Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

to place the spacecraft in its final prescribed trajectory. Corrective action has been taken to prevent recurrence of these failures in the next lunar launch early in 1962.

Unfortunately, though the Agena stage performed very well, the Atlas experienced a rare guidance failure resulting in a 23,000-mile miss of the Moon with Ranger III. I am sure you are all familiar with that fact. (Fig. 412.)

During the next few years, the Atlas- and Thor-Agena B vehicles are expected to be the workhorses in the NASA launch vehicle program. Until the Centaur and the Saturn become operational, the Atlas-Agena B will be used for the NASA heavy duty missions. This chart reflects the 28 presently planned missions for NASA Atlasand Thor-Agena B launched vehicle programs, including the two lunar tests conducted in late 1961. The payloads include lunar and planetary missions, meteorological and communications satellites, and a variety of scientific satellites. Additional applications are currently in the planning phase, and it is anticipated that NASA will use the Agena vehicle into the 1970 time period. Atlas-Agena launches will be conducted primarily at the Atlantic Missile Range and the ThorAgena launches will be from the Pacific Missile Range.

Mr. KARTH. Are there any questions?

Mr. HAMMILL. That last statement, is there any special reason for that?

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small]

Mr. CORTRIGHT. Yes. The Pacific Missile Range missions, in general, are those which attempt to get a polar orbit which you can't do from the Atlantic Missile Range without overflying friendly countries. The Thor-Agena is an adequate launch vehicle for such programs as Nimbus and Pogo, or polar orbiting geophysical observatory. That is essentially the answer to the question.

Mr. HAMMILL. The Atlantic Missile Range is used for what?

Mr. CORTRIGHT. Lunar and planetary missions and orbiting geophysical observatory.

Mr. HAMMILL. The overflight problem does not exist?

Mr. CORTRIGHT. We fly right down the range. (Fig. 413.)

The objective of Project Centaur is to provide a general purpose launch vehicle of high performance and reliability for Earth satellite, lunar, and planetary exploration missions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Defense. Centaur will be the first free-world rocket vehicle to utilize high energy liquid hydrogen as fuel and, as such, will provide much of the basic knowledge required for the design of the upper stages of the Saturn and Nova rocket vehicles, and for the design of the Rover nuclear propulsion system, all of which will use liquid hydrogen. In addition, Centaur vehicles will carry ion and arc jet electrical propulsion systems for flight tests, the Advent military communications satellites, and the Mariner probes intended for the Nation's exploration of the planets

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed]

Venus and Mars. In direct support of the manned lunar landing objective, Centaur will also provide a vital function as a vehicle for preliminary unmanned exploration of the Moon's surface (Project Surveyor). It is expected that other military and civilian missions in will use the Centaur in the future.

space

This chart shows a drawing of the Centaur vehicle. It is composed of two stages: a modified Atlas ICBM as first stage, using liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants; and the Centaur second stage, using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants. The vehicle's payload carrying capacity fills the gap between the AtlasAgena B and Saturn C-1 launch vehicles. Centaur can carry 8,500 pounds into a low Earth orbit, or approximately 2,300 pounds on a flight to the Moon. The project was begun in late 1958 and we will launch the first developmental vehicle early in 1962, a little over 3 years from date of contract. The 10-vehicle development flight program is scheduled for completion by late 1963, whereupon Centaur will begin extensive service as an operational space mission launch vehicle. (Fig. 414.)

This chart shows the Centaur vehicle in an exploded view permitting identification of its parts. The Centaur second-stage engines are being developed by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Corp. at West Palm

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small]

Beach, Fla. Each engine delivers 15,000 pounds of thrust when operating. The Centaur second-stage vehicle and the Atlas booster are produced by General Dynamics/Astronautics at San Diego, Calif. Mr. CORTRIGHT. I will point out a few features which you may or may not be familiar with and which are not in the text.

This, of course, is the first stage of the Atlas which separates and the Atlas continues on sustainer. Upon separation of the Centaur stage, insulation panels are jettisoned. These are necessary on the ground and in the atmosphere to keep the hydrogen from boiling away, but they are things you want to get rid of as soon as you can so you don't have to boost that load to higher velocity.

Now we can continue to a photograph of the Centaur launch complex 36. (Fig. 415.)

This photograph shows the Centaur launch complex No. 36-A at Cape Canaveral. An additional launch pad, No. 36-B, which will utilize the same blockhouse, will be constructed at the intersection of these two roads in the upper left. The first Centaur launch from the second launch pad is scheduled for late 1963. (Fig. 416.)

This photograph shows the first flight Centaur second stage suspended in the complex 36 service tower prior to mating with the Atlas booster. (Fig. 417.)

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small]

Here is the complete first-flight article erected on pad 36-A, after the service tower has been removed. The remaining structure is the umbilical tower with its utility connections to the vehicle. Preparations for first launch are currently underway. (Fig. 418.)

Here is a single Centaur hydrogen engine mounted in the altitude test facility at the Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio. In this facility, the engine is being tested at a simulated altitude of 100,000 feet to determine its operating characteristics under the vacuum conditions of space. (Fig. 419.)

Tests are currently underway at this test stand at West Palm Beach wherein two Centaur engines are operated simultaneously to insure no difficulty in flight due to their interaction. It was here in November 1960 that we experienced our first engine explosion due to ignition failure. A number of recent runs such as the one shown here have given assurance that the Centaur ignition problem has been solved. The engine is now qualified for flight. The multitude of preparations consuming the last 3 years will soon be subjected to the acid test.

For the future, there are several significant areas demanding our attention. Protecting the very cold liquid hydrogen in the Centaur tank from boiling away during flights in space continues to be a critical problem in the Centaur development program. In addition, we in

« PreviousContinue »