R-4D-15 HiPAT 445 N High Performance Rocket Engine

The R-4D-15 HiPAT is a 445 N (100 lbf) high performance rocket engine, offered in both high performance and dual mode high performance configurations.

L3Harris’ 100-pound-thrust R-4D, originally developed for the Apollo missions where it played a key role in the Apollo 13 rescue, has evolved into the world’s most reliable apogee insertion engine. R-4D engine variants have flown over 390 apogee-insertion missions for geostationary-orbiting satellites, with a 100 percent success rate.

Bipropellant engines feed hydrazine or monomethylhydrazine (MMH) propellants and nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) oxidizer into a combustion chamber, where they ignite on contact to generate thrust. Bipropellant thrusters typically are used for in-space maneuvering for large vehicles including the crew-carrying Orion and Starliner spacecraft, as well as International Space Station servicing vehicles.

L3Harris builds monopropellant and bipropellant propulsion systems for applications including spacecraft maneuvering, orbit raising, deep space navigation, planetary landing, and rocket upper stage propulsion. These systems use storable propellants that remain stable in liquid form without the need for active cooling. L3Harris has delivered more than 2,500 bipropellant engines ranging in thrust level from 2.5 pounds to 40,000 pounds.