VLS-1
Encyclopedia
The VLS - Satellite Launch Vehicle - (Portuguese
: "Veículo Lançador de Satélites") is the Brazilian Space Agency
's main satellite launch vehicle project. The project's goal is to develop a launch vehicle capable of launching small general-purpose satellites into orbit. The project is located at the Alcântara Launch Center due its proximity to the equator
.
Associated vehicles include the Sonda I, Sonda II, Sonda III and Sonda IV, the VS-30
, VS-40
and VSB-30
.
During the V01 and V02 prototype launches (VLS-1 V01 and VLS-1 V02) technical problems prevented mission success, but allowed the testing of several vehicle components.
The V03 prototype, originally scheduled to launch in 2003, exploded on the pad on August 22 of that year, two days before to its intended launch date. See the 2003 Alcântara VLS accident article for details about this disaster. The V04 prototype was originally scheduled for launch in 2006. Further testing has resumed in 2008.
First tests:
The VLS-R2 test vehicle had two stages, arranged in the following configuration:
The VLS-1B sub-orbital test vehicle has three solid fuel rocket stages and boosters, arranged in the following configuration:
The VLS-1 has three solid fuel rocket stages and boosters, arranged in the following configuration:
will be a medium-size launch vehicle, with the purpose of putting satellites into low or geostationary orbits.
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
: "Veículo Lançador de Satélites") is the Brazilian Space Agency
Brazilian Space Agency
The Brazilian Space Agency is the civilian authority in Brazil responsible for the country's burgeoning space program. It operates a spaceport at Alcântara and a rocket launch site at Barreira do Inferno...
's main satellite launch vehicle project. The project's goal is to develop a launch vehicle capable of launching small general-purpose satellites into orbit. The project is located at the Alcântara Launch Center due its proximity to the equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
.
Associated vehicles include the Sonda I, Sonda II, Sonda III and Sonda IV, the VS-30
VS-30
The VS-30 is an Argentine-Brazilian sounding rocket, derived from the Sonda 3 sounding rocket's first stage. It consists of a single, solid-fuelled stage, and has been launched from Alcântara, Maranhão, and Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, in Brazil, and Andøya in Norway.It has been launched both...
, VS-40
VS-40
The VS-40 is a Brazilian sounding rocket using solid fuel, stabilized aerodynamically, distributed between the first stage S-40TM engine and the second stage S-44 engine.-Flights:...
and VSB-30
VSB-30
VSB-30 - "Veículo de Sondagem Booster – 30" is the designation of a Brazilian sounding rocket, which replaced the Skylark rocket at Esrange....
.
History
VLS-1 development started in 1984, after the first launch of the Sonda IV rocket. To date, three prototypes have been built and two launches attempted, departing from the Alcântara Launch Center.During the V01 and V02 prototype launches (VLS-1 V01 and VLS-1 V02) technical problems prevented mission success, but allowed the testing of several vehicle components.
The V03 prototype, originally scheduled to launch in 2003, exploded on the pad on August 22 of that year, two days before to its intended launch date. See the 2003 Alcântara VLS accident article for details about this disaster. The V04 prototype was originally scheduled for launch in 2006. Further testing has resumed in 2008.
First tests:
- VLS-R1 VLS-R1 - 1985 December 1 - Failure, apogee of 10 km.
- VLS-R1 VLS-R2 - 1989 May 18 - Apogee of 50 km.
- VLS-1 V01 - 1997 December 02 - in flight failure
- VLS-1 V02 - 1999 December 11 - in flight failure
- VLS-1 V03 - 2003 (scheduled) - pad explosion
- VLS-1 V04 - 2006 (original scheduled)
Current schedule
Current VLS-1 V4 current schedule is as follows:- 2010 - electrical tests with a mockup rocket
- 2010 - VLS-XVI 01 / VLS-1B (only first two stages active)
- 2011 - VLS–VT 01 (with only the 4 first stage engines will fire, separation of the second and third stages will be tested)
- 2012 - VLS–VT 02 (complete rocket test)
- 2012 - VLS-1 V4 (satellite launch)
Configuration
The VLS-R1 test vehicle had two stages, arranged in the following configuration:- Stage 1 - four S-20 rocket engines
- Stage 2 - one dummy S-20 rocket engine
The VLS-R2 test vehicle had two stages, arranged in the following configuration:
- Stage 1 - four S-20 rocket engines
- Stage 2 - one S-20 rocket engine
The VLS-1B sub-orbital test vehicle has three solid fuel rocket stages and boosters, arranged in the following configuration:
- Stage 0 - four S-43 rocket engines
- Stage 1 - one S-43TM rocket engine
- Stage 2 - dummy S-40TM rocket engine
- Stage 3 - dummy S-44 rocket engine
The VLS-1 has three solid fuel rocket stages and boosters, arranged in the following configuration:
- Stage 0 - four S-43 rocket engines
- Stage 1 - one S-43TM rocket engine
- Stage 2 - one S-40TM rocket engine
- Stage 3 - one S-44 rocket engine
Alfa (VLS-2)
The VLS-1 project is being concurrently developed with the VLS-2 project. The VLS-2 project, now called AlfaAlfa
Alfa may refer to:* A grass also called esparto.* ALFA , an international indoor rowing competition in Estonia* Alfa , a Lebanese telecom company* ALFA , a Mexican industrial conglomerate* Alfa , a title in Guinea...
will be a medium-size launch vehicle, with the purpose of putting satellites into low or geostationary orbits.
VLM
Also, the VLM-1 (Veículo Lançador de Microssatélites) is being studied, with the objective of orbiting satellites up to 150 kg in circular orbits ranging from 250 to 700km. A first three stage version is expected to launch the "Shefex 3" mission in 2015.Configuration
Four solid fuel rocket stages, arranged in the following configuration:- Stage 1 - S-43 rocket engine
- Stage 2 - S-40TM rocket engine
- Stage 3 - S-44 rocket engine
- Stage 4 - S-33 rocket engine