The propellants used are a hypergolic mixture of Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) fuel with Dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) oxidizer.
Preliminary investigations and development of the engine and its further production were performed under the guidance of Valentin Glushko and finished in 1967.
During 1967–1969, several test firings were performed with experimental engines that were adapted to work at sea level and had a short nozzle.
This would have created immense toxicity problems but increased the specific impulse of the engine by 42 seconds (0.41 km/s).
[1] With the purpose to cool the MCC it has layered wall structure with four internal belts of slots.