The Altair was a solid-fuel rocket with a filament-wound fibre-reinforced epoxy resin 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
[edit]
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-LV2D Burner-1".[2][3]
Altairs were used as the third stage of early Delta rockets.[4]
The fourth stage of the Scout-X rocket used the "Altair-1A" stage, powered by a X-248A engine.[5][6]
This initial variant could produce 13.7 kN (3,070 lbf) of thrust, and had a diameter of 43.18 cm (17.00 in).[7]
Altair 2
[edit]
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[8] satellites.[9] It was retired in 1973.[10]
Altair 3
[edit]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.[11] It was also used as the second stage of the ASM-135 ASAT anti-satellite missile.[12] It was proposed as the fourth stage for Advanced Scout.[13] The FW-4S motor is similar to Thiokol Star 20 (TE-M-640), and both are designated by NASA as Altair IIIA.[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Thor with a solid fuel top stage". The Satellite Encyclopedia.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter D. "Thor with solid-fuel upper stage". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ↑
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "Scout X-1". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "Altair 1A". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ↑ "Rocket Motor, Solid Fuel, Vanguard Third Stage, also designated X-248A2 or Altair". National Air and Space Museum.
- ↑ Heyman, Jos (2005-04-12). "OV". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. Designation Systems. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter D. "Atlas-D OV1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "Altair 2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved 19 Nov 2019.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter D. "Atlas-E/-F OV1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ↑ "F-15 ASAT". Eagle Country. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ↑ Wade, Mark. "Advanced Scout". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ↑ 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.
Non-military suborbital rocket engines and motors that have flown | ||
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| Liquid fuel engines |  | |
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| Solid propellant motors | ||
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