Antares (Taurus II)

[Salo]

Castor 30 который должны использовать в двух первых пусках:

http://www.atk.com/Customer_Solutions_MissionSystems/documents/ATK_Catalog_May_2008.pdf 6,5Мб

[Salo]

Taurus II User's manual:
http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Taurus_II_UG.pdf  8Мб.

[Лютич]

Видать не все там гладко ... не говоря уж о РД-0124.

Дык хотелки хотелками а объем производства РД-0124 - число конечное и не склонное ныне к увеличению.

[Salo]

http://atk.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=118&item=1071

ATK Received $57 Million Contract from Orbital for Upgraded CASTOR® 30XL
[/size]
The Solid Rocket Motor is used on the Second Stage of the Taurus II Launch Vehicle

Apr 25, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) was awarded a $57 million contract to provide the CASTOR® 30XL, an upgraded second stage motor for Orbital Science Corporation's (NYSE: ORB) Taurus® II commercial launch vehicle, which will supply cargo for NASA to the International Space Station.

The CASTOR 30XL is a larger and higher-performance solid rocket motor, with greater payload capability than the CASTOR® 30A, which is used on the current configuration of the Taurus II.  "The CASTOR® 30XL is another important addition to our expanding portfolio of commercial propulsion products, which include the GEM, Orion, and CASTOR® solid rocket motor lines." said Scott Lehr, ATK Aerospace Systems vice president and general manager of Strategic and Commercial Systems.  "We leveraged our heritage flight-proven and cost-effective technologies to develop a customized, higher-performing second stage solution for Orbital's Taurus II launch vehicle."  

The first two test flights of the Taurus II will use the original CASTOR® 30A configuration, the next two flights will use a higher-performing CASTOR® 30B motor, while the CASTOR® 30XL will be used after the first four flights.

Orbital's Taurus II medium-class launch vehicle is slated to perform commercial cargo re-supply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA.  It will be demonstrated under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program and put into service under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract.

"We have had a long and successful history of working with Orbital as their solid propulsion provider.  We are very pleased to be able to provide an upgraded stage to support their critical NASA COTS and CRS programs, as well as other NASA, DoD and Commercial mission requirements" said Lehr.

Около 5 мегабаксов за мотор.

[Salo]

Ан нет. Полётов по CRS у Orbital восемь. Два из них будут с Castor 30B. Значит контракт видимо на шесть двигателей. Это примерно 10 мегабаксов за мотор.

[Salo]

Это видимо самый простой способ для Orbital выполнить обязательства по контракту CRS в срок. ПН в 2,7 т грузов в каждом  из шести крайних Cygnus таким образом обеспечивается.

Вопросы возникают с выполнением миссий на ССО: понадобится блок довыведения. Он у них впрочем есть и фактически используется в качестве агрегатного отсека Cygnus.

[Salo]

http://www.orbital.com/TaurusII/files/TII_Briefing.pdf

Taurus II Summary[/size]

• Program Objectives and Status

– Provide Medium-Class Space Launch Vehicle With High Reliability and Attractive Pricing
– Full Scale Development Started in Late 2007, Subsystem Development/Qualification Completed in Late 2010, First  p,ypQp,
Launch on Track for Third Quarter 2011
– 10 Vehicles Under Contract to NASA for 2011-2015 Launches
– Aiming for ~ 35 Total Launches Over Next 10 Years (2011 – 2020)

• Configuration Options and Payload Performance gp y

– Taurus II:  5100 kg to 52° / 200 km or 3200 kg to 90° / 600 km
– Taurus IIe:  6000 kg to 52° / 200 km or 4200 kg to 90° / 600 km
– Taurus IIh: 1100 kg to C3 = 0 km2/sec2

• Available or Planned Ground Infrastructure Available or Planned Ground Infrastructure

– Wallops Island Site:  ILC in 2011 – Mid to High Inclination Orbits
– West Coast Site:  ILC in 2014 – High Inclination Orbits

• Delivery Schedule

– Earliest Availability for New-Order Launch ~ Third Quarter 2013 Earliest Availability for New-Order Launch ~ Third Quarter 2013
– Normal Order-to-Launch Cycle ~21 Months (for 2014 or Later Launches)

[Saul]

А что это за "Кодаки" - старые или новые?

[SpaceR]

Ну если вспомнить, что вокруг НК-31/39 Orbital ходила кругами ещё во времена создания Fastrac-a, прицеливаясь, как бы их прицепить на Х-34, то вывод напрашивается однозначный.

Намёк понял. :wink:
Кстати Jim на SFN пишет, что выбор уже сделан и не в пользу РД-0124 и РД-809.

Кроме того НК-31 работает на переохлаждённом ЖК, как и НК-33.

Эх...
Похоже, я всё-таки ошибся.

