The Challenger tragedy has resulted in the loss of reliable access to space for the small payload user. In particular, the microgravity science community which was to receive extensive access to the Shuttle has been forced to reevaluate alternative flight opportunities. Suborbital rockets have been widely utilized for microgravity experimentation in European, Japanese, USSR, and United States programs. Two of the most publicized programs are the NASA Space Processing Applications Rocket (SPAR) program (1975 to 1983) and the Federal Republic of Germany Technical Experiments Under Microgravity (TEXUS) program which is currently operational in Europe. The Black Brant and SKYLARK launch vehicles used for these programs provide 5 to 6 minutes of microgravity environment. Enhancements to these current systems can extend the useful microgravity time to seven minutes. Recently, interest has been expressed in using suborbital launch vehicles to achieve microgravity environment times of 15 to 20 minutes. Over the past 14 months, Conatec has been developing a series of launch vehicles based on flight proven solid rocket motors which will provide in excess of 15 minutes of microgravity. Current programs can be extended to seven minutes.
Advanced Research Rockets for Long Duration Microgravity Science
1988
8 pages
Report
No indication
English
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