dsc73901.jpg

Overall view of the gas generator injector display.

The sign reads

F-1 Turbo Pump Gas Generator

Challenge

For small, liquid-fuel rocket engines, the pressurization of the fuel and oxidizer tanks may be sufficient to feed the propellants into the combustion chamber. This wasn't the case for the mighty F-1. It devoured propellants so rapidly, another mechanism was needed to satisfy its appetite.

Solution

MSFC and Rocketdyne developed a turbo pump to force propellants into the F-1's combustion chamber at a high rate (about three tons per second!). The turbo pump machinery was driven by a gas generator – essentially another rocket engine producing approx. 60,000 horsepower – mounted externally on the F-1's main thrust chamber.

The sample on display is a piece of an injector plate from an F-1 turbo pump. Donated by Saverio "Sonny" Morea.