RD-253
RD-253 is the original serial NPO Energomash engine for the Proton first stage, using nitrogen tetroxide/UDMH propellants and an oxidizer-rich staged-combustion cycle. NASA records development beginning in 1961 and first flight in 1965; Proton-PM documents the later RD-275 and RD-276 derivatives, so this exact model remains historical and retired.
Identity
- Aliases
- 11D43
- Domains
- spaceflight
- Identity Level
- model
- Kind
- liquid-rocket-engine
- Name
- RD-253
- Status
- retired
Details
- Description
- RD-253 is the original serial NPO Energomash engine for the Proton first stage, using nitrogen tetroxide/UDMH propellants and an oxidizer-rich staged-combustion cycle. NASA records development beginning in 1961 and first flight in 1965; Proton-PM documents the later RD-275 and RD-276 derivatives, so this exact model remains historical and retired.
- Developers
- Family
- Manufacturers
- Propellants
- nitrogen tetroxideUDMH
- Rocket Specs
- Cycle
- oxidizer-rich staged combustion
- Service Entry Date
- 1965
Links
- Official Url
- https://protonpm.ru/company/history/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 29, 2026 at 11:57:50 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 23, 2026 at 18:46:04 UTC
Other
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Publisher
- Proton-PM
- Title
- History of Proton-PM
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Publisher
- Proton-PM
- Title
- Proton-PM engines power the 430th Proton launch
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-23
- Note
- NASA classifies RD-253 as an example of an oxidizer-rich staged-combustion rocket-engine cycle.
- Publisher
- NASA Technical Reports Server
- Title
- Rocket Propulsion Fundamentals
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-23
- Note
- NASA records RD-253 development beginning in 1961, first flight in 1965, and successor engines retaining the staged-combustion configuration.
- Publisher
- NASA Technical Reports Server
- Title
- 10TH NATIONAL SPACE SYMPOSIUM