Всё же поясню.
Ошибся тогда я в плане однозначности - мне казалось очевидным, что если фирма ещё много лет назад исследовала какой-то движок на предмет возможного использования, но впоследствии не вспоминала о нем даже в виде версии, то значит ещё тогда убедились в его неприменимости (причин того не знаю).
Соответственно у НК-31/39 никаких шансов не было с самого начала создания Тауруса 2.

[SpaceR]

Вопросы возникают с выполнением миссий на ССО: понадобится блок довыведения. Он у них впрочем есть и фактически используется в качестве агрегатного отсека Cygnus.

Блок довыведения - ОРК (Orbital Raising Kit) - планировался с самого начала, откуда и происходят характеристики РН на ССО - не на РДТТшке же туда добираться.
Да вот и в выложенной Вами презенташке его видно - на 4 страничке, под ГО:



А вот крайний справа 3-ступенчатый вариант с выводом на 2ю космическую мне раньше не попадался, спасибо.

З.Ы. А в более ранних материалах - см. стр.63 темы - ПГ на вторую космическую (С3) был больше, аж на 200 кг.

[Salo]

Star-48 в качестве третьей ступени на отлётные траектории был ещё в варианте от 2009 года.

[Salo]

А в это время на MARSe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkBlONZ4vq0&feature=player_embedded

[Salo]

http://www.spacenews.com/launch/110520-orbital-eyes-west-coast-taurus2.html

Fri, 20 May, 2011
Orbital Sciences Eyes West Coast Missions for Taurus 2 Launcher[/size]
By Amy Svitak

    WASHINGTON — Orbital Sciences Corp.'s business case for its Taurus 2 rocket, scheduled to debut this year, assumes two or three launches per year for the next decade, with liftoffs occurring from a future West Coast spaceport in addition to the company's new launch pad at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's eastern shore.

    Mark Pieczynski, Orbital vice president of space launch business development, says the Dulles, Va.-based company has spent the past several months eyeing two launch sites on the West Coast that would allow the company to deliver medium-class payloads to high-inclination and sun-synchronous orbits: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and Kodiak Island, Alaska. The company expects to decide on a site before the end of the year, he said.

    High-inclination, or near-polar, orbits are typically used for Earth observation because they provide global coverage. Vandenberg and Kodiak are geographically suited for launches to such orbits.

    "Vandenberg is a well-known commodity to us; we understand it well," Pieczynski said in a May 18 interview, noting that the company currently launches Pegasus, Taurus XL and Minotaur rockets from that site.

    Orbital us is less familiar with Kodiak Island, he said, though the company does use the launch site for Minotaur missions.

    "We've been focusing a lot of attention over the last several months to understand what the capabilities are out of Kodiak," he said, adding that the launch site "brings some uniqueness" in terms of launch preparation and logistics. "Where do you get all your commodities from, how do you get your launch vehicle up there, can you launch 12 months out of the year?" he said.

    Orbital already is under contract to NASA for 10 missions to deliver 20 metric tons of pressurized cargo from Wallops to the international space station through 2015. If Taurus 2 and Orbital's Cygnus cargo vehicle perform as planned, he said, the company expects a follow-on contract to provide roughly two launches to the orbiting outpost each year through at least 2020.

    Pieczynski said NASA would be a prime customer for West Coast launches; the agency currently lofts a number of science payloads to high-inclination orbits each year from Vanenberg. Orbital plans in August to offer Taurus 2 for inclusion in NASA's stable of rockets eligible to launch the agency's science missions.

    "There are also foreign dual-use payloads that are commercial launch and the preference on some of those are to launch on a U.S. rocket on U.S. soil simply because of the dual-use nature of the payload," he said. "So we see a need to establish that West Coast launch site," he said.

    Pieczynski said Orbital expects the West Coast launch site to be operational within two years of site selection, with plans to draw on lessons learned from development of the Wallops launch facility. "The design work [at Wallops] is done and paid for," he said.

    Pieczynski said Orbital also sees a market for launching medium-class national security payloads from the West Coast. He said Orbital plans to offer Taurus 2 for inclusion in the U.S. Air Force's stable of approved rockets this year.

    "Quite frankly, historically, there have been many medium-class missions launched by the Air Force," he said, including almost all GPS satellites flying today. "And there's typically a [National Reconnaissance Office] mission every other year of a medium-class."

    He said the Air Force is expected to release a draft request for proposals soon, with plans to have all proposals in by the end of the calendar year.

    Orbital's Taurus 2 business scenario assumes two additional variants will be developed in the coming years. The basic vehicle can carry 5,100 kilograms of payload to a 52-degree orbit at a 200-kilometer altitude, or 3,200 kilograms to a 90-degree, 600-kilometer orbit.

