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VSB-30

VSB-30 - "Veículo de Sondagem Booster – 30" (Booster Sounding Vehicle) or "Foguete Suborbital VSB-30" is the designation of a Brazilian sounding rocket, which replaced the Skylark rocket at Esrange.

The VSB-30 is based on the VS-30 rocket (S-30 engine) with the addition of a booster stage (S-31 engine). Development started in 2000 in cooperation with DLR. The rocket can carry a payload of 400 kg to an altitude of 270 km. It has a liftoff thrust of 240 kN and a total mass of 2570 kg. It has a diameter of 0.56 m and a length of 12.6 m.

VSB-30 was first launched on October 23, 2004, at Alcântara Launch Center. The first launch at Esrange took place on December 1, 2005.

Flights

VSB-30 performed the following flights:

Characteristics

VSB-30 has the following configuration:

  • Length (mm): 12600
  • Stages: 2
  • Payload Mass (kg): 400
  • Diameter (mm): 570
  • Total takeoff mass (kg): 2570
  • Apogee (Max km): 270

Stages

S-30 solid rocket stage

  • Gross Mass: 1,200 kg (2,646 lb)
  • Unfuelled mass: 341 kg (752 lb)
  • Height: 3.30 m (10.80 ft)
  • Diameter: 0.56 m (1.83 ft)
  • Thrust: 102.00 kN (22,930 lbf)
  • Burn time: 20 s

S-31 solid rocket stage

  • Gross Mass: 900 kg (1,984 lb)
  • Unfuelled mass: 284 kg (626 lb)
  • Height: 3.20 m (10.40 ft)
  • Diameter: 0.56 m (1.83 ft)
  • Thrust: 240.00 kN (53,950 lbf)
  • Burn time: 11 s

S-31 rocket engine

The VSB-30 sounding rocket uses the S-31 motor as first stage. The S-31 is also used in other various configurations like the VSB-30 Improved Orion, S-31 Improved Orion, S-31 Improved Malemute and S-31 Improved Malemute Improved Orion.

The S-31 is a solid-fuel rocket motor developed and manufactured in Brazil by Avibras Aeroespacial.

S-31 specifications

  • Type: Solid-fuel rocket motor
  • Fuel: HTPB-based composite propellant
  • Thrust: 240 kN
  • Burn time: 11 seconds
  • Diameter: 56 cm
  • Length: 3.2 meters
  • Fuel Mass: 284 kg
  • Total Mass: 900 kg

See also

References

External links