Maxus (rocket)
Encyclopedia
Maxus is a sounding rocket
that are used in the MAXUS microgravity rocket programme, a joint venture between Swedish Space Corporation
and EADS Astrium Space Transportation used by ESA. It is launched from Esrange Space Center
in Sweden
and provides access to microgravity for up to 14 minutes.
Sounding rocket
A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight. The origin of the term comes from nautical vocabulary, where to sound is to throw a weighted line from a ship into...
that are used in the MAXUS microgravity rocket programme, a joint venture between Swedish Space Corporation
Swedish Space Corporation
The Swedish Space Corporation is a comprehensive space company covering the entire field, from the definition of innovative business concepts and space projects to the development, tests and operation of the systems....
and EADS Astrium Space Transportation used by ESA. It is launched from Esrange Space Center
Esrange
Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and provides access to microgravity for up to 14 minutes.
Technical characteristics
- Overall length: 15.5 m
- Overall mass: 12 400 kg
- Payload mass: approx. 800 kg
- Max. velocity: 3500 m/s
- Max. acceleration: 15 g
- Propellant mass: 10 042 kg
- Motor burn time: 63 sec
- Microgravity: up to 14 minutes
- Apogee: > 700 km
- Thrust(max. in vacuum): 500 kN
Missions
Mission | Date | Launch site | Motor | Apogee | Payload | Modules | Comments | Reference Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maxus 1 | 1991 May 8 | Esrange Esrange Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things... |
Castor Castor (rocket stage) The Castor family of solid-fuel rocket stages and boosters were built by Thiokol and used on a variety of launch vehicles. They were initially developed as the second stage motor of the Scout rocket... 4B |
154 km | ||||
Maxus 1B | 1992 Nov 8 | Esrange Esrange Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things... |
Castor Castor (rocket stage) The Castor family of solid-fuel rocket stages and boosters were built by Thiokol and used on a variety of launch vehicles. They were initially developed as the second stage motor of the Scout rocket... 4B |
717 km | Successful | |||
Maxus 2 | 1995 Nov 29 | Esrange Esrange Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things... |
Castor Castor (rocket stage) The Castor family of solid-fuel rocket stages and boosters were built by Thiokol and used on a variety of launch vehicles. They were initially developed as the second stage motor of the Scout rocket... 4B |
706 km | Successful | |||
Maxus 3 | 1998 Nov 24 | Esrange Esrange Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things... |
Castor Castor (rocket stage) The Castor family of solid-fuel rocket stages and boosters were built by Thiokol and used on a variety of launch vehicles. They were initially developed as the second stage motor of the Scout rocket... 4B |
713 km | 798 kg | 5/ESA | Successful | Esrange EUP105-99006 |
Maxus 4 | 2001 Apr 29 | Esrange Esrange Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things... |
Castor Castor (rocket stage) The Castor family of solid-fuel rocket stages and boosters were built by Thiokol and used on a variety of launch vehicles. They were initially developed as the second stage motor of the Scout rocket... 4B |
704 km | 803 kg | 5/ESA | Mostly successful; parachute failed | Esrange EUP110-E15 |
Maxus 5 | 2003 Apr 1 | Esrange Esrange Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things... |
Castor Castor (rocket stage) The Castor family of solid-fuel rocket stages and boosters were built by Thiokol and used on a variety of launch vehicles. They were initially developed as the second stage motor of the Scout rocket... 4B |
703 km | 795 kg | 5/ESA | Mostly successful; rough landing | Esrange EUP114-E114 |
Maxus 6 | 2004 Nov 22 | Esrange Esrange Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things... |
Castor Castor (rocket stage) The Castor family of solid-fuel rocket stages and boosters were built by Thiokol and used on a variety of launch vehicles. They were initially developed as the second stage motor of the Scout rocket... 4B |
707 km | 793 kg | 5/ESA | Successful | Esrange EUP117-E146 |
Maxus 7 | 2006 May 2 | Esrange Esrange Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things... |
Castor Castor (rocket stage) The Castor family of solid-fuel rocket stages and boosters were built by Thiokol and used on a variety of launch vehicles. They were initially developed as the second stage motor of the Scout rocket... 4B |
705 km | 785 kg | 5/ESA | Successful | Esrange EUP124-E36 |
Maxus 8 | 2010 March 26 | Esrange Esrange Esrange Space Center is a rocket range and research centre located outside the town of Kiruna in northern Sweden. It is a base for scientific research with high altitude balloons, investigation of the aurora borealis, sounding rocket launches, and satellite tracking, among other things... |
Castor Castor (rocket stage) The Castor family of solid-fuel rocket stages and boosters were built by Thiokol and used on a variety of launch vehicles. They were initially developed as the second stage motor of the Scout rocket... 4B |
703 km | 803 kg | 3/Astrium ST 1/SSC SSC -In arts and entertainment:* Singapore Symphony Chorus* Saïan Supa Crew, a French rap group* So Solid Crew, a UK garage group-Businesses:* Seoul Semiconductor Company, a Korean manufacturer of LEDs... |
Successful | |