The engine burns a hypergolic mixture of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) fuel with dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) oxidizer, which are highly toxic, but storable at room temperature.

Preliminary investigations and development of the engine and its further production was performed under the guidance of Valentin Glushko and finished in 1963.

Development and production of RD-253 was a qualitative leap forward for rocketry of that time by achieving high levels of thrust, specific impulse and pressure in the combustion chamber.

As the first stage of the Proton-K rocket used six RD-253 engines, the system played a pivotal role in Russian space missions when this rocket was chosen as a carrier, including the following programs: "Luna", "Venera", "Mars probe", crewed orbital stations "Salyut", "Mir", and it launched several principal modules for ISS.

All rights to sell and employ the RD-253 for Proton rocket are held by Energomash which produces it in Perm, Russia.

Its 7.7% higher thrust was reached by raising pressure in the combustion chamber and enabled an increase of payload mass to geostationary orbit (GEO) up to more than 6,000 kg (13,000 lb).