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The Launch Vehicle
The first major ASA project, the STARS Program, is designed
to launch student payloads info space.
The launch vehicle ASA is constructing to meet this task will be
capable of carrying 200 pounds of microgravity experiments into space.
This vehicle will be used to launch University and High
School microgravity experiments into space on a sub-orbital
trajectory. This vehicle will
provide a three minute microgravity environment for the experimental
payloads, and then will be recovered for data analysis. Click here to
learn more about this microgravity research program. Details about the design follow:
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Nearly 50 feet
tall and weighing more than 3000 pounds at lift-off, this will be the
biggest amateur rocket ever launched.
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Key points during ascent:
- The rocket will be propelled
by a 11000 pound thrust Liquid Oxygen/Alcohol motor designed by ASA
- In 30 seconds, the motor
will have burned through its 1500 pounds of fuel; the rocket will be
traveling nearly Mach 5, and will be 60,000 feet above Earth.
- In 3 minutes after lift-off,
the rocket will be more than 100 Km above Earth and in space.
- The 200 pounds of payload on
board will experience several minutes of zero gravity.
- After several minutes of
zero gravity, the rocket will be parachuted back to Earth and will
land a few miles away from the launch site.
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The nose will be tapered only 18
degrees to withstand the high aerodynamic heating loads during flight.
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The motor gulps over 40 pounds
of propellants per second.
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The payload will experience
several minutes of zero gravity.
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A carbon cloth ablative liner will
protect the structure of the motor from 6000-degree combustion
temperatures
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Helium will be used to
pressurize the propellant tanks.
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A solid graphite nozzle will
accelerate the exhaust gases to 5,600 miles per hour.
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The propellant tanks will hold
more than 500 pounds of liquid Oxygen and Alcohol.
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