Rocketdyne S-3D
Historical Rocketdyne S-3D Thor/Jupiter liquid rocket engine using LOX and RP-1. NASA documents the original S-3D at about 150,000 lbf (about 667 kN) and records Rocketdyne's 1958 modification path that produced the 165,000- then 188,000-lbf H-1 derivative for Saturn; this row remains the distinct precursor engine.
Identity
- Aliases
- S-3D
- Domains
- spaceflight
- Identity Level
- model
- Kind
- liquid-rocket-engine
- Name
- Rocketdyne S-3D
- Status
- historical
Details
- Description
- Historical Rocketdyne S-3D Thor/Jupiter liquid rocket engine using LOX and RP-1. NASA documents the original S-3D at about 150,000 lbf (about 667 kN) and records Rocketdyne's 1958 modification path that produced the 165,000- then 188,000-lbf H-1 derivative for Saturn; this row remains the distinct precursor engine.
- Developers
- Manufacturers
- Propellants
- RP-1liquid oxygen
- Rocket Specs
- Sea Level Thrust Kn
- 667
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 29, 2026 at 08:41:01 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 15, 2026 at 22:40:54 UTC
Other
- Sources
- Accessed Date
- 2026-08-14
- Note
- NASA's Saturn development history identifies the Thor/Jupiter S-3D as the selected design, reports about 150,000 pounds thrust for the original engine, and describes Rocketdyne's 165,000-to-188,000-pound uprating into H-1.
- Publisher
- NASA Technical Reports Server
- Title
- Thor-Ablestar launch vehicle flight evaluation report
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Publisher
- NASA
- Title
- 60 Years Ago: First Launch of a Saturn Rocket
- Accessed Date
- 2026-07-29
- Note
- Supports the historical Jupiter/Juno II S-3D application boundary.
- Publisher
- Official vehicle or program source
- Title
- Juno II Launch Vehicle official vehicle reference