VLS-1
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 VLS rocket on the launch pad |
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| Fact sheet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Function | Orbital launch vehicle | |
| Manufacturer | IAE | |
| Country of origin | Brazil | |
| Size | ||
| Height | 19.5 m (63.9 ft) | |
| Diameter | 1.01 m (3.31 ft) | |
| Mass | 50,700 kg (111,700 lb) | |
| Stages | 3 | |
| Capacity | ||
| Payload to LEO | 380 kg (830 kg) | |
| Launch History | ||
| Status | Active | |
| Launch Sites | Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara | |
| Total launches | 2 | |
| Failures | 2 | |
| Maiden flight | 2 November 1997 | |
| Boosters (Stage 0) - S-43 | ||
| No boosters | 4 | |
| Engines | 1 Solid | |
| Thrust | 303 kN (68,100 lbf ) | |
| Specific Impulse | 225 s (2.21 kN·s/kg) | |
| Burn time | 59 seconds | |
| Fuel | Solid | |
| First Stage - S-43TM | ||
| Engines | 1 Solid | |
| Thrust | 320.6 kN (72,074 lbf) | |
| Specific Impulse | 277 s (2.72 kN·s/kg) | |
| Burn time | 58 seconds | |
| Fuel | Solid | |
| Second Stage - S-40TM | ||
| Engines | 1 Solid | |
| Thrust | 208.39 kN (46,848 lbf) | |
| Specific Impulse | 275 s (2.70 kN·s/kg) | |
| Burn time | 56 seconds | |
| Fuel | Solid | |
| Third Stage - S-44 | ||
| Engines | 1 Solid | |
| Thrust | 33.24 kN (7,473 lbf) | |
| Specific Impulse | 282 s (2.77 kN·s/kg) | |
| Burn time | 68 seconds | |
| Fuel | Solid | |
The VLS-1, today, is the main project of satellite launchers at the Brazilian Space Agency[1] . It is a project aimed to take into orbit general purpose satellites. Brazil is trying to leverage the use of the Alcântara Launch Base[2] due its privileged location, close to the Equator line.
To the present date, there were built three prototypes and two launches were made, departing from the Alcântara Launch Base. During the V01 and V02 prototype launches, respectively, technical problems nullified the mission objectives, but allowed the testing of several vehicle components.
The V03 prototype, which launch should have been in 2003, resulted in a disaster on August 22 of that year, before the launch trial. See the Brazilian rocket explosion article for details about this disaster.
Features:
- Total length: 19 meters
- Stage diameter: 1 meters
- Number of stages: 4
- Total mass: 50,000 kg
- Useful payload mass: 300 kg
- Apogee: 1,000 kilometers
The VLS-1 project is being concurrently developed with the VLS-2 project. The VLS-2 project aims the deployment of medium-size satellites.
Although Brazil has not yet been successful yet on the launch of orbital satellites, it has accomplished success on the launch of probing satellites, which are being developed and launched since the sixties, carrying several experiments and with the maximum apogee of 1,000 km. The models are: Sonda I, Sonda II, Sonda III, Sonda IV, VS-30, VS-40 and VSB-30.
