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V-2 jet vane illustration
Redstone jet vanes
Overview
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History
The V-2 rocket engine was mounted in a fixed position and did not gimbal (swivel) to steer the rocket as do modern rocket engines. Steering of the engine thrust was accomplished by four carbon airfoils, or jet vanes (below left), placed directly in the path of the engine exhaust.
The jet vanes were spaced 90 degrees apart and moved by small electric motors driven by the guidance system. The jet vane steering process was used on several early US rockets, such as the Redstone.