Difference between revisions of "LV-909 "Terrier" Liquid Fuel Engine"

From Kerbal Space Program Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(According to the stat sheet, its Isp is slightly better than the LV-T30 and LV-T45. Also, since several versions the radial-mounted engines are also a great choice for landers.)
m (Usage: Rewording.)
Line 24: Line 24:
  
 
== Usage ==
 
== Usage ==
The LV-909 is the second [[Liquid Fuel]] engine with thrust vector control, that allows efficient control of the rocket when it is most needed - during ascent and orbit correction burns. It has a slightly better fuel specific impulse than [[LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine|LV-T30]] and [[LV-T45 Liquid Fuel Engine|LV T-45 Liquid Fuel Engines]] and is much smaller and lighter than them, making it a much more fuel-efficient engine, but it has dramatically less thrust. The low thrust makes the LV-909 unsuitable as a main engine on most lower stages, but the low mass allows for more efficient upper stages. More importantly, the LV-909 is short enough that [[LT-2 Landing Struts]] can extend past it. Because of this, the LV-909 is a good choice for lander engines.
+
The LV-909 is a liquid fuel engine with thrust vector control, allowing efficient control of the rocket when it is most needed: during ascent, descent, and orbit correction burns. It has a slightly better specific impulse in vacuum than [[LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine|LV-T30]] and [[LV-T45 Liquid Fuel Engine|LV T-45]] engines and is much smaller and lighter than them, but it has dramatically less thrust. The low thrust makes the LV-909 unsuitable as a main engine on most lower stages, but the low mass allows for more efficient upper stages. Furthermore, the LV-909 is short enough that [[LT-2 Landing Struts]] can extend past it. Because of this, the LV-909 is a good choice for lander engines.
  
Like LV-T30 and -45, the LV-909 are not placeable on [[TT-38K Radial Decoupler|Radial Decouplers]]. The LV-909 must be directly below a non-empty liquid fuel tank, or fed by an [[FTX-2 External Fuel Duct|fuel line]] to produce any thrust.
+
Like LV-T30 and -45, the LV-909 cannot be placed on [[TT-38K Radial Decoupler|radial decouplers]]. The LV-909 must be directly below a non-empty liquid fuel tank, or fed by an [[FTX-2 External Fuel Duct|fuel line]], to produce any thrust.
  
The thrust vectoring on this engine tends to be less useful than on the LV-T45, due to both the reduced gimbal range, and use on lighter rockets.
+
The thrust vectoring on this engine tends to be less useful than on the LV-T45, due to the LV-909's reduced gimbal range and the fact that it is often used on lighter rockets, which can be turned easily by the [[SAS]] torque provided by the command pod or probe body.
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==

Revision as of 16:38, 21 February 2013

Template:Partbox

The LV-909 Liquid Fuel Engine is a liquid fuelled rocket engine.

Usage

The LV-909 is a liquid fuel engine with thrust vector control, allowing efficient control of the rocket when it is most needed: during ascent, descent, and orbit correction burns. It has a slightly better specific impulse in vacuum than LV-T30 and LV T-45 engines and is much smaller and lighter than them, but it has dramatically less thrust. The low thrust makes the LV-909 unsuitable as a main engine on most lower stages, but the low mass allows for more efficient upper stages. Furthermore, the LV-909 is short enough that LT-2 Landing Struts can extend past it. Because of this, the LV-909 is a good choice for lander engines.

Like LV-T30 and -45, the LV-909 cannot be placed on radial decouplers. The LV-909 must be directly below a non-empty liquid fuel tank, or fed by an fuel line, to produce any thrust.

The thrust vectoring on this engine tends to be less useful than on the LV-T45, due to the LV-909's reduced gimbal range and the fact that it is often used on lighter rockets, which can be turned easily by the SAS torque provided by the command pod or probe body.

Description

The 909 model was initially received with some skepticism by spacecraft engineers, as it defied the long-standing convention that "More Power!" is always better. Despite this, the 909 series has found its place in the spacecraft construction world, being particularly useful as a final stage and landing engine.

Jebediah Kerman's Junkyard and Spaceship Parts Co.

Created by: Mrbrownce

Changes

0.18
  • New, higher quality model applied.
0.17
  • Max thrust increased from 20 to 50; vacuum ISP reduced from 400 to 390.
0.14.0
  • Initial Release