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A solid-propellant rocket or solid rocket is a rocket with a rocket engine that uses solid propellants (fuel/oxidizer). The earliest rockets were solid-fuel rockets powered by gunpowder; they were used in warfare by the Arabs, Chinese, Persians, Mongols, and Indians as early as the 13th century.
An expendable launch system is a launch vehicle that can be launched only once, after which its components are either destroyed during reentry or discarded in space. ELVs typically consist of several rocket stages that are discarded sequentially as their fuel is exhausted and the vehicle gains altitude and speed. As of 2022, most satellites and human spacecraft are currently launched on ELVs. ELVs are simpler in design than reusable launch systems and therefore may have a lower production cost. Furthermore, an ELV can use its entire fuel supply to accelerate its payload, offering greater payloads. ELVs are proven technology in widespread use for many decades.
The RM-81 Agena was an American rocket upper stage and satellite bus which was developed by Lockheed Corporation initially for the canceled WS-117L reconnaissance satellite program. Following the split-up of WS-117L into SAMOS and Corona for image intelligence, and MIDAS for early warning, the Agena was later used as an upper stage, and an integrated component, for several programs, including Corona reconnaissance satellites and the Agena Target Vehicle used to demonstrate rendezvous and docking during Project Gemini. It was used as an upper stage on the Atlas, Thor, Thorad and Titan IIIB rockets, and considered for others including the Space Shuttle and Atlas V. A total of 365 Agena rockets were launched between February 28, 1959 and February 1987. Only 33 Agenas carried NASA payloads and the vast majority were for DoD programs.
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The Thor-Burner was an American expendable launch system, a member of the Thor rocket family. It consisted of a Thor missile, with one or two Burner upper stages. It was used between 1965 and 1976 to orbit a number of satellites, most commonly Defense Meteorological Satellite Program weather satellites. Twenty-four were launched, of which two failed. It weighed 51,810 kg and was 24 metres tall.
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References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Space and Missile Systems Organization, A Chronology, 1954-1979 (PDF) (Report). Defense Technical Information Center. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ↑ White, J. Terry (June 4, 2012). "Thor Burner II Finale". White Eagle Aerospace. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Star 37". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008.
- ↑ Powell, J.W.; Richards, G.R. (1991). "The Atlas E/F Launch Vehicle - An Unsung Workhorse" (PDF). Journal of the British Interplanetary Society. 44: 229–240.
- ↑ Weyers, Vernon J.; Sagerman, Gary D.; Borsody, Janos; Lubick, Robert J. (June 1974). Comparative Evaluation of Existing Expendable Upper Stages for Space Shuttle (PDF) (Report). NASA NTRS. p. 9. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
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