Engineering:VLS-1

Short description: Brazilian Space Agency satellite launcher

VLS-1
Veículo Lançador de Satélites

VLS-1
Function	Orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	CTA
Country of origin	Brazil
Size
Height	19.5 m (64 ft)
Diameter	1.01 m (3.3 ft)
Mass	50,700 kg (111,800 lb)
Stages	3
Capacity
Payload to low Earth orbit	380 kg (840 lb)
Launch history
Status	Cancelled
Launch sites	Alcântara VLS Pad
Total launches	2
Failures	2
Other	1 (pad explosion in 2003)
First flight	2 November 1997
Last flight	11 December 1999
Boosters – S-43
No. boosters	4
Motor	1 solid rocket booster
Total thrust	303 kN (68,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	225 s (2.21 km/s)
Burn time	59 seconds
First stage – S-43TM
Motor	1 solid rocket booster
Specific impulse	277 s (2.72 km/s)
Burn time	58 seconds
Second stage – S-40TM
Motor	1 solid rocket booster
Specific impulse	275 s (2.70 km/s)
Burn time	56 seconds
Third stage – S-44
Motor	1 solid rocket booster
Specific impulse	282 s (2.77 km/s)
Burn time	68 seconds

The VLS-1 (Portuguese: Veículo Lançador de Satélites) was the Brazilian Space Agency's main satellite launch vehicle. The launch vehicle was to be capable of launching satellites into orbit. The launch site was located at the Alcântara Launch Center due to 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.

The VLS was cancelled after decades of development and high expenditures with poor results and a failed association with Ukraine that slowed the program for years.

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 V1 and V2 prototype launches (VLS-1 V1 and VLS-1 V2) technical problems prevented mission success, but allowed the testing of several vehicle components. The V3 prototype exploded on the launch pad on 22 August 2003, two days before its intended launch date. The 2003 Alcântara VLS accident caused a considerable setback to the Brazilian space program. The V4 prototype was expected to be launched in 2016.

The project was terminated by Brazilian Space Agency in 2016.

VLS-1 schedule

Initial flight test schedule

#	Photo	Vehicle	Payload	Date	Place	Result
1		VLS-R1	-	1985 December 1	CLA	Failure, apogee of 10 km.
2		VLS-R2	-	1989 May 18	CLA	Apogee of 50 km.
3		VLS-1 V1	SCD-2A	1997 November 2	CLA	in-flight failure
4		VLS-1 V2	SACI 2	1999 December 11	CLA	in-flight failure
5		VLS-1 V3	SATEC	2003	CLA	pad explosion on 2003 August 22

Final schedule

The V04 prototype was originally scheduled for launch in 2006. Further testing has resumed in 2008. The final VLS-1 schedule was as follows:

#	Photo	Vehicle	Payload	Date	Place	Result
1		mockup	electrical tests with a mockup rocket	2012	CLA	Success
2		VLS-1 XVT-01 VSISNAV	only first two stages active	2016	CLA	canceled
3		VLS-1 V-04	satellite launch	2018	CLA	canceled

VLS Configurations

VLS-R1 test vehicle (1985)

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

VLS-R2 test vehicle (1989)

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

VLS-XVI 01 sub-orbital test vehicle (2016, planned)

The VLS-XVI 01 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

VLS-1 operational configuration (2018, planned)

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

The rocket has four 400N RCS jets, located on the top of the third stage.

Developments

VLM

The VLM (Veículo Lançador de Microssatélites) based on the S50 rocket engine is being studied, with the objective of orbiting satellites up to 150 kg in circular orbits ranging from 250 to 700 km. It will be a three-stage rocket, expected to launch the SHEFEX III mission by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in 2023.

"Cruzeiro do Sul" (Southern Cross) program

VLS Alfa

In the framework of the proposed Cruzeiro do Sul program, the VLS-1 rocket is the basis of the VLS Alfa project.

L5 rocket based configuration - three-stage rocket, with the upper stage being liquid-fuel, putting 200 to 400 kg satellites into low equatorial orbits:

• Stage 0 - four S-43 rocket engines
• Stage 1 - one S-43TM rocket engine
• Stage 2 - one S-40TM rocket engine
• Stage 3 - one L5 rocket engine

L75 rocket based configuration - two-stage rocket, with the upper stage being liquid-fuel, putting 500 kg satellites equatorial orbits up to 750 km:

• Stage 0 - four S-43 rocket engines
• Stage 1 - one S-43TM rocket engine
• Stage 2 - one L75 rocket engine

#	Photo	Vehicle	Payload	Date	Place	Result
1		VLS Alfa XVT-01	-	2015	-	-
2		VLS Alfa XVT-02	-	2016	-	-
3		VLS Alfa V-01	-	2017	-	-
4		VLS Alfa V-02	SARA Orbital	2018	-	-
5		VLS Alfa V-03	-	2020	-	-

VLS Beta

The VLS Beta is another related project, intended to lift up to 800 kg payloads to an 800 km equatorial orbit. Its first flight was planned for 2020.

Three-stage rocket, with the upper two stages being liquid-fuel.

• Stage 1 - one P40 solid rocket engine
• Stage 2 - one L300 rocket engines
• Stage 3 - one L75 rocket engine

Projected flights are:

#	Photo	Vehicle	Payload	Date	Place	Result
1		VLS Beta XVT-01	-	2018	-	-
2		VLS Beta XVT-02	-	2019	-	-
3		VLS Beta V-01	-	2020	-	-

VLS Gama

The VLS Gama is intended to carry up to 1000 kg payloads to an 800 km polar orbit. Three-stage liquid-fuel rocket.

VLS Delta

The VLS Delta is capable of placing 2000 kg payloads in a geostationary orbit. Three-stage liquid-fuel rocket (VLS BETA body) with two solid fuel boosters.

VLS Epsilon

The VLS Epsilon is capable of placing 4000 kg payloads in a geostationary orbit. Three-stage liquid-fuel rocket (VLS BETA body) with two liquid-fuel boosters.

Gallery

• 

  VLS-1 real size mockup

• 

  Engine

• 

  Engine test

See also

• Comparison of orbital launchers families

External links

• Brazil hopes to launch satellite rocket in 2011
• Atualizações sobre o Projeto do VLS
• VLS terá teste em Setembro