged-combustion liquid-oxygen/kerosene engine developed for the Zenit second stage. NASA propulsion data lists 187,400 lbf (833.6 kN) vacuum thrust, 350 s vacuum specific impulse, and no restart capability; the related shorter-nozzle RD-120K was studied for first-stage use.
- Developers
- Manufacturers
- Propellants
- liquid oxygenkerosene
- Rocket Specs
- Chamber Count
- 1
- Cycle
- oxidizer-rich staged combustion
- Restartable
- No
- Vacuum Specific Impulse S
- 350
- Vacuum Thrust Kn
- 833.6
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 29, 2026 at 09:56:16 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 22, 2026 at 07:38:07 UTC
Other
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Publisher
- NASA Technical Reports Server
- Title
- NPO Energomash and Pratt & Whitney cooperative propulsion activities
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Note
- Supports the legacy vehicle installation and the narrow canonical identity used for migration.
- Publisher
- Official vehicle or program source
- Title
- Zenit-3SL official vehicle reference
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Note
- Supports the legacy vehicle installation and the narrow canonical identity used for migration.
- Publisher
- Official vehicle or program source
- Title
- Zenit-2 Series official vehicle reference
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-22
- Note
- NASA propulsion data identifies RD-120 as an oxidizer-rich staged-combustion engine with 833.6 kN vacuum thrust, 350 s vacuum specific impulse, and no restarts.
- Publisher
- NASA Technical Reports Server
- Title
- Liquid Propulsion Systems