Science: 1,000,000-Lb. Engine

Weighing the size of Russia's Sputniks, U.S. experts have surmised that the Russians may have a massive, single-chamber rocket engine for which the U.S. has no match. The U.S.'s most powerful engine develops only 150,000 Ibs. of thrust, is made by Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation, Inc. for the Thor and Jupiter (the considerably larger Atlas uses a cluster of engines). Last week Rocketdyne was starting work on an Air Force contract for developing a monster engine with 1,000,000 Ibs. of thrust.

Such an engine, said Rocketdyne, will be the first designed deliberately...

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