Reaction Motors

This article is about the American rocketry company. For the type of motor, see reaction motor.
Not to be confused with Reaction Engines.
Reaction Motors, Inc. (RMI)
Company typePrivate company
IndustryRocket technology
Founded1938
DefunctApril 17, 1958
FateMerged into Thiokol as Reaction Motors Division, disbanded 1972
Area served
United States
Key people
Lovell Lawrence Jr, George Edward Pendray, James Hart Wyld

Reaction Motors, Inc. (RMI) was an early American maker of liquid-fueled rocket engines, located in New Jersey. RMI engines with 6,000 lbf (27 kN) thrust powered the Bell X-1 rocket aircraft that first broke the sound barrier in 1947, and later aircraft such the X-1A, X-1E, and the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket. A 20,000 lbf (89 kN) thrust RMI engine also powered the Viking research rocket, the first large liquid-fueled US high-altitude rocket. RMI was merged with Thiokol in 1958, where it produced the XLR-99 engine that powered the X-15 rocket aircraft.