/sci/ - Science & Math

I hadn't realized until recently how extremely cool the viking engine was. It's really admirable how simple they kept it. It was almost like the merlin of its era. I wish there was more information about it out there.

The nozzle and chamber were made from stamped stainless in a time when spaghetti construction was practically ubiquitous in the west. They also used conical nozzles up until the viking 5b.

Propellant is injected through the side of the chamber rather than the head, in an almost V2-esque way.

Interestingly, I don't think it used regenerative cooling or ablatives and was entirely transpiration cooled.

Another interesting thing about the viking is that it had a watercooled preburner.