Turbopump, Steam Generator and Frame, V-2 Rocket Engine

Object Details

Manufacturer

Mittelwerk GMBH

Summary

The turbopump and steam generator assembly of the V-2 engine drew the propellants--liquid oxygen and 75% alcohol--from the missile's tanks and injected them under pressure into the combustion chamber. At a thrust of 25 metric tons (about 56,000 lb), the V-2 was the world's first large liquid-propellant rocket engine, and as such was of groundbreaking historical importance. It was also the first large turbo-pumped liquid-fuel rocket engine, following on earlier German experiments.

The turbopump had to move approx. 9700 kg (21,400 lb.) of liquid oxygen from the tanks to the engine during the sixty-second burning time. Driving the turbopump was the steam generator, which used hydrogen peroxide (codenamed T-Stoff) mixed with Z-Stoff, a catalyst consisting of a 27% solution of sodium permanganate. Those liquids were forced into a mixing chamber by compressed air. This Smithsonian artifact was a gift of the U.S. Air Force Museum in 1959.

Credit Line

Transferred from the U.S. Air Force Museum

Inventory Number

A19600013000

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

PROPULSION-Accessories (to an Engine)

Materials

Aluminum, Steel, Rubber (Silicone), Asbestos, Glass, Brass, Synthetic Fabric, Copper, Paper, Adhesive

Phenolic Resin, Paint

Dimensions

3-D (Aluminum Pallet Storage): 182.9 × 182.9 × 233.7cm, 445.9kg (6 ft. × 6 ft. × 7 ft. 8 in., 983lb.)

3-D (Metal Bar): 165.1 × 12.7 × 22.9cm, 20.9kg (5 ft. 5 in. × 5 in. × 9 in., 46lb.)

3-D (Turbopump, Steam Generator and Frame, V-2 Rocket Engine): 152.4 × 152.4 × 214cm, 355.2kg (5 × 5 × 7 ft. 1/4 in., 783lb.)

Country of Origin

Germany

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

National Air and Space Museum

Record ID

nasm_A19600013000

Metadata Usage (text)

Not determined

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv91170caea-d4f8-4274-a3a8-cc705010dbcf