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This two-chambered, liquid-fuel rocket engine built by North American Aviation served as the booster for the Navaho missile that was powered by two ramjets. The booster was to quickly get the missile up to supersonic speed for its ramjets to operate. Each chamber produced 120,000 pounds of thrust, or 240,000 pounds total, using kerosene and liquid oxygen as propellants.

Navaho had a 8,850 kilometer (5,500 mile) range. It never became operational and was canceled in 1957. However, its booster-rocket engine was extremely important in the evolution of American large-scale, liquid-fuel engines, including those for the Redstone, Jupiter, Thor, and Atlas missiles, the Saturn V launch vehicle, and the Space Shuttle. This object was donated to the Smithsonian in 1970 by Rocketdyne.

 Display Status

This object is on display in Rockets & Missiles at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.

Rockets & Missiles
Object Details
Date 1951-1956 Country of Origin United States of America Type PROPULSION-Rocket Engines Manufacturer North American Aviation Inc.
 Dimensions Overall: 6 ft. 7 in. tall x 6 ft. 4 in. wide x 8 ft. 9 in. long (200.66 x 193.04 x 266.7cm)
Other (Chamber): 5 ft. 5 1/2 in. diameter (166.37cm)
 Materials Titanium alloys, stainless steel, and other metals.
 Alternate Name Navajo Rocket Engine Inventory Number A19700250000 Credit Line Gift of Rocketdyne, Division of North American Aviation Co. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Open Access (CCO)
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