Liberty (rocket)
Liberty was the name of a planned but unrealized launcher. As part of the CCDev 2 , the cooperation partners beat Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and EADS Astrium of NASA , the development of this rocket as a commercial successor to the space shuttle before.
Mission requirements
As the successor to the decommissioned space shuttle fleet, NASA is looking for a rocket to launch manned and unmanned payloads into low Earth orbit . The start-up costs are to be significantly reduced compared to the space shuttle.
description
For the development of the Liberty, the two partners want to contribute their experience from previous carrier developments. ATK is supplying the solid fuel boosters for the space shuttle or the first stage of the Ares I , while Astrium is the main contractor for Ariane 5 . The Liberty is to be developed on the basis of these components.
According to current plans, the first stage would be taken over by the Ares I. This is again a booster of the space shuttle stretched from four to five segments . L-3 Communications would provide the avionics for the first stage. The upper stage would consist of a converted main stage of the Ariane 5, which is powered by a Vulcain 2 . However, some development work still needs to be done for this adaptation. So far, for example, the Vulcain 2 is not qualified for ignition in orbit.
Due to the already completed test flight of the Ares IX mission , parts of the infrastructure necessary for the operation of the Liberty would already be available at the Kennedy Space Center .
Participation in the CCDev project
In the second round of the CCDev , with which NASA promotes the private development of space systems, the Liberty did not get a chance. However, this project received good grades in the area of “technical availability”. The development of the Liberty should therefore be pursued from company funds and ATK hoped to be considered in the next CCDev round. A first test flight was planned for the end of 2013. From 2015, the rocket should then have put payloads into orbit. NASA announced that it would help the consortium develop the rocket.
The Liberty Consortium then offered a space capsule for five astronauts for the rocket from the beginning of May 2012. This could have been used in 2015. The space capsule should have the shape of the NASA Orion capsule, but be made of composite materials. In addition, they should receive a rescue system that works with rocket engines, but does without the heavy tower of a rescue rocket .
On July 3, 2012 it was announced that together with the space capsule for a maximum of seven astronauts, a pressurized cargo module with 2.27 tons of cargo capacity and other non-pressurized cargo would be transported to the ISS. The maximum payload of the pressurized module should be 2.31 tons. According to the published picture, the cargo module is to be installed between the space capsule and its propulsion module.
Since Liberty was not one of the projects that NASA continued to support with money, it was indicated in January 2013 that the development would be discontinued without further funds. There have been no further press releases from ATK on the project since mid-2012. At the beginning of 2015, ATK merged with Orbital Sciences Corporation , which also offers a rocket with the Antares .
Technical specifications
- Rocket height: 90 m
- Payload in orbit of the ISS : 20,185 kg
Web links
- ATK: ATK and Astrium Unveil the Liberty ™ Launch Vehicle Initiative for NASA's CCDev-2 Competition, Based on the Most Reliable Propulsion Systems in the World, the Liberty ™ can Achieve a First Flight by 2013 and Close the US Human Space Flight Gap. February 8, 2011, accessed May 13, 2012
- ATK: ATK Announces Complete Liberty System to Provide Commercial Crew Access, Liberty System Includes Spacecraft, Launch Vehicle, Ground and Mission Ops . May 9, 2012, Retrieved May 15, 2012
- Günther Glatsel: ATK specifies the Liberty concept , in Raumfahrer.net , May 10, 2012, accessed on May 14, 2012
Individual evidence
- ↑ spaceflightnow.com: Liberty rocket emerges from shadow of defunct Ares 1. Retrieved May 18, 2011 .
- ↑ a b spaceflightnow.com: Launch firms forge ahead in commercial crew program. Retrieved May 18, 2011 .
- ↑ aviationweek.com: CCDev-2 Rocket Entry Would Carry Any Capsule. Retrieved May 18, 2011 .
- ↑ ATK.com: ATK and Astrium Unveil the Liberty ™ Launch Vehicle Initiative for NASA's CCDev-2 Competition. Retrieved May 18, 2011 .
- ↑ a b Spiegel: "Liberty" rocket: Nasa participates in transatlantic space project. Retrieved September 14, 2011 .
- ↑ raumfahrer.net: Liberty as the successor to Ares I? Retrieved May 18, 2011 .
- ↑ a b space.com: Scrapped NASA Rocket May be Resurrected for Commercial Launches. Retrieved May 18, 2011 .
- ^ Spiegel Online: "Liberty" rocket, NASA participates in the transatlantic all-project. Retrieved September 14, 2011 .
- ↑ NASA: NASA Begins Commercial Partnership With Alliant Techsystems. Retrieved September 15, 2011 .
- ↑ Stephen Clark: ATK adds crew capsule to Liberty rocket proposal in Spaceflight Now, May 9, 2012, accessed May 12, 2012
- ↑ Stephen Clark: ATK extends Liberty proposal to include cargo resupply , in Spaceflight Now, July 3, 2012, accessed July 4, 2012
- ↑ ATK press release: ATK Unveils Unique Liberty Capability, Liberty Transportation Service to have Extended Cargo Configuration , Date: July 3, 2012, Accessed: July 4, 2012 ( Memento of July 9, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Thomas Weyrauch: Trunk for Liberty , in Raumfahrer.net, Date: July 5, 2012, Accessed: July 5, 2012
- ↑ blogspot.de: Space KSC: Liberty ( Memento from February 24, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on March 10, 2015
- ↑ fool.com: Space News: Should SpaceX Fear the New Orbital ATK? (ATK, OA) , accessed March 10, 2015
- ↑ universetoday.com: Ares-1 Rocket Could Be Re-born as “Liberty”. Retrieved May 18, 2011 .