VLS-1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Veículo Lançador de Satélites | |
 VLS rocket on the launch pad |
|
| 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 or Veículo Lançador de Satélites is the Brazilian Space Agency's main satellite launch vehicle project[1] . The project's goal is to develop a launch vehicle capable of launching small general-purpose satellites into orbit. The project is located at the Alcântara Launch Center[2] due its proximity to the equator.
Associated vehicles include the Sonda I, Sonda II, Sonda III, Sonda IV, VS-30, VS-40 and VSB-30.
[edit] History
To date, three prototypes have been built and two launches attempted, departing from the Alcântara Launch Center. During the V01 and V02 prototype launches technical problems prevented mission success, but allowed the testing of several vehicle components.
The V03 prototype, originally scheduled to launch in 2003, was destroyed on August 22 of that year, just prior to its intended launch date. See the Brazilian rocket explosion article for details about this disaster. Further testing is scheduled to resume in 2009.
[edit] Developments
The VLS-1 project is being concurrently developed with the VLS-2 project. The VLS-2 project, now called Alfa will be a medium-size launch vehicle, with the purpose of putting satellites into low or geostationary orbits.
Also, the VLM (Veículo Lançador de Microssatélite) is being studied, with the objective of orbiting satellites up to 100kg.
Although Brazil has not yet successfully launched satellites with its indigenous launch vehicle program, it has launched several satellites in the past on foreign launch vehicles.
[edit] References
|
|||||||||||||||||
