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Europropulsion Plays Key Role In Vega Development Milestone
Kourou, French Guiana (SPX) Dec 07, 2006 Today at 12:30 pm local time in Kourou, French Guiana, French space agency CNES conducted the first ground firing test of the P80 solid rocket motor (SRM) that will power the first stage of the new Vega launcher being developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). Carried out on the solid rocket motor test stand at the Guiana Space Center, the test was a success. Europropulsion is prime contractor for development of this motor, working with: + Avio, responsible for the structure, propellant grain (produced in Kourou by Regulus, a subsidiary of Avio (60%) and SNPE Materiaux Energetiques (40%)), and the igniter (produced by APP Stork). + Snecma Propulsion Solide (SAFRAN Group), in charge of the nozzle. + Sabca, in charge of the thrust vectoring system. Europropulsion assembles the P80 motor in ESA's booster integration building in Kourou. The success of this first test augurs well for the successful development of the P80 motor, slated for qualification in 2007 and a first launch in 2008. The P80 solid rocket motor marks a significant advance for Europe in the commercial launch vehicle market, because of its higher performance and lower costs due to new technologies developed through this program. CNES makes a major contribution to development funding for the motor, which is also a technology demonstrator for the next generation of European solid rocket motors. The P80 is the largest single-unit solid rocket motor (88 metric tons of propellant) with a carbon-epoxy composite wound structure ever tested. The composition of the solid propellant is optimized for higher performance. The nozzle, featuring a simplified design, is fitted with new thermal protection materials and a new-generation flexible joint that considerably reduces deflection loads. This means that the hydraulic actuators usually used to steer the nozzle for thrust vectoring can be replaced by electromechanical actuators which are lighter and much easier to operate. Related Links Safran
EERC Awarded $5 Million Contract For The Advancement Of Tactical Fuels
Grand Forks ND (SPX) Dec 07, 2006The Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota has been awarded approximately $5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD's) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the development and demonstration of a new domestic bio-jet fuel for the U.S. military. The 18-month project will produce enough fuel to allow DARPA to demonstrate the fuel's usability in real-world combat scenarios. |
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