Altair (rocket stage)

Diagram showing Altair as 4th stage of the Scout B rocket.
Altair X248-A2 rocket stage

The Altair was a solid-fuel rocket with a fiberglass casing, initially developed for use as the third stage of Vanguard rockets in 1959.[1] It was manufactured by Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) as the X-248. It was also sometimes called the Burner 1.

Altair

The X-248 was one of two third-stage designs used during Project Vanguard. Early launches used a stage developed by the Grand Central Rocket Company, but the last used the X-248 which enabled the Vanguard to launch more massive payload.

The X-248 was used as the second stage of some early Thor flights. These vehicles were designated "Thor-Burner".

Altairs were used as the third stage of early Delta rockets.[2]

The fourth stage of the Scout-X rocket used the "Altair-1A" stage, powered by a X-248A engine.[3][4]

Altair 2

The Altair 2 (X-258) Thiokol (Star 25, TE-M-184-3) solid rocket engine first flew in 1963 and was the kick stage motor for Delta D, Scout A, Scout X-4, and Atlas-D OV1 as part of the Orbiting Vehicle[5] satellites.[6] It was retired in 1973.[7]

Altair 3

The Altair 3 (FW-4S) solid rocket engine first flew in 1968 and was used on the Atlas-E/F OV1 as part of the OV1 upper stage.[8] It was also used as the second stage of the ASM-135 ASAT anti-satellite missile.[9] It as proposed as the fourth stage for Advanced Scout.[10] The FW-4S motor is similar to Thiokol Star 20 (TE-M-640), and both are designated by NASA as Altair IIIA.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Launius, Roger D.; Dennis R. Jenkins (2002). To Reach the High Frontier: A History of U.S. Launch Vehicles. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 186–213. ISBN 0813127211.
  2. ^ "Altair 1". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  3. ^ "Scout X-1". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  4. ^ "Altair 1A". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  5. ^ Heyman, Jos (2005-04-12). "OV". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. Designation Systems. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  6. ^ "Atlas-D OV1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  7. ^ Wade, Mark. "Altair 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved 19 Nov 2019.
  8. ^ "Atlas-E/-F OV1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  9. ^ "F-15 ASAT – Eagle Country". Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  10. ^ "Advanced Scout". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  11. ^ Merryman; Smith (December 1974). PERFORMANCE OF A UTC FW-4S SOLID-PROPELLANT ROCKET MOTOR UNDER THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF SIMULATED ALTITUDE AND ROTATIONAL SPIN (PDF). NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (LRC). p. 5.


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