RL-10 Engine
The American Space Museum
The RL-10 was the world’s first operational liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen high energy restartable 2nd stage rocket engine used in space.
Each individual engine produced 15,000 pounds of thrust. On January 29, 1964, a six-engine cluster of RL-10s generated 90,000 pounds of thrust to lift the first test flight of the Saturn S-IV stage, pioneering hydrogen technology on the Saturn I booster.
This particular RL-10 engine was launched from Cape Canaveral launch complex 36A on Sept. 30, 1977. Its mission was to deliver an Intelsat IV-A communications satellite to orbit.
The launched failed to a gas generator leak in the Atlas engine compartment, causing an explosion at 10,000 feet at T+30 seconds. The engine was recovered from the ocean and store by United Launch Alliance (ULA) before being donated to the museum in 2011.
Erected by The American Museum and Walk of Fame Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Exploration • War, Cold. A significant historical date for this entry is January 29, 1964.
Location. 28° 36.624′ N, 80° 48.508′ W. Marker is in Titusville, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker is at the intersection of Pine Street and South Hopkins Avenue (U.S. 1), on the
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. LR91-3 Engine (here, next to this marker); The Legend of the Cresent Moon on the Outhouse Door (within shouting distance of this marker); The Losley - Evans Family Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); The Nelson Family Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); The “Olde Dawgs” Story (within shouting distance of this marker); The Benecke Family Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Brevard County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Records Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Happy Creek Garden (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Titusville.
Also see . . . RL-10 Engine. (Submitted on January 10, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 175 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 10, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
