Bell XLR-67 rocket engine from the first nuclear-armed supersonic air-to-surface missile

Built in 1958 for the GAM-63 RASCAL, which was the first nuclear-tipped supersonic air-to-surface missile, the XLR-67-BA-1 rocket engine provided 10,440 lbs of thrust using three vertical in-line thrust chambers. All three thrust chambers fired during the boost phase, which could last up to two minutes. At the conclusion of the boost phase, the upper and lower chambers of the XLR-67 were shut down and thrust was sustained by the center chamber alone.

This particular unit was featured in the music video for ‘One Way Ticket to the Moon’ by Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame). There are only four of these engines left in the world.

An artifact from the Future Ventures 🚀 Space Collection, it is currently up for auction, ending 4/20.