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The question Astronomical ABCD…! suggests a corollary for SXSE.

I'm looking for one example of a rocket with $n$ first-stage engines, for each $n$ for which you can think of an example for. It should be at least built, or very seriously proposed and investigated at a minimum.

I'll start off with some suggestions, items of recent popularity to get the ball rolling, but you don't have to use them.

Let's first try without jumping immediately to vehicles with variable strap-on number options, and see how that goes?

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  • $\begingroup$ I assume you're talking about first stages of orbital vehicles? $\endgroup$
    – user20636
    Commented Nov 30, 2017 at 11:23
  • $\begingroup$ @JCRM ya, "$n$ first-stage engines" is specified in the question. I'd be surprised if there were any rockets with multi-engined first stages that were not intended for orbit! $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Commented Nov 30, 2017 at 11:29
  • $\begingroup$ ah, it wasn't there when i started to answer the question. $\endgroup$
    – user20636
    Commented Nov 30, 2017 at 11:34
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    $\begingroup$ @uhoh I can name a few actually, the most notable is the Falcon booster intended for use with the in-flight abort test, which has 3 engines. In any case, this question really is too broad, so... $\endgroup$
    – PearsonArtPhoto ♦
    Commented Nov 30, 2017 at 15:39
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    $\begingroup$ For the record, the mods there didn't like it there, they just weren't as fast to close it. I don't really think it belongs there, but I don't really have a say of moderation there. I did ask around, and it's pretty universal, this kind of question isn't really a question, and isn't appropriate for the site. It could possibly do for a meta question, but not on the main site. $\endgroup$
    – PearsonArtPhoto ♦
    Commented Dec 1, 2017 at 3:50

2 Answers 2

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British, very seriously proposed and investigated (and the Black Arrow orbited a satellite after it was cancelled): $$\begin{array} {r l} \text{Black Arrow}^1 & \text{1 engine with 8 combustion chambers} \\ \text{Europa}^2 & \text{2 rocket engines} \\ \text{MUSTARD}^3 & \text{3 engines (one in each of the triamese craft)} \\ \text{Interim Hotol}^4 & \text{4 engines} \\ \text{Skylon D1}^5 & \text{6 engines with 12 combustion chambers/nozzles.}^* \\ \hline \text{The BIS Space Ship (1939)}^6 & \text{168 solid motors}^{**} \end{array}$$

* two engines per nacelle, two SOMA engines in the tail. All running during the latter parts of the ascent.

** OK, perhaps not so seriously

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Arrow
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_(rocket)
  3. umm...
  4. err...
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20160328220308/http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/tech_docs/SKYLON_Users_Manual_Rev_2.1.pdf
  6. http://www.bis-space.com/what-we-do/projects/bis-lunar-spaceship
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  • $\begingroup$ Supporting links for each please! $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Commented Nov 30, 2017 at 11:17
  • $\begingroup$ I'll try to fact check and link those two later $\endgroup$
    – user20636
    Commented Nov 30, 2017 at 12:18
  • $\begingroup$ I know of the russian engines with 4 combustion chambers per engine, counting also the 4 vernier chambers there are 8 alltogether. Did the Black Arrow also use 4 main and 4 vernier chambers? Are there other engines with more than 8 chambers per engine? $\endgroup$
    – Uwe
    Commented Nov 30, 2017 at 16:57
  • $\begingroup$ no, Black arrow had eight chambers in a cross. Each pair of chambers pivoted together along the axis of the arm of the cross to provide roll, pitch and yaw control. $\endgroup$
    – user20636
    Commented Nov 30, 2017 at 22:26
  • $\begingroup$ I've just asked Have there been any rockets that run seven engines at the same time? $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Commented Mar 2, 2020 at 3:05
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