Vanguard rocket
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| Vanguard rocket | ||
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| Missing image Vanguard_rocket.jpg Launch of Vanguard rocket. (U.S. Navy) | ||
| Stages | 3 | |
| 1 - 1st Stage | Engines | X-405 X 1 |
| Thrust | 134.7 kN | |
| Burn time | 248 seconds | |
| Fuels | Lox/Kerosene | |
| 2 - 2nd Stage | Engine | AJ10-118 X 1 |
| Thrust | 33.8 kN | |
| Burn time | 115 seconds | |
| Fuels | Nitric acid/UDMH | |
| 3 - 3rd Stage | Engine | GCRC X 1 |
| Thrust | 11.6 kN | |
| Burn time | 31 seconds | |
| Fuels | Solid | |
| Launch Vehicle | 1st Launch Success March 17, 1958 | |
| Payload 350 km x 2500 km; 33-degree orbit | 1.36 kg to 22.7 kg | |
| Contents |
Mission
In August 1955, the DOD DOD Committee on Special Capabilities chose the NRL proposal as it appeared most likely to, by spring 1958, fulfill the following:
- 1) place a satellite in orbit during the IGY
- 2) accomplish a scientific experiment in orbit
- 3) track the satellite and ensure its attainment of orbit
Project Vanguard was chosen from three proposals presented by the United States Air Force, the United States Army, and the United States Navy. The Army's ABMA under Dr. Wernher von Braun had suggested using a modified Redstone rocket (see: Juno I) while the Air Force had proposed using the non-existent Atlas rocket.
Launches
Vanguard launched 3 satellites out of 11 launch attempts:
- Vanguard TV3 - December 6, 1957 - Failed to orbit 3 lb (1.36 kg) satellite
- Vanguard TV3 Backup - February 5, 1958 - Failed to orbit 3 lb (1.36 kg) satellite
- Vanguard 1 - March 17, 1958 - Orbited 3.25 lb (1.47 kg) satellite
- Vanguard TV5 - April 28, 1958 - Failed to orbit 22 lb (10.0 kg) satellite
- Vanguard SLV 1 - May 27, 1958 - Failed to orbit 22 lb (10.0 kg) satellite
- Vanguard SLV 2 - June 26, 1958 - Failed to orbit 22 lb (10.0 kg) satellite
- Vanguard SLV 3 - September 26, 1958 - Failed to orbit 22 lb (10.0 kg) satellite
- Vanguard SLV 5 - April 13, 1959 - Failed to orbit 22.7 lb (10.3 kg) satellite
- Vanguard 2 - February 17, 1959 - Orbited 21.6 lb (9.8 kg) satellite
- Vanguard SLV 6 - June 22, 1959 - Failed to orbit 22.7 lb (10.3 kg) satellite
- Vanguard 3 - September 18, 1959 - Orbited 22.7 kg (50 lb) satellite
Specifications
- Stage Number: 1 - Vanguard
- Mass: 7,661 kg
- Empty Mass: 811 kg
- Thrust (vac): 134.7 kN
- Isp: 270 lbf·s/lb (2.6 kN·s/kg)
- Burn time: 145 s
- Isp (sea level): 248 lbf·s/lb (2.4 kN·s/kg)
- Diameter: 1.14 m
- Span: 1.14 m
- Length: 12.20 m
- Propellants: Lox/Kerosene
- Engines: X-405
- Stage Number: 2 - Delta A
- Mass: 2,164 kg
- Empty Mass: 694 kg
- Thrust (vac): 33.8 kN
- Isp: 271 lbf·s/lb (2.7 kN·s/kg)
- Burn time: 115 s
- Diameter: 0.84 m
- Span: 0.84 m
- Length: 5.36 m
- Propellants: Nitric acid/UDMH
- Engines: AJ10-118
- Stage Number: 3 - Vanguard 3
- Mass: 210 kg
- Empty Mass: 31 kg
- Thrust (vac): 11.6 kN
- Isp: 230 lbf·s/lb (2.3 kN·s/kg)
- Burn time: 31 s
- Isp (sea level): 210 lbf·s/lb (2.1 kN·s/kg)
- Diameter: 0.50 m
- Span: 0.50 m
- Length: 2.00 m
- Propellants: Solid
- Engines: GCRC
See also
- Vanguard program
- Vanguard 1 Satellite
- Vanguard 2 Satellite
- Vanguard 3 Satellite
- Explorer program
- Sputnik program
- Viking rocket
External link
- Vanguard - A History - NASA SP-4202 online (http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4202/toc2.html)
- The Vanguard Satellite Launching Vehicle: An Engineering Summary - NASA (PDF) (http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19740072500_1974072500.pdf)