AJ-10
Encyclopedia
The AJ-10 or AJ10 is a hypergolic rocket engine
. It has been used to propel the upper stages of several carrier rockets, including the Delta II
and Titan III
. It will also be used as the main engine of the Orion
Crew Exploration Vehicle
for NASA
's Project Constellation
.
It was first used in the Able second stage of the Vanguard rocket
, in the AJ10-118 configuration. It was fuelled by nitric acid
and UDMH
. On the first Vanguard flight, Vanguard TV3
on 6 December 1957, a problem with the vehicle's first stage caused the rocket to explode on the launch pad. Another launch attempt, on 5 February 1958, also failed during the first stage burn. An AJ10 engine was first fired in flight during the third Vanguard launch, on 17 March 1958, which successfully placed the Vanguard 1
satellite into orbit.
The AJ10-101 engine was used on an uprated version of the Able, used on Atlas-Able
and Thor-Able
rockets. The first flight, of a Thor-Able, occurred on 23 April 1958, however the Thor failed before the upper stage fired. The second flight, which saw the first firing of an AJ10-101 engine, occurred on 10 July 1958.
The Apollo Service Module's Service Propulsion System used a single AJ10-137 engine.
The AJ10-190 engine is used on Space Shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System
, used on Space Shuttle
.
The version currently in use on the Delta II
rocket's upper stage, the Delta-K
, is the AJ10-118K. It uses Aerozine 50
propellent, and N2O4 oxidiser.
Rocket engine
A rocket engine, or simply "rocket", is a jet engineRocket Propulsion Elements; 7th edition- chapter 1 that uses only propellant mass for forming its high speed propulsive jet. Rocket engines are reaction engines and obtain thrust in accordance with Newton's third law...
. It has been used to propel the upper stages of several carrier rockets, including the Delta II
Delta II
Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011...
and Titan III
Titan III
The Titan IIIC was a space booster used by the United States Air Force. It was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL., and Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. It was planned to be used as a launch vehicle in the cancelled Dyna-Soar and Manned Orbiting Laboratory programs...
. It will also be used as the main engine of the Orion
Orion (spacecraft)
Orion is a spacecraft designed by Lockheed Martin for NASA, the space agency of the United States. Orion development began in 2005 as part of the Constellation program, where Orion would fulfill the function of a Crew Exploration Vehicle....
Crew Exploration Vehicle
Crew Exploration Vehicle
The Crew Exploration Vehicle was the conceptual component of the U.S. NASA Vision for Space Exploration that later became known as the Orion spacecraft...
for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Project Constellation
Project Constellation
Constellation Program is a human spaceflight program within NASA, the space agency of the United States. The stated goals of the program were to gain significant experience in operating away from Earth's environment, develop technologies needed for opening the space frontier, and conduct...
.
It was first used in the Able second stage of the Vanguard rocket
Vanguard rocket
The Vanguard rocket was intended to be the first launch vehicle the United States would use to place a satellite into orbit. Instead, the Sputnik crisis caused by the surprise launch of Sputnik 1 led the U.S., after the failure of Vanguard TV3, to quickly orbit the Explorer 1 satellite using a Juno...
, in the AJ10-118 configuration. It was fuelled by nitric acid
Nitric acid
Nitric acid , also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid.Colorless when pure, older samples tend to acquire a yellow cast due to the accumulation of oxides of nitrogen. If the solution contains more than 86% nitric acid, it is referred to as fuming...
and UDMH
UDMH
Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine is a toxic volatile hygroscopic clear liquid, with a sharp, fishy, ammoniacal smell typical for organic amines. It turns yellowish on exposure to air and absorbs oxygen and carbon dioxide. It mixes completely with water, ethanol, and kerosene. In concentration...
. On the first Vanguard flight, Vanguard TV3
Vanguard TV3
Vanguard TV3 was the first attempt of the United States to launch a satellite into orbit around the Earth. It was a small satellite designed to test the launch capabilities of the three-stage Vanguard rocket and study the effects of the environment on a satellite and its systems in Earth orbit...
on 6 December 1957, a problem with the vehicle's first stage caused the rocket to explode on the launch pad. Another launch attempt, on 5 February 1958, also failed during the first stage burn. An AJ10 engine was first fired in flight during the third Vanguard launch, on 17 March 1958, which successfully placed the Vanguard 1
Vanguard 1
Vanguard 1 was the fourth artificial Earth satellite launched and the first satellite to be solar powered. Although communication with it was lost in 1964, it remains the oldest manmade satellite still in orbit...
satellite into orbit.
The AJ10-101 engine was used on an uprated version of the Able, used on Atlas-Able
Atlas-Able
The Atlas-Able was an American expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas missile. It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets, and was used to launch several Pioneer spacecraft towards the Moon...
and Thor-Able
Thor-Able
The Thor-Able was an American expendable launch system and sounding rocket used for a series of re-entry vehicle tests and satellite launches between 1958 and 1960. It was a two stage rocket, consisting of a Thor IRBM as a first stage, and a Vanguard-derived Able second stage. On some flights, an...
rockets. The first flight, of a Thor-Able, occurred on 23 April 1958, however the Thor failed before the upper stage fired. The second flight, which saw the first firing of an AJ10-101 engine, occurred on 10 July 1958.
The Apollo Service Module's Service Propulsion System used a single AJ10-137 engine.
The AJ10-190 engine is used on Space Shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System
Space Shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System
The Space Shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System, or OMS , is a system of rocket engines designed and manufactured by Aerojet for use on the space shuttle orbiter for orbital injection and modifying its orbit. It consists of two "packs" at the back of the Shuttle, the large lumps on either side of the...
, used on Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
.
The version currently in use on the Delta II
Delta II
Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011...
rocket's upper stage, the Delta-K
Delta-K
The Delta-K is an American rocket stage, used as the second stage of several variants of the Delta rocket.As of 25 May 2008, 138 have been launched, and excluding one which was destroyed by the explosion of a lower stage, none have failed....
, is the AJ10-118K. It uses Aerozine 50
Aerozine 50
Aerozine 50 is a 50/50 mix of hydrazine and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine . Originally developed in the late 1950s by Aerojet General Corporation as a storable, high-energy, hypergolic fuel for the Titan II ICBM rocket engines, Aerozine continues in wide use as a rocket fuel, typically with...
propellent, and N2O4 oxidiser.
See also
- Delta-KDelta-KThe Delta-K is an American rocket stage, used as the second stage of several variants of the Delta rocket.As of 25 May 2008, 138 have been launched, and excluding one which was destroyed by the explosion of a lower stage, none have failed....
- Apollo Service Module
- Orion (spacecraft)Orion (spacecraft)Orion is a spacecraft designed by Lockheed Martin for NASA, the space agency of the United States. Orion development began in 2005 as part of the Constellation program, where Orion would fulfill the function of a Crew Exploration Vehicle....
- TranstageTranstageTranstage was an American upper stage used on Titan III rockets. 40 were launched, of which three failed.The first launch, boosted by a Titan IIIA carrier rocket, occurred on 1 September 1964. The Transtage failed to pressurise, resulting in premature engine cutoff, and a failure to reach orbit....