    The Taurus 2e, which is planned to be operational in 2013, will be equipped with a larger version of the Castor 30 second-stage engine, made by Alliant TechSystems and will be capable of lofting 6,000 kilograms to a 52-degree orbit at 200 kilometers or 4,200 kilograms to a 90-degree, 600 kilometer orbit. By 2014, the company expects to debut the Taurus 2h, which will be a third stage for even more payload carrying capability.

    Orbital spokesman Barron Beneski said despite plans to expand Taurus 2's opportunities, the company is taking a conservative approach to the medium-class launch market.

    "If we're able to book a couple more commercial launches in addition to the government market we forecast, and if the government market comes in as forecasted, there's likely to be some upside," Beneski said in a May 18 interview. "But we're not counting on upside. We have a very conservative outlook for this program, to make sure the business case works with a modest and reasonable expectation for the launch rate."

    The company has no immediate plans to upgrade Taurus 2 for geostationary launches of lightweight communications satellites.

    "Instead of trying to solve world hunger in a real short period of time, we're going to use what has been Orbital's philosophy over the 25 plus years of existence, and that is methodical development minimizing risk addition to the launch vehicle," Pieczynski said. "But there will come a point in time when we look at the ability to deliver to [geostationary orbit], and it may be a completely different upper-stage."

[Salo]

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/news/newsreleases/2011/CLT-11-101.html

Rebecca Strecker, NASA News Chief
NASA Public Affairs Office
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000
(228) 688-3249
Rebecca.A.Strecker@nasa.gov
June 10, 2011
 
RELEASE : CLT-11-101
 
Commercial Rocket Engine Test Firing Experiences Early Shutdown[/size]
 
An Aerojet AJ26 flight engine for Orbital Sciences Corporations' Taurus II space launch vehicle experienced a premature shutdown during a test firing on June 9. The test was conducted on the E-1 Test Stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center. Orbital and Aerojet are investigating the cause of the early shutdown. Stennis will perform checkouts to the facility to ensure its operational integrity.

"This is the reason we test engines here at Stennis before they are installed on launch vehicles," said David Liberto, AJ26 engine project manager at Stennis. "Engine testing is a vital component of ensuring missions are successfully launched."

The AJ26 engine test supports Orbital's development activities to provide commercial cargo resupply flights to the International Space Station in 2012. The company is scheduled to demonstrate its Taurus II rocket and its Cygnus cargo transportation system in a mission later this year under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) research and development initiative.

http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110610-aj26-shuts-down-early-testing.html

Fri, 10 June, 2011
AJ-26 Shuts Down Early During Stennis Testing[/size]
By Space News Staff

    An Aerojet AJ-26 engine, the main propulsion system for one of NASA's commercial space-cargo haulers, shut down prematurely during a test firing at the Stennis Space Center June 9.

    NASA disclosed the failed test a day later in a statement.

    The AJ-26 is the main engine for Orbital Science Corp.'s Taurus 2 rocket, which will launch the company's Cygnus capsule for commercial resupply missions to the international space station.

    Barron Beneski, a spokesman for Orbital, and Glenn Mahone, a spokesman for Aerojet, both confirmed the premature shutdown.

    "As we speak, we are looking into why it shut down early," Beneski said June 10.

    Mahone declined additional comment, pending an investigation of the failed test.

    NASA spokeswoman Rebecca Strecker referred requests for details to Orbital and Aerojet.

    The AJ-26, based on the Russian NK-33 engine, burns liquid-oxygen and kerosene.  Each Taurus 2 rocket uses two AJ-26 engines. Three AJ-26 engines have been successfully test-fired to date.

    The first Taurus 2 test flight is still slated for early October. The rocket will launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va.

    Orbital is under contract with NASA to fly 10 cargo missions to the international space station through 2015, all from Wallops. The Cygnus capsule is scheduled for a test flight in December.

[Ярослав]

прямая им дорога до рд-120к

[SpaceR]

прямая им дорога до рд-120к

А если немного подумать?

[Ярослав]

прямая им дорога до рд-120к

А если немного подумать?

вариантов много ! (время/вес/цена/тяга)

[hecata]

Все же может кто сказать, сколько стоит РД-120? Может отчеты какие есть у Южмаша? Или где в докладах проскакивало?

[Salo]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aerospacedaily&id=news/asd/2011/06/22/02.xml&headline=Taurus%20II%20Engine%20Sustained%20Damage%20In%20Fire

Taurus II Engine Sustained Damage In Fire[/size]

Jun 22, 2011


By Frank Morring, Jr.

An Aerojet AJ26 engine destined to power the Orbital Sciences Corp. Taurus II launch vehicle in the run-up to commercial resupply flights for the International Space Station (ISS) was badly damaged in a fuel fire June 9.

"There was significant damage to the engine," Orbital spokesman Baron Beneski said June 21.

NASA is counting on the Taurus II/Cygnus and the Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Falcon 9/Dragon combinations to help resupply the station when the space shuttle fleet retires after the upcoming final flight of shuttle Atlantis.

Beneski and Glenn Mahone, a spokesman for Aerojet, say the AJ26 engine shut down prematurely after a fuel leak developed during a hot-fire acceptance test, and the leaking kerosene fuel ignited. While the engine was damaged, the test stand at Stennis Space Center suffered only minor damage, the spokesmen said in separate telephone interviews.

Mahone says a team of rocket engine experts from Aerojet, Orbital and NASA is investigating the cause of the mishap and the extent of the damage to the engine.

"How much we're not sure," Mahone says. "There is an investigation going on. The engine did not burn up."

The results of the investigation and prognosis for the engine and the Taurus II should come together by the end of this week or early next week, Beneski says. Two other AJ26 engines have completed hot-fire acceptance testing without mishap, according to the Aerojet website.

Beneski said the engine mishap potentially affects the testing planned to get the Taurus II ready for operational missions to resupply the ISS. The new Taurus II pad at Wallops Island, Va., should be completed in two weeks, he says, and ready for a NASA certification process that will take six to eight weeks.

The Cygnus cargo carrier that will ride atop the Taurus II is being prepared for shipment from the Thales Alenia manufacturing facility in Turin, Italy, to an integration facility at Wallops Island. Orbital is building the spacecraft service module at its satellite factory in Dulles, Va.

Original plans called for a hold-down hot-fire test of the two-engine Taurus II's Ukrainian-built first stage at Wallops, a test flight, and the qualification flight required under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation System (COTS) seed-money effort before the end of the year.

"A lot has to go right for all of that to happen in 2011," Beneski says, noting that acceptance tests are conducted to avoid problems later in the launch flow.

The AJ26 is a modification of the Soviet-era NK-33 engine originally developed for the N-1 heavy-lifter in the 1960s. Aerojet acquired 40 of the old engines, and is refurbishing them for the Taurus II. It also has proposed using the AJ26 to power a liquid-fueled strap-on booster for NASA's planned heavy-lift Space Launch System, and is beginning development of a U.S.-built follow-on that would raise the engine's thrust from about 340,000 lb. at sea level to 500,000 lb.

The final flight of Atlantis will carry enough supplies to buy Orbital and SpaceX an extra year of development time without requiring station managers to trim the six-member crew and cut scientific experiments, NASA managers have said.

Photo: Aviation Week

[Salo]

http://www.spacenews.com/launch/110624-test-stand-fire-taurus.html

Fri, 24 June, 2011
Test Stand Fire Threatens Taurus 2 Launch Schedule[/size]
By Brian Berger and Dan Leone

 WASHINGTON — An Aerojet AJ-26 main engine undergoing acceptance testing for the inaugural flight of Orbital Science Corp.'s Taurus 2 rocket was badly damaged June 9 when a metal fuel line ruptured, causing the engine and test stand to catch fire, according to an industry source with knowledge of the mishap.

 The fuel line that failed was part of the engine, not the test stand, the source said. The resulting fuel fire, which NASA said caused only minor damage to Stennis Space Center's E-1 Test Stand in Mississippi, took approximately four minutes to extinguish.

 The source, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, said the AJ-26  team investigating the mishap suspects a flaw in the metal used for that particular fuel line.

 "If this looks like it's a processing flaw when the metal was made, then the problem is probably just a one-off," the source said.

 The AJ-26 is a rebuilt NK-33, the Soviet-era liquid oxygen/kerosene engine Aerojet acquired in bulk in the 1990s.

 Three AJ-26 engines have completed acceptance testing at Stennis and been delivered to Orbital's Taurus 2 integration facility at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Two of those engines were intended to be used for an upcoming hold-down test of the Taurus 2's first stage and then refurbished for the rocket's second flight. The other engine already at Wallops was to have been paired with the now-damaged engine for the Taurus 2's maiden launch, targeted for October.

 That launch — a demonstration flight meant to help qualify the vehicle to launch cargo capsules bound for the international space station — now appears likely to slip at least a month since the next available engine still must undergo acceptance testing at Stennis, according to the source.

 Orbital spokesman Barry Beneski acknowledged June 22 that the engine was damaged in a fire caused by a fuel leak but said details of the incident were still being investigated. He said a more extensive report on how badly the engine was damaged is expected the week of June 27.

 Aerojet spokesman Glenn Mahone said June 24 the "fuel line leading into the engine" appears to be what caused the mishap, but cautioned that the investigation has not concluded. "Once the investigation is complete, we will make whatever changes or repairs we need to make and after that be prepared to go on with our testing," he